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Arbejdsmarkedsrelationer

Fagforeninger, arbejdsgiverorganisationer og offentlige myndigheder spiller alle en rolle i forvaltningen af beskæftigelsesforholdet. De er indbyrdes forbundne dele i et system, der opererer på europæisk og nationalt plan, på sektorplan og regionalt plan samt på virksomhedsniveau. I lyset af, at teknologi og arbejdsformer udvikler sig inden for en økonomisk kontekst i konstant forandring, har arbejdsmarkedsordningerne i de seneste år stået over for kritiske udfordringer.

I denne forbindelse lancerede Europa-Kommissionen i 2015 en "ny start" for den europæiske sociale dialog. I en fælleserklæring fra juni 2016 understregede Kommissionen, Rådet for Den Europæiske Union og arbejdsmarkedets parter dens afgørende rolle som en væsentlig del af EU's politiske beslutningstagning på beskæftigelses- og socialområdet.

Topic

Recent updates

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This 2024 annual review of minimum wages provides a synopsis of minimum wage setting during 2023 in the EU27 and Norway. It reports in detail on the processes and outcomes...

26 juni 2024
Publication
Research report

EU context

Eurofounds arbejde

Eurofound har gennem 40 år udviklet sig til at blive et vigtigt ekspertisecenter for overvågning og analyse af tendenser inden for arbejdsmarkedsrelationer. Dette omfatter forbindelser mellem social dialog på europæisk og nationalt plan. På grundlag af viden i sit netværk af europæiske korrespondenter i 28 EU-medlemsstater og Norge har det registreret udviklingen i alle medlemsstater og i EU som helhed. 

Væsentlige bidrag

Eurofound har udarbejdet en række komparative analyser, artikler og casestudier i EU-28 og Norge inden for arbejdsmarkedsrelationer samt løbende opdateret databaser om relaterede emner.

I en nylig undersøgelse kortlægges og drøftes centrale dimensioner og indikatorer af relevans for arbejdsmarkedsordningerne i Europa i det 21. århundrede. I en anden undersøgelse er der set nærmere på, hvordan arbejdsmarkedets parter i EU og Norge har udforsket nye emner, værktøjer og innovative tilgange med henblik på at reagere på de mange nye politiske, juridiske og sociale udfordringer, der er opstået i de seneste år.

Løn og arbejdstid er fortsat områder af stor interesse, som gennemgås hvert år. Et element i den nylige opdatering på lønområdet har fokus på lovbestemte mindstelønninger i hele EU, mens et andet har fokus på kollektive lønforhandlinger.

Eurofound har siden 2006 gennemført undersøgelser om de europæiske arbejdsmarkedsparters repræsentativitet i forskellige sektorer efter anmodning fra Europa-Kommissionen.

Ressourcer

Rapportering om udviklingen i arbejdslivet

Eurofound tilvejebringer systematiske og sammenlignelige data om nationale arbejdsmarkedsordninger og udviklingen i arbejdslivet ved hjælp af overvågnings- og rapporteringsværktøjer på grundlag af bidrag fra sit netværk af europæiske korrespondenter 28 medlemsstater og Norge.

Key outputs

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This report examines the average weekly working hours across Europe in 2021 and 2022. It covers important developments resulting from legislative reforms in collective bargaining at national or sectoral level...

24 oktober 2023
Publication
Research report
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Den årlige gennemgang af mindstelønninger i 2023 er udarbejdet i en tid med en hidtil uset inflation i hele Europa. Selv om dette førte til store stigninger i de nominelle...

29 juni 2023
Publication
Research report
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Som en del af sit mandat til at fremme dialogen mellem arbejdsmarkedets parter har Eurofound i mere end 40 år overvåget og analyseret udviklingen i systemerne for arbejdsmarkedsrelationer på EU-plan...

