Thursday, December 22, 2011
[IWS] EIRO: [UK] Union derecognition in the spotlight [22 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO)
[UK] Union derecognition in the spotlight [22 December 2011]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2011/11/articles/uk1111029i.htm
UK employers generally reach a voluntary agreement with trade unions to recognise them for collective bargaining purposes. Recognition can be made compulsory by an independent arbitration committee if a union demonstrates a certain level of support from employees. While derecognition of unions is not common, a couple of cases have made the news in 2011, prompting concerns that employers may use derecognition as a way of pushing through cuts in pay and conditions.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
[IWS] BLS: INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF HOURLY COMPENSATION COSTS IN MANUFACTURING, 2010 [21 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS OF HOURLY COMPENSATION COSTS IN MANUFACTURING, 2010 [21 December 2011]
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ichcc.nr0.htm
or
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ichcc.pdf
[full-text, 10 pages]
and
Supplemental Files Table of Contents
http://www.bls.gov/web/ichcc.supp.toc.htm
Manufacturing hourly compensation costs in the United States in 2010 were
lower than in several northern and western European countries, Australia,
and Canada, but higher than in the United Kingdom and 19 countries in
southern and eastern Europe, Asia, and South America, the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics reported today (see chart 1). U.S. hourly compensation
costs rose about 2 percent from the previous year to $34.74 (see table 2).
From 1997 to 2010, U.S. compensation cost competitiveness in manufacturing
improved relative to all but five countries covered: Brazil, Germany, Japan,
the Philippines, and Taiwan (see table 1).
Chart 1. Hourly compensation costs in manufacturing, U.S. dollars, 2010
PDF CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT.
Changes in a country’s compensation costs in U.S. dollars are roughly
equivalent to the change in compensation costs in a country’s national
currency plus the change in the value of the country’s currency relative
to the U.S. dollar. This relationship is illustrated in chart 2, where
the bars in the right panel for each country can be summed to equal the
bars in the left panel. In 2010, many European countries had modest
increases or declines in hourly compensation costs in national currency
combined with larger depreciations in national currency relative to the
U.S. dollar, resulting in declines in U.S. dollar-denominated hourly
compensation costs. In contrast, all countries outside Europe saw
increases in U.S. dollar hourly compensation costs much higher than in
the United States.
Chart 2. Annual percent change in hourly compensation costs in
manufacturing and exchange rates, 2009-2010
PDF CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT.
Chart 3. Benefit components of hourly compensation costs as a percent
of total compensation, 2010
PDF CONTAINS CHART AT THIS POINT.
AND MUCH MORE...including CHARTS & TABLES....
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
[IWS] Dublin Foundation: YOUNG PEOPLE and NEETs in EUROPE: FIRST FINDINGS-- Résumé [20 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
Young people and NEETs in Europe: First findings - Résumé [20 December 2011]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef1172.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2011/72/en/1/EF1172EN.pdf
[full-text, 8 pages]
Author: Foundation
Summary:
In the context of its 2011 work programme, Eurofound has explored the situation of young people who are part of the NEET group: 'not in employment, education or training'. The research was carried out by Eurofound's Employment and Competitiveness unit, using the capacity of the Network of European Observatories. The aim was to investigate the current situation of young people in Europe, focusing specifically on those who are not in employment, education or training, and to understand the economic and social consequences of their disengagement from the labour market and education. The preliminary results of the research are presented in this short document.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
Monday, December 19, 2011
[IWS] BID: GEPPAL (Género y Partidos Políticos en América Latina) [DATABASE--base de datos]
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
________________________________________________________________________
Banco Interamericano Desarrollo (BID)
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
GEPPAL (Género y Partidos Políticos en América Latina)
http://www.iadb.org/research/geppal/index.cfm?language=Spanish&country=&parties=&dataGrap=1
Cuál ha sido el impacto de las leyes de cuotas sobre la representación parlamentaria de las mujeres en América Latina?
¿Qué es GEPPAL?
http://www.iadb.org/research/geppal/page.cfm?artID=7359
Género y Partidos Políticos en América Latina – GEPPAL es una base de datos creada a partir de una encuesta a 94 partidos políticos en países de América Latina.
Con el fin de determinar las limitaciones y oportunidades que existen para definir cursos de acción y guiar la identificación de estrategias de género, es importante entender en qué estado se encuentran la representación y participación de la mujer dentro de los partidos políticos, así como los factores que definen el nivel de compromiso y respuesta de estos últimos a las demandas específicas de género.
Dada la falta de datos confiables necesarios para emprender este tipo de análisis, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), a través de su Programa de Apoyo al Liderazgo y Representación de la Mujer, PROLID, y el Instituto Internacional para la Democracia y la Asistencia Electoral (IDEA Internacional), iniciaron un estudio regional sobre las características que a nivel de partido influyen en las oportunidades de las mujeres de participar en el quehacer político e impulsar la agenda de equidad de género.
