1. Quality of work in Europe:
2010 and beyond
Jorma Karppinen
Director, Eurofound
2 October 2008
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2. Quality of work in Europe
Large-scale economic and social change over 30 years
Traditional model of work is being questioned
Structures for analysing work need to evolve
to meet needs of workers and businesses
Eurofound and ANACT working to respond to these new challenges
Plotting path towards sustainable models of economic, social performance
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3. What is Eurofound’s
contribution?
30 years experience researching working conditions and quality of work
issues across the European Union
European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS)
European Company Survey (ECS)
European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO)
European industrial relations observatory (EIRO)
Core research: industrial relations, working conditions, quality of work and
employment
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4. Eurofound’s contribution:
European Working Conditions Survey
Unique survey across 27 Member States (plus candidate countries
Turkey and Croatia, Norway and Switzerland)
Comparative analysis of European working conditions
Every four years : first survey carried out in 1991
Expanded with enlargement waves
Questionnaire has evolved over time in order to better capture world of
work, but capturing trends remains key
15 years of charting the trends in working conditions
Differences between EU15 and NMS
progress, convergence, divergence
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5. Eurofound’s contribution
European Company Survey
European Company Survey on working time
First comparative survey across companies/establishments in former
EU15 and six new Member States in 2004 /2005
Complements existing Foundation data and research on working time
(e.g. EWCS results)
Whether, why, how companies make use of various working time
arrangements (e.g. part-time work, overtime, flexi-time, shift work,
phased and early retirement, childcare leave arrangements)
Includes all companies with 10 or more employees across all sectors of
activity, including public sector
Second ECS to be carried out in 2008
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6. Eurofound’s contribution
European Working Conditions Observatory
EWCO
Established in 2003
Part of Eurofound’s Network of European Correspondents
Provides regular information on quality of work and employment
issues in EU Member States and at EU level
Comparative analytical reports on specific related issues
Research focus on four key dimensions of quality of work and employment
ensuring career and employment security; maintaining the health
and well-being of workers; developing skills and competencies;
reconciling work-life balance.
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7. Eurofound’s contribution
European Industrial Relations Observatory
EIRO
Established in 1997
Part of Eurofound’s network of European correspondents
Collects, analyses and disseminates up-to-date information on industrial relations
developments at Member State and EU level
Comparative analytical reports on selected issues
Industrial relations research
Key research into role of social dialogue in development of working conditions
comparisons of industrial relations situation in Europe, the US and Japan
mechanisms for dispute resolution
new tools of governance
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8. Eurofound’s contribution:
2010 and beyond…2009-12 work programme
New forms of corporate ownership and governance
Implications of new forms of corporate ownership, governance, partnerships and company
networks for restructuring practices and industrial relations, employment levels, human
resources policies, working conditions, implications for social dialogue.
New services in a single European market
Identification of sectors where liberalisation may be expected to have a significant impact
on pay, employment, working conditions and quality of both public and private services in
many Member States.
Explore sectors of possible employment growth such as health and care in light of ageing
population.
Mobility of workers within free movement of services has implications for pay, working
conditions, and social security.
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9. Eurofound’s contribution:
2010 and beyond…2009-12 work programme
Social dialogue and the employment relationship
Role of social partners and dialogue at all levels as well as on impact of policies and legislation
to achieve sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and social inclusion.
cross-border cooperation, developments in collective bargaining at different levels, European
Works Councils, European Company Statute, information and consultation, evolution of inter-
professional and sectoral social dialogue, European and international framework agreements.
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable productivity, precarious groups; working conditions and
older workers; work–life balance; work organisation; absenteeism, violence and harassment,
stress with particular focus on the NMS
Working conditions and social dialogue, links between social dialogue and certain aspects of
working conditions (i.e. health and safety, work organisation, workers participation, wages,
stress, violence and harassment, etc.)
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10. Eurofound’s contribution:
2010 and beyond…2009-12 work programme
Social innovation, productivity and organisation of work
What kind of IR will contribute to success and productivity of new production models,
implications for traditional IR system?
What kind of organisational innovations required for companies today and what is their impact
on quality and productivity of work?
What are the emerging types of organisation of work ?
Gender, work and employment conditions
Gender differences in pay and working conditions, different career choices of men and women
and managing work-life balance
Particular focus on solutions agreed by the social partners at company, sectoral, national and
European levels.
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11. Eurofound’s contribution:
2010 and beyond…2009-12 work programme
Labour market adjustment to structural change
Analysis of impact of drivers of change on quantity and quality of jobs - European
Employment Trends (EET) monitor.
Addressing labour shortages
Specific topics to include measures to increase labour force participation of all groups
where participation is currently low; long term unemployed, older workers, women,
young people, foreign born residents, low-skilled workers, people with disabilities.
Matching existing and future skills with new demands.
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12. Eurofound’s contribution:
2010 and beyond…2009-12 work programme
Flexicurity
Comparisons of flexicurity in MS with special emphasis on life-course
perspective and involvement of social partners.
Flexible employment, employment security, active labour market policy,
labour law and social security as well as interaction of these policies and
different aspects of flexibility and security at workplace level.
Builds on existing work on flexicurity
Flexicurity resource pack – available to all participants!
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13. Wish you every success with the conference
Positive cooperation with ANACT
Thank you
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