11 december 2020
Publication
Flagship report

Current and ongoing research

 

Other ongoing work

    • Social dialogue in companies, particularly linkages that can be drawn between national and EU level, to better understand of cooperation mechanisms used in decision-making and implementation in multinational companies
    • Exploration of the role of national social partners in the European semester and analysis of quality and effectiveness of their involvement
    • Summary of discussions on capacity-building social dialogue to support a meaningful and effective social dialogue
    • A flagship report on industrial relations covering topics related to both social dialogue and working life developments, including updates on collectively agreed pay
    • Representativeness studies on a variety of sectors to provide the European Commission required information to assess the representativeness of European sectoral social partner organisations
    • Highlights of recent developments of selected features of working life in so called topical updates, with one featuring statutory minimum wages
    • Updated time series in EurWORK database of wages, working time and collective disputes
    • Updated time series and update on developments in collectively agreed pay
    • Exploring the feasibility for an Industrial Action Monitor

    Eurofound expert(s)

    ricardo-rodriguez-contreras-2023.png

    Ricardo Rodriguez Contreras is a research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and focuses on comparative industrial relations, social dialogue and collective bargaining...

    Research manager,
    Working life research unit
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    Mária Sedláková is a research officer in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She is responsible for drafting overview reports for sectoral representativeness studies, management...

    Research officer,
    Working life research unit
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    Victoria Cojocariu is a research support officer for the representativeness studies in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She is responsible for the management of the research...

    Research support officer,
    Working life research unit
    Publications results (517)

    The way to EMU has deeply changed the macroeconomic conditions of the British economy. This report looks at the main features of industrial relations in the United Kingdom. It analyses the impact on three sectors: banking and finance, automotive and road haulage, which have undergone or are

    31 August 2000

    The EIRO annual review provides an overview and summary of western Europe's main industrial relations developments in 1999, drawing on the EIROnline database records entered during the year. The review also provides a guide to using EIROnline.

    22 May 2000

    EIRObserver is the bi-monthly bulletin of the European Industrial Relations Observatory. It contains an edited selection of feature and news items, based on some of the reports supplied for the EIROnline database over each two-month period. On top of this, EIRO also conducts comparative research on

    03 April 2000

    EIRObserver is the bi-monthly bulletin of the European Industrial Relations Observatory. It contains an edited selection of feature and news items, based on some of the reports supplied for the EIROnline database over each two-month period. On top of this, EIRO also conducts comparative research on

    24 January 2000

    EIRObserver is the bi-monthly bulletin of the European Industrial Relations Observatory. It contains an edited selection of feature and news items, based on some of the reports supplied for the EIROnline database over each two-month period. On top of this, EIRO also conducts comparative research on

    07 June 1999

    The EIRO annual review provides an overview and summary of western Europe's main industrial relations developments in 1998, drawing on the EIROnline database records entered during the year. The review also provides a guide to using EIROnline.

    27 May 1999

    This first EIRO Annual review aims to provide an overview and summary of western Europe's main industrial relations developments in 1997, drawing on the EIROnline database records entered during the year. The review also provides a guide to using EIROnline, which is the heart of the Observatory's

    23 February 1999

    Online resources results (1688)

    Slovenia: Doctors' agreement could destabilise public sector salary system

    After six months of tough negotiations and industrial action by doctors, the government and the doctors’ trade union finally signed a collective agreement in March 2017. Doctors achieved most of their demands, which related to working standards as well as wages. The annual cost of the agreement has

    Finland: Latest working life developments – Q1 2017

    The effects of the decision by the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK to terminate most peak-level agreements with trade unions and a setback for employment policy reforms are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in

    Estonia: Latest working life developments – Q1 2017

    Sectoral collective bargaining in the healthcare sector, changes to the dispute resolution mechanism and equal treatment for men and women in the workplace are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Estonia in the first

    Cyprus: Disputes continue on health scheme proposals

    Debate is continuing over a draft law to replace the existing public health scheme, which provides free healthcare only to patients with chronic or incurable diseases and/or who are on low incomes. Trade unions and employer organisations oppose proposals for insurance contributions, with the unions

    Belgium: A short analysis of ‘Peeters law’

    A law proposed by Kris Peeters, the Minister of Employment, Economy and Consumers, has been met with mixed reactions by the social partners. The law, adopted by the Chamber of Representatives in February, aims to allow more flexibility in work organisation in order to modernise the Belgian labour

    Poland: Government enacts radical education reform despite opposition

    Amidst widespread union opposition, Poland’s controversial education reform plan was signed into law by the President in January and will take effect from September. The reform sees a return to the former two-tier system, with a focus on vocational training. The Polish Teachers’ Union is still not

    Italy: New industrial relations rules for SMEs in manufacturing and services

    In November 2016, a new agreement reformed rules for industrial relations covering SMEs in the industry and service sectors, fine-tuning provisions on decentralised bargaining and paritarian institutions. It also introduces a system to assess unions’ representativeness.