Para tal fin, el BID e IDEA contrataron consultores en 18 países de América Latina para administrar una encuesta a 94 partidos políticos. Los datos, que fueron recolectados entre el 15 de enero y el 15 de octubre de 2009, son presentados en la base de datos GEPPAL.
Este esfuerzo de la recolección de datos y la investigación que la acompaña intenta ser una primera reflexión y servir como base a un debate postergado y dual: uno que subraya el rol esencial que juegan las mujeres, los pueblos indígenas y las comunidades afro-descendientes en el fortalecimiento de los partidos como ejes de la representación en democracia, y otro que exhorta a los partidos a abrir el juego y ofrecer oportunidades para que tanto mujeres como poblaciones étnicas minoritarias y mayoritarias participen en calidad de iguales en la definición de las líneas programáticas y políticas de nuestras democracias.
Esperamos que los datos en la base sea de utilidad para los militantes de los partidos, activistas y académicos así como para todos aquellos interesados en una mayor y mejor participación de las mujeres como forma de consolidar nuestras democracias.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] EWCO: EU social climate survey examines impact of crisis [19 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO)
EU social climate survey examines impact of crisis [19 December 2011]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/2011/11/EU1111021I.htm
To identify the impact of the economic and financial crisis, a Eurobarometer survey in June 2011 examined the views of EU citizens on a range of social issues (job satisfaction, employment situation, pension provision and unemployment benefits) in terms of the current situation, the situation compared with five years ago and their expectations for the coming 12 months. The responses were largely negative, although there were wide variations between countries.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] EIRO: Communication on Corporate Social Responsibility by European Commission [9 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO)
Commission issues new Communication on Corporate Social Responsibility [9 December 2011]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2011/11/articles/eu1111011i.htm
n October 2011, the European Commission issued a new Communication on Corporate Social Responsibility, redefining the concept. It urges companies to address employment and social issues such as training, youth employment, dialogue with employee representatives, employee health and well-being, gender awareness and diversity management within the context of the Europe 2020 strategy, and to see such initiatives as a key part of the solution to Europe’s economic crisis.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] OECD: ECONOMIC SURVEY OF ISRAEL [12 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
OECD
ECONOMIC SURVEY OF ISRAEL [12 December 2011]
http://www.oecd.org/document/50/0,3746,en_33873108_39418575_49100850_1_1_1_1,00.html
How to obtain this publication | Additional information
| Israel’s economy passed through the 2008-09 global downturn in relatively good shape but is now suffering alongside others from the continuing effects of the renewed global crisis, and geopolitical tensions have increased. Annualised quarter-on-quarter real GDP growth was 4.7% in the first quarter but had slowed to 3.4% by the third quarter. Much of the slowdown came from a deceleration in export growth, as world trade slowed significantly. The November 2011 OECD Economic Outlook 90 has real GDP growth at 4.7% in 2011 but less than 3% in 2012. All private expenditure components, domestic and foreign, should contribute to the slowing. |
| |
| Early signs of weakness in the housing market may presage an imminent sharper-than-desired decline in prices. In monetary policy currency intervention has become somewhat less relevant recently as reduced growth prospects and falling inflation led the Bank to leave its policy rate unchanged from June to September and lower it for October. So far there have been no major failures in the financial sector but corporate bond markets remain a major concern, there is room to improve financial supervision, planned legislation to allow securitisation should proceed cautiously and the framework for saving in institutional funds could be improved. |
| Israel has avoided the challenging fiscal situation facing a number of other OECD economies. Nevertheless, there remain sharp trade offs in fiscal policy objectives between debt reduction, spending control and tax reform, which have been heightened by pressures from the recent wave of popular protests. Debt reduction should remain the top priority but also faster spending growth under the new fiscal rule is welcome. Therefore, ensuring revenues remain on track in the longer term remains a core challenge. This said, there has been an innovative shift to a two-year budget cycle and a significant improvement in the fiscal treatment of hydrocarbon resources. |
| Persistent weaknesses in per capita income growth and a high rate of poverty, especially among certain communities, remain key long term challenges for education and welfare policies. In addition, middle-class concerns have surfaced in the form of the recent ‘tent protests’, with complaints about the cost of housing and price levels in other sectors figuring prominently. There has been some good news in the latest PISA results and reasonable progress in education reform but a lack of progress in making employment and social policies more effective. In housing, tax settings excessively favour home ownership and housing support schemes extend well beyond assistance to low-income households. |
| The tent protest concerns are linked to debate about the level of competition in the economy and the role of Israel’s large family run business groups, which play a significant role in the financial sector and in many non-financial sectors too. Also, in the energy sector sluggish reform in electricity and concerns about competition in natural gas are a cause for concern. |
| Environmental issues arising from the production and use of energy are prominent. Israel’s greenhouse-gas emissions and related air pollutants are largely the result of electricity production and energy use in transportation. Significant emissions reductions are expected from an energy efficiency programme. Plans are also being implemented that aim to raise the contribution of renewable electricity generation. There is a need for better public transport and further development of vehicle taxation. Associated Economics Department Working papers: How to improve the economic policy framework for the housing market in Israel, (No. 912) by Philip Hemmings Issues in private-sector finance in Israel, (No. 913) by Philip Hemmings Addressing challenges in the energy sector in Israel, (No. 914) by Philip Hemmings |
The complete edition of the Economic Survey of Israel is available from:
· OECD iLibrary, online library for subscribing institutions.
