Despite a high unemployment rate, there are officially around 225,000 unemployed, companies are experiencing difficulties finding suitable employees. The problem has led to intensive discussions between social partners and the government on bringing in workers from abroad. The European Observatory of Working Life referred to a round table organised by the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) on how to provide the necessary workers for the economy. The trade unions believe that the problem is being exaggerated and that it can be solved by increasing wages and improving vocational training. The unions argue that this will motivate citizens to actively seek work and to stay in the country instead of going to work abroad. The trade unions are not against bringing foreign workers into the country, but they fear this approach could be used as an excuse for lowering wages and permitting poorer working conditions.
English: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observatories/eurwork/articles/croatia-increased ...
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Around 20,000 finance ministry workers went on strike to protest a move to cut their salaries. Finance ministry employees who staged a walkout are opposed to a draft law that trade union say will lead to salaries being slashed by 10 to 35%. The trade union said that strikes will continue after union leaders had unsuccessfully tried to resolve the issue for two weeks with government officials. The National Federation of Finance Trade Unions wants the government to maintain current bonuses that reflect ‘the complexity and importance’ of work performed by finance ministry employees and agencies subordinated to the ministry.
English: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article ...
In an overview of the record in different international rankings, it is said that the country devotes 22.8% of GDP to the social sector, which is above the OECD average. Slovenia was ranked 20th out of the 133 countries in the Social Progress Index and is the highest ranked country in Central and South-East Europe. The Gender Equality Index places Slovenia slightly above the European average.
English: http://www.slovenia.si/fileadmin/docs/15052017_Mednarodne_primerjave-ang.pdf
The International Monetary Fund says in a statement that the country should use its wealth to invest in infrastructure that will enhance its growth potential, and encourage employers to raise wages for higher consumption. The large and persistent current account surplus - 8.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016 - reflected high domestic savings and better investment opportunities abroad. A sustained rise in wage and price inflation is needed to help lift inflation in the euro area and facilitate the normalisation of monetary policy.
English: http://www.dw.com/en/imf-urges-germany-to-hike-wages-and-invest ...
The IMF statement: http://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2017/05/15 ...
Nurses have voted overwhelmingly to pursue a ballot for countrywide strike action this summer in protest at below-inflation pay rises. Nearly four out of five members (78%) of the Royal College of Nursing who took part in the consultative vote backed a walkout, while 91% favoured industrial action short of a strike. The large majorities reflect growing dissatisfaction within the nursing profession over wages. Nurses say they have experienced a 14% pay cut in real terms since 2010 because of the government’s cap on public sector pay. More than 50,000 of the RCN’S 270,000 members participated in the ballot. The union RCN has warned that low pay is partly responsible for tens of thousands of unfilled posts.
English: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/14/nurses-vote-support-ballot ...
Since October 2016, fast-food workers have been in a conflict with employers over fair pay and a living wage. In collective bargaining with the food workers union NGG, the companies have offered a wage which is considerably below what the government calculates as the minimum needed to build for a decent retirement. Since the start of 2017, more than 1000 workers and supporters have participated in protest actions and warning strikes at McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Autogrill. The employers have shown no serious willingness to negotiate a living wage.
English: http://www.iuf.org/w ...
Gothenburg dockworkers will vote whether to go ahead with industrial action against APM Terminals after the company announced a six-week lockout at Scandinavia’s largest container hub. The vote will take place as Atlantic Container Line considers leaving Gothenburg.
English: http://247customsbroker.com/gothenburg-dockworkers-to-vote-on-apmt-lockout/
Every fifth family with dependent children is financially poorly off, according to a new Caritas survey. Many find themselves in debt traps they are unable to escape from. The biggest factor behind families falling in debt is income poverty. Another important cause is insufficient legal regulation of consumer loans making the customers unprotected. Financial literacy also has an effect but overall it is more about people taking loans because they just can’t meet basic needs.
English: http://radio.cz/en/section/marketplace/caritas-holds-conference-on-how-families ...
The government published a brochure for companies that want to make sure they are in compliance with a law, which makes gender pay gaps an infraction. Based on the law that entered into effect in December 2016, fines from 251 euro to 25,000 euro can be issued to employers for every infraction. In the case of a repeated infraction within two years, the fine can be doubled up to a maximum of 50,000 euro. An infraction is given when a pay gap cannot be justified for objective reasons but is based on gender considerations.
English: https://www.wort.lu/en/business/labour-law-gender-pay-gap-punishable-by-law ...
The brochure (in French): http://www.mega.public.lu/fr/actualites/2017/05/egalite-salariale …
In his opinion on a case brought by the association of taxi drivers from Barcelona, the advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union considers that Uber is a transport firm, which requires a licence to operate. The decision is a set-back for the company that always argues it only provides technology to help drivers find passengers. If this opinion is endorsed by the Court when ruling in this case, it might mean Uber has to operate in the EU under the same conditions and safety rules as established taxi firms.
English: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology ...
http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/05/11/inenglish …
Details: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs ...