IWS Documented News INTERNATIONAL

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO)

A COMPARATIVE STUDY

 

Working poor in Europe [6 April 2010]

April 2010

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn0910026s/index.htm

and

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn0910026s/tn0910026s.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/docs/ewco/tn0910026s/tn0910026s.pdf

[full-text, 48 pages]

 

Being in work greatly reduces the risk of poverty. Nevertheless, in the European Union, 8% of the employed population fell into the category of ‘working poor’ in 2007, in the sense of having an income below 60% of the national median. The proportion varies markedly across countries and social groups. In most countries, the issue of working poor is not a policy priority of either the government or the social partners, although it can be included in general policies to combat poverty and social exclusion. Although there is little evidence to prove it to date, the working poor are likely to have been particularly affected by the current economic recession.

 

The study was compiled on the basis of individual national reports submitted by the EWCO correspondents. The text of each of these national reports is available below. The reports have not been edited or approved by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The national reports were drawn up in response to a questionnaire and should be read in conjunction with it.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Introduction

Nature and extent of in-work poverty

Main trends and research studies

Policy responses

Views of the social partners

Impact of economic crisis

Summary

Commentary

References

Annex 1: Data tables

Annex 2: Main national policies aimed at (working) poor

Annex 3: EU-SILC

Annex 4: List of country groups and codes

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Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
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