News
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Sweden’s transport sector considers universally applicable collective agreements
The Swedish model is no longer strong enough. The transport sector is so troubled by unfair competition that we must consider introducing universally applicable collective agreements.
4 minutes -
More sick leave among ‘double-shift’ women than men
When a woman has her second child while holding down an equally demanding job as the father, she is at twice the risk of going off sick compared to her husband, according to a new report on sick leave among women, presented in Sweden on 5 November.
4 minutes -
The Efta court clashes with Norway’s Supreme Court
Norway’s Supreme Court was wrong to rule that companies posting workers to the Norwegian shipbuilding industry must pay their travel, board and lodging expenses, argues the Efta Court’s President in a general attack on the Supreme Court. He accuses it of being disloyal to the EEA agreement and indicates the last word may still not…
5 minutes -
Women less penalised for part-time work than previously thought
Part-time work has few negative consequences for women in the Nordic region. New regulations have reduced the impact on pensions. A preschool teacher or enrolled nurse in Denmark or Norway who works part-time for ten years still receives 98-99 percent of the maximum pension.
3 minutes -
Elisabeth Svantesson is Sweden’s new Minister for Employment
On 17 September Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt appointed Elisabeth Svantesson as his new Minister for Employment. She replaces Hillevi Engström who became Minister for International Development Cooperation. The reshuffle was announced during the Prime Minister’s government declaration.
4 minutes -
Occupational rehabilitation – organised anarchy?
Everyone struggles to increase the labour participation rate among people with reduced work ability. Could the actual support system be the greatest obstacle?
5 minutes -
One in five construction workers in Sweden are posted
Over 18,000 workers were this spring posted by companies from other countries to work in Sweden, most of them in the construction industry. The number of posted workers in that industry was nearly as high as one fifth of all the working members of the Byggnads union – Sweden’s main union for construction workers. These…
6 minutes -
More social enterprises on the horizon in Denmark
Social enterprises are being promoted both by the Nordic region and the EU. Denmark’s government has launched a new strategy.
5 minutes
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Moving public services to fight social marginalisation
The Swedish Equality Ombudsman, DO, has been asked by the government to prepare a move from Stockholm city centre to the suburbs of Tensta/Rinkeby – the areas which only weeks ago were shaken by riots. The Stockholm city council has also just decided to move its education department with 400 staff there.
5 minutes -
EU standardisation of services worries trade unions
Common EU standards are aiming to speed up cross-border trade in services. Just as long as this doesn’t mean introducing EU rules through the backdoor which would be in breach with member states’ labour law and collective agreements, say trade unions – whose concern is shared by the Swedish government.
3 minutes