    Italy: New collective bargaining agreement marks a turning point for industrial relations in the metalworking sector

    On 25 November 2016, in the wake of a long-standing dispute, the social partners in the metalworking sector signed a new national collective bargaining agreement . It features new provisions on wage-setting mechanisms and private welfare and union rights, which could influence collective bargaining

    Romania: New law aims to tackle wage inequities in labour market

    The Romanian government has proposed a new unitary pay law aimed at addressing the increasing wage imbalances across sectors. This article looks at the social partners’ views and the relevant regulations.

    Austria: Autumn collective bargaining rounds give real wage increases of up to 1%

    Austria’s annual autumn wage bargaining rounds resulted in nominal wage increases of 1%–2% (around 1% in real terms, correcting for inflation). Collective agreements and wage increases were negotiated in the metal industry, retail sector, public sector, in temporary agency work and in several


    Blogs results (18)
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    Minimum wages have risen significantly in 2022, as the EU Member States leave behind the cautious mood of the pandemic. However, rising inflation is eating up these wage increases, and only flexibility in the regular minimum wage setting processes may avoid generalised losses in purchasing power amo

    15 juni 2022
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    In the context of the ongoing trend of a fall in collective bargaining coverage, and recent calls at EU level to promote collective bargaining coverage as an instrument to support fair and decent wages, new data from Eurofound’s fourth European Company Survey (ECS) show that two-thirds of workers (i

    28 oktober 2020
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    The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is having drastic consequences for the world of work. In most European countries workers who are not delivering essential ‘frontline’ services are being asked to stay home. Unfortunately many are out of work, while many of those who are not are minimum-wage and low

    1 april 2020
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    As one of their ‘100 days in office’ initiatives, the new European Commission intends to propose an initiative for an EU minimum wage. The aim is that by 2024 every worker in the EU should earn a fair and adequate wage, no matter where they live.

    15 januar 2020
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    Trade unions in many EU Member States face the issue of declining membership. This is a fundamental challenge for organised labour, but it is premature to speak about the redundancy unions: when it comes to important decisions affecting the workplace, restructuring being one, trade unions remain a p

    20 november 2019
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    The International Labour Organization (ILO) met for the first time 100 years ago, and right at the top of the agenda for discussion for this new specialised UN agency was the 8-hour working day. This discussion subsequently resulted in the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, which stated that ‘The

    12 november 2019
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    The European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work last year documented the case of a Dutch temporary work agency that hired workers of various nationalities to work for a construction company in Belgium. The wages were suspiciously low, and the Belgian Labour Inspectorate believed that EU law guarantee

    17 juli 2019
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    The votes have been cast, tallied and declared and we can now see the political landscape of the new European Parliament. It is a complex picture: there has been growth of far-right and populist parties, but well short of what was projected, and at the same time there has been a boost for pro

    seniority-based-entitlements-blog.jpg

    Seniority entitlements have largely been on the decline since the 1990s, and have been gradually phased-out from legislation in Europe, as well as in collective agreements. However, it would be premature to dismiss seniority-based entitlements as a thing of the past, as they remain in force across E

    17 april 2019
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    In this blog piece, originally published in Social Europe, Karel Fric and Camilla Galli da Bino look at the issue of discrimination against men in the workplace in Europe, and the current lack of research in this area.

    1 maj 2018

    Upcoming publications results (8)

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the graphical industry. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation

    July 2025

    This report reviews the quality of the national social partners’ involvement in the implementation of the reforms and investments shaping the digital and green transition in the context of national policymaking. These reforms and investments stem mainly from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

    March 2025

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the extractive industries sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective par

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the construction sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participatio

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the chemical sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the road transport sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participat

    December 2024

    This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the postal and courier activities sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effec

    November 2024

    This publication comprises individual country reports on developments in working life in each of the 27 EU Member States and Norway in 2023, based on national research and survey results. The topics covered include the political context in 2023; updates on the social partners and social dialogue ins

    July 2024

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