News
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Norway pushes ahead with boardroom equality
1 July 2005 was the deadline for the Norwegian business world to voluntarily make sure there is at least 40 per cent of each gender in company boardrooms. Only 17 per cent of companies have managed that. For the others, the demand will no longer be voluntary. It will be the law.
5 minutes
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Innovation: More than just a good idea
European employment policy has, in recent years, turned more and more strongly towards innovation. For high cost countries, the continuous cost-cutting improvements of existing products, services and processes is no longer sufficient to maintain employment and income. On this, there is little disagreement.
7 minutes -
Warning of a black work market
There is a clear risk of increased social dumping in the extended Europe. Wages differ widely, and labour laws are interpreted in many different ways. That is why Niklas Bruun, professor of labour law at Sweden’s National Institute for Working Life, wants to encourage European countries to actively fight the emergence of a black labour…
6 minutes -
Mobility after the enlargement – too much or too little?
Ten months after the at least partial opening of the borders for workers from the new EU member states, it is still too early to see whether it has been a positive or negative move for the Nordic countries. Some feel predictions of social dumping have come true. Others are surprised so few have made…
6 minutes
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Nordic Co-operation: Backing increased integration
An overall relatively small number of people commuted across a border between the Nordic countries, yet in some regions the international commuting was very significant. Those are some of the results from the Nordic Commuting Map 2001, which was published recently. During its 2005 presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Denmark wants to make…
3 minutes
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The jigsaw of life…
Three public authorities in Sweden are co-operating to encourage Swedish employers to make it easier for their employees to combine work with parenthood. As part of a larger campaign, they are now sending out a jigsaw to 6.500 employers, with the question: “Work and family – How easy is it to make the pieces fit…
3 minutes
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Voluntary early retirement not too expensive
A new report shows the myths surrounding Denmark’s early voluntary retirement pay scheme stem from misleading facts, and that savings can be made from other areas in society.
3 minutes -
The hunt for innovation knows no borders
Today, all countries are seeking the ultimate environment for innovation and creativity. The Nordic countries are looking to each other for help. In January this year the Nordic Innovation Centre, NICe, was established in Oslo. Financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers, its ambition is to make the Nordic countries leading innovators in Europe
5 minutes -
Women on the board – threat of quotas makes the debate pick up pace
In both Norway and Sweden, legislation is underway for the purpose of placing more women on the boards of private companies unless trade and industry, on its own initiative, increases the women’s share of these positions. Despite the strong presence of equality rights in the Nordic countries, this has still to reach the boardrooms.
5 minutes
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Book in review: Managing Workplace Health
The EU takes the notion of the global network-society seriously and, it seems, finds a network to fit every good cause.
3 minutes