Researchers at Lausanne's Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) have produced empirical evidence to back up the claim that the country is going through a phase of deindustrialisation as manufacturers seek to escape the effects of the strong franc by moving production abroad. The academic study concluded that the rapid and widespread rise in the number of deals leaves little doubt that many of them are correlated with the removal of the exchange-rate floor. This in turn could have a damaging effect on unemployment.
English: http://actu.epfl.ch/news/offshoring-looms-after-the-removal .
The report: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3 .
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In the annual report of the statistical office one chapter is dedicated to labour, employment and wage developments (chapter 3). The figures, graphs and data (per 31.12.2014) reveal the importance of foreign workers and commuters (53.3% of the workforce), mainly from Switzerland and Austria. The unemployment figures are very low (in December 2014: 2.4%). The average gross wage figures for 2012 show an increase to 6,380 Swiss Francs (5,800 euro), with higher than average wages in the education sector and in financial services. The wage gap between men and women at aggregate level totalled 17%.
The complete report (in German): http://www.llv.li/files/as/jahrbuch-2016.pdf
The social partners have contributed to the production of a works council manual on economic and financial reporting. The brochure, published by the Royal Institute of Auditors starts with a chapter that explains the role of the works council vis-à-vis the auditors. A works council has the right to receive economic and financial information in order to develop fundamental insight into the financial, social and economic situation of a company. The other chapters have the character of a guide with good practices for the social dialog in a company related to these issues.
French: http://flipbook.ibr-ire.be/brochures/brochure-conseil-entreprise/index.html
Dutch: http://flipbook.ibr-ire.be/brochures/brochure-ondernemingsraad/index.html
ArcelorMittal has closed the steel production site in Schifflange. In 2011, a temporary closure of the site was announced that affected around 700 workers. A tripartite agreement, which enabled early retirement and reclassifications of workers within other sites, guaranteed the workers interests at that time. There were only 15 workers left on the site. The company has now commissioned a feasibility study for the conversion of the area, with new developments as housing, shops and offices.
English: http://www.wort.lu/en/business/arcelormittal-steel-group-considers .
According to the head of the trade union confederation DGB the arrival of many displaced persons and new immigrants heralds an era of great challenges. Conditions and regulations are needed in order to make things work, along with investments in education, infrastructures and personnel. Therefore, a unique alliance promoting an international outlook, solidarity, democracy and rule of law has been formed. It is one of the largest civil society alliances ever seen in the country and is affiliated with organisations and umbrella groups in the fields of religion, sports, social welfare, nature conservationism and arts and culture. The DGB joined this alliance because integration and all its facets take place in the workplace, be it an office, a factory, a construction site or a supermarket.
English: http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-integration-in-the-workplace-is-key
German: http://www.dgb.de/themen .
Two of the top European executives for ride-booking company Uber are in court facing criminal charges of running an illegal taxi operation. They are also accused of commercial deception and violation of French privacy laws by illegally keeping passengers' personal information. The taxi industry has criticised Uber for not paying licensing fees and accused it of putting passengers at risk by working with untrained and unregistered drivers who are not properly insured. In recent months there have been protests by taxi drivers, who complain of unfair competition from services such as Uber.
English: http://www.euronews.com/2016/02/11/top-european-uber-executives-on-trial .
Consumer goods group Unilever is cutting 240 jobs (200 staff members and 40 agency workers) by shifting abroad some operations, particularly IT, finance and accounts to Mexico, Bangalore, Manila and Katowice. Both the FNC and CNV trade unions have expressed their doubts about what they call `the massive sale of jobs to low-cost countries'. The unions foresee serious logistical problems. Unilever has worldwide a workforce of some 175,000 people.
English: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/02/unilever-to-cut-200-jobs .
According to the latest figures, half a million children are working in different sectors, despite the fact that child labour is banned under Turkish law. Sweatshops in Istanbul's textile manufacturing hub are notoriously known for this abuse. A trade union leader demanded the government to tackle child labour. Companies involved should be revealed, but the whole sector should not be defamed.
English: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe .
The Italian-owned knitwear factory, Maglierie Cristian Impex, is one of the largest clothing factories in Romania, with about 1,000 staff. But some workers mutter they have not been paid while others say they received wages only once every two or three months last year. Workers, who are overwhelmingly women, are often hired on the legal minimum wage of less than 200 euro a month net and may earn even less, say workers and campaigners such as the Fair Wear Foundation and Clean Clothes Campaign. The Labour Inspectorate said inspections between 2013 and 2015 found the Zendoo Style factory in Calarasi did not respect the law on salary payments, working hours, overtime and rest time for workers. The company, which employed about 80 people, was fined for failing to rectify these issues. A report by the Clean Clothes Campaign, a group that lobbies to improve conditions for workers in the sector, found poverty-level wages, dangerous working conditions and forced overtime were `endemic throughout the garment industry'.
English: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/made .
UNI Global Union is calling on its 20 million members to send messages of solidarity to Smurfit Kappa Poland unions being discriminated by management. Smurfit Kappa Poland management has unilaterally ended wage negotiations and announced a pay increase to begin in April 2016 while bringing in a series of anti-union measures. Supervisors have been given special `training' by a firm of lawyers and new rules have been announced for all 5 of Smurfit Kappa's plants. Talking except on official breaks is banned and the supervisors have been asked to issue warnings; trade union representatives are not permitted to report back to their member and after shift union meetings on company premises are banned.
English: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/uni-calls-action-against-smurfit-kappas .