News

  • “The Nordic region must capitalise on social capital”

    The Nordic countries are unofficial world champions when it comes to social capital – a clear competitive advantage. But to keep that advantage business leaders must become better at exploring the potential of social capital, according to a new Danish book.

    5 minutes

  • Iceland’s new slimmed-down and EU-critical government

    Iceland’s government has been cut from twelve to ten ministers. Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir says the ministerial posts will be cut further in the new year with the merging of several departments.

    3 minutes

  • Working life: a non-issue in the Swedish election

    Jobs and social security were important issues during September’s parliamentary elections in Sweden. Yet there was no focus on how people view their working environments. “There was an exceptional lack of debates about working life,” says Roger Mörtvik, public policy director at the Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees.

    8 minutes
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    Curtain fall for the Laval case

    Sweden’s Supreme Court has refused to reverse the Swedish Labour Court’s judgement in the Laval case. Now a labour law expert says the state should pay the considerable compensation which trade unions have been ordered to pay.

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    1 minute

  • Healthy, competent citizens: the Nordic plan for global competitiveness

    Giant pan-Nordic drive for health and well-being takes off.

    4 minutes

  • EU spotlight on Nordic poverty

    The European Union’s Year for Combating Poverty 2010 touches a sore spot in Sweden and Finland. Poverty and social exclusion is on the rise while politicians maintain their welfare policies are solid enough to face the challenges. Poverty experts agree that in this debate the EU Commission plays the progressive force to the Nordic governments’…

    5 minutes
    EU spotlight on Nordic poverty

  • Female boardrooms quotas for Iceland

    Iceland follows Norway’s lead and introduces legislation forcing companies to fill their boardrooms with at least 40 percent women. But before the law comes into effect in 2013 gender equality has taken a small step back.

    2 minutes
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    Swedish unions want annulment of Laval judgement

    The Swedish Supreme Court must annul the judgment of the Swedish Labour Court in the Laval case! That’s what the Swedish Building Workers’ Union and the Swedish Electricians’ Union demand.

    2 minutes
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    EU Commission critical to Swedish laws

    Sweden could be forced to change its rules on temporary employment after pressure from the European Commission. It has voiced doubts over whether Swedish laws comply with EU’s fixed-term work directive (1999:70).

    3 minutes

  • New convention improves marine working environments

    Shipping is the most global of all businesses. One reason for introducing a new Marine Labour Convention is to create a more even playing field for the shipping companies. Shipowners should no longer be able to save money by cutting wages or neglecting the working environment.

    3 minutes