· OECD Online Bookshop Order from your local distributor
· Government officials with accounts (subscribe) can go to the "Books" tab on OLIS
· Accredited journalists, password required
| Additional information |
· Economic Surveys and Country Surveillance
· Timetable of planned EDRC Meetings
· List of recent Surveys of Israel
· OECD Economics Department homepage
For further information please contact the Israel Desk at the OECD Economics Department at eco.survey@oecd.org.
The OECD Secretariat's report was prepared by Israel under the supervision of Peter Jarrett. Research assistance was provided by Francoise Correia.
www.oecd.org/eco/surveys/israel
Also available:
· Etude économique d'Israël (French)
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] OECD/EIB: New! DATABASE OF BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES INVESTMENTS [19 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments (CELE) and European Investment Bank (EIB)
NEW!
OECD/EIB Database of Best Practices in Educational Facilities Investments
DATABASE OF BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES INVESTMENTS [19 December 2011]
http://www.edfacilitiesinvestment-db.org/
The OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments (CELE) and European Investment Bank (EIB) are pleased to announce the Database of Best Practices in Educational Facilities Investments. Showcasing exemplary school and university designs from OECD’s Designing for Education: Compendium of Exemplary Educational Facilities 2011 – in addition to the latest news in strategic investment planning for educational facilities – the database is a reference tool for designers, educators, policymakers and planners alike.
Check out the database - or submit a new project or bibliographical references – at www.edfacilitiesinvestment-db.org. For further information, contact Hannah.vonAhlefeld@oecd.org.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
[IWS] OECD: RECRUITING IMMIGRANT WORKERS: SWEDEN [19 December 2011]
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
________________________________________________________________________
OECD
RECRUITING IMMIGRANT WORKERS: SWEDEN [19 December 2011]
http://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/display.asp?lang=EN&sf1=identifiers&st1=5kg2dj7nlb43
or
from OECD iLibrary
or
[full-text,162 pages]
Press Release 19 December 2011
Swedish labour migration reform working well but needs more monitoring, says OECD
http://www.oecd.org/document/36/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_49267172_1_1_1_1,00.html
19/12/2011. Sweden’s 2008 reform of its labour migration policy, now one of the most open in the OECD, has helped businesses hire foreign workers quickly and cheaply, without hurting conditions for local workers, according to a new OECD report.
Recruiting Immigrant Workers: Sweden says that in the first five months of 2011, as the economy recovered and employers grew more familiar with the new system, more than 6 800 permits were issued. Latest data suggest that the number of permits will rise slightly in 2011 from the 11,100 issued in 2010.
| | | While labour migration to Sweden accounts for only a small part of the total, it provides a significant contribution to employment in a few occupations. Taking into account the duration of stay of labour migrants, inflows relative to total employment are significant in these occupations: 2.3% in food processing, 1.7% in housekeeping, and 1.6 % in computing. It is now much easier for high-skilled migrants to come to Sweden to work and to stay. So far, especially in IT, most are short-term workers on intra-corporate transfers, but a growing number are remaining. |
The reform also led to increased recruitment in lesser-skilled jobs, especially in restaurants, hospitality and cleaning. These labour migrants tend to come to stay, with longer permit durations and higher renewal rates.
The Swedish government implemented this reform to better meet the needs of employers while ensuring safeguards for the local labour market. This has largely happened, reflecting both the contents of the reform and the co-operation of social partners in compliance mechanisms. The OECD has identified a number of adjustments to the system to better ensure that the skill needs of all employers are met in the future:
Monitor the occupations for which labour migrants are recruited, especially those which do not appear to be in shortage, such as in small restaurants.
Verify effective payment of the salary at the time of permit renewal.
Require communications of changes in contractual conditions during the first two years to the Swedish Migration Board.
Change application processing to bring fees more into line with international standards and accelerate processing. Employer fees could be increased on longer-term and higher-wage or non-shortage occupation applications, as well as paper filing, and the proceeds reinvested in processing capacity and data collection for monitoring purposes.
Ensure that multinationals are not favoured in their access to international recruitment relative to small businesses.
Grant a job-search permit to graduating students. Foreign students should be allowed sufficient time to find an appropriate job after graduation.
Recruiting Immigrant Workers: Sweden is part of a series of OECD country reports about labour migration policy. Sweden was the first country to undertake this review process, and will be followed by Germany.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
****************************************
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) 262-6041
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
