An interesting comparison of Eurofound examines the low-wage job debate in six European countries (Germany, Hungary, Norway, Romania, Spain and Sweden), illustrating a variety of objectives, measures, debates and responses. In many countries, the least-educated workers and those with less work experience face the greatest risk of being in low-paid jobs. The comparison refers to an evidence review, funded by the European Commission, which found that workers in low-wage jobs are often young and/or female, have low levels of educational attainment and are more likely to be members of a disadvantaged ethnic minority or immigrant group. Part-time jobs and temporary jobs are also more likely than full-time or permanent jobs to be low paid. While the creation of low-wage jobs could create more jobs, they exacerbate the issue of low pay and in-work poverty. The EC study also looked at the function of statutory minimum wages. Minimum wages create a wage floor and prevent employers from being able to pay very low ‘exploitative’ wages.
English: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observatories/other-eurwork …
The EC-report: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main …
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Trade unions affiliated to trade union confederation ÖGB concluded several collective agreements in the course of December. Trade union Vida settled a one-year deal for bus drivers (some 15,000 workers) with a pay increase of 1.4%, starting 1 January 2017. For workers and assistants in kindergartens the minimum wage will increase from 1 January 2017 up to 1,469 euro, based on an agreement that trade union Vida signed. Vida also settled a wage deal for domestic workers with an average pay increase of 3.7% and an improvement of the allowances to be paid to au pairs. Trade union GPA-djp concluded a one-year agreement for the staff at the chambers of accountants and tax consultants with a similar pay increase of 1.4%. GPA-djp reached a deal in the metal sector for staff workers (plus 1.43%). Union PRO-GE improved the minimum wages in several food related industries: in the carbonated drinks (plus 1.3%, with a minimum wage of 1,617.76 euro), in the vinegar and essence branch (plus 1.3%, with a minimum wage of 1,473,50 euro) and in the candy and confectionery industries (plus 1.45%, with a minimum wage of at least 1,651,30 euro).
German: http://www.oegb.at … -buslenkerinnen
http://www.oegb.at … -kindergartenassistentinnen
http://www.gpa-djp.at … -angestellten-im-metallgewerbe-2017
http://www.proge.at …
http://www.oegb.at … -angestellte-bei-wirtschaftstreuhaendern
The next indexation of salaries and pensions is expected from 1 January 2017. Indexation is a mechanism which enables earnings to keep in line with inflation. The last time earnings were indexed was in October 2013. The next long-awaited indexation has been shelved several times in 2016. The proposed bill states that the minimum wage for unskilled workers should rise to 1,949.86 euro per month, which represents an increase of 26.90 euro. As for skilled workers, this amount should increase by 32.28 euro to 2,339.84 euro.
English: http://www.wort.lu/en/business/wage-indexation-earnings-to-rise …
The government has taken a stand in the row over Uber's cut-price taxi service, urging local representatives of the U.S. app-based business to give its drivers a proper hearing after two days of noisy protests over their working conditions. The California-based start-up whose cab service has expanded exponentially worldwide stands accused of bypassing national labour protection standards and shunning collective negotiation with drivers who work on freelance terms. The government reacted after talks with drivers and unions. The Uber management had refused to deal with various unions that are seeking to present their demands, which include higher ride rates and floor-prices for trips. In the meantime, drivers continue with their protests.
English: http://fortune.com/2016/12/16/france-uber-protest/
http://www.thelocal.fr/20161223/uber-drivers-blockade-paris-airports
Post workers have joined a chain strike in demand for better wages. The chain strike is to last for an hour at each facility before moving on to the next site. The postal trade unions recorded over 600 workers who said they would join the strike. All three of the country’s post unions have been pushing for a wage increase for workers by 2,500 crowns (92 euro) a month. The government, responsible for the state-owned company, has described these demands as unrealistic in view of the company’s economic results. Employees have been promised a raise of just over 500 crowns a month. The average wage in the company is currently between 22,700 and 23,000 crowns (840 to 851 euro), that is more than 4,000 crowns less than the national average.
English: http://radio.cz/en/section/business/czech-post-workers-strike-for-higher-wages
Employees of the temporary labour companies Barona and Manpower organised a two-day walkout. Taking part were some 600 information technology experts working as customer service subcontractors around the country. The trade union Pro said the subcontractors were protesting plans by Barona and the Service Sector Employers group Palta to shift them and eventually all customer service workers to a different collective agreement, which would lower their wages.
English: http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/walkout_slows_teleoperator_customer_services …
First estimates based on the Economic Accounts for Agriculture (EAA) compiled by Statistics Austria reveal that, following a four-year period of decrease, the average agricultural income per worker (measured as the net value added at factor cost per annual work unit) increased with 7.5% in real terms in 2016 (2015: -7.2%). With the continuous reduction in agricultural labour input (-1.4%), agricultural factor income per worker, showed an even higher increase (+9.5%, in nominal terms). The statistical office published also regional data on the disposable income of private households per capita for 2015. Private households in Vorarlberg received the highest disposable income per capita in 2015 (€23 500). For the first time in the Regional Accounts time series, the disposable income per capita in Burgenland reached the national average of €22 200. The lowest disposable income per capita was recorded in both Carinthia and Vienna (€21 500). Vienna was the only region that showed a declining disposable income per capita (-0.2%). This was mainly due to the strong population growth of 1.9%, which was markedly above the national average of +1.0%.
English: http://www.statistik.at/web_en …
http://www.statistik.at/web_en …
The collective agreement for the steel sector that was concluded by the end of November (see our November Newsletter) was approved by an overwhelming majority of the workforce (80.1% of the workers voted in favour). On 1 December 2016, all three trade unions FIOM-CGIL, FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL had a meeting and issued a joint statement, calling the achieved agreement ‘a good contract for metalworkers’. The deal was sent for approval to the workforce for a binding referendum on 19, 20 and 21 December.
English: http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/225784/steelworkers …
http://www.industriall-union.org/italian-metalworkers-reach …
Energy ČEZ has agreed on a supplement of the collective agreement that results in a growth in wages paid in the company by 5% in 2017. Contractual wages will grow by 2.2%. According to a spokesperson, the company will allocate the volume particularly to departments and positions with the highest need of recruitments and retaining employees. She said that the agreement applied to parent company ČEZ employing about 5,500 people. ČEZ’s subsidiaries were negotiating on wages separately.
English: http://praguemonitor.com/2016/12/22 …
The statistical service published Cyprus in figures 2016, an online pocket book containing the most recent set of data on the main social and economic indicators. The data reveal that the population is aging and the labour force is shrinking. In the last four years, the risk of poverty and social exclusion increased to 28.9% of the population (coming from 27.1% in 2012). After years of negative wage growth, the 2015 figures show an increase of earnings in real terms of 1.6%.
English: http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statistics …