Interview
Why wages fell and profits surged
While disposable income has dropped for the third consecutive year in some EU countries, corporations made record-high profits. We sat down with political economist Mark Blyth to discuss why that is.
Swedish doctors and nurses' battle for proper rest breaks
"There are a lot of rural areas in Sweden and we must be able to secure people's right to healthcare and access to water, food and medicines. At the same time, we must protect the workers' right to daily rest."
The EU Commission has written a blank cheque to corporate CEOs
While president Joe Biden has made the creation of "good-paying, union jobs" a priority, the European Union is pursuing deregulatory policies more akin to those of his predecessor, Donald Trump.
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Latest News
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Opinion
How the EU can win the international race for talent
If united, the EU labour market can compete with other migrant destinations, both in diversity and size. But we need to have a frank discussion about workable solutions; a single labour market for international talent and not 27 competing policies.
Opinion
Illegal migration is a serious problem but legal migration can help Europe
The aim is to attract and retain highly skilled workers in sectors facing skills shortages by making admission criteria more inclusive, facilitating mobility within the EU, and making access to the labour market easier.
Opinion
The EU's working poor, a modern Dickensian nightmare
Europe is facing a critical social problem that risks further dividing our society, into one of extreme haves and have-nots.
Investigation
How France subverts collective bargaining to favour Big Tech platforms
As the EU is heading towards a bloc-wide law strengthening rights of platform workers, Paris hopes to avoid the future directive by introducing collective bargaining between gig-workers' representatives and the platforms.
Opinion
Profit-making has no place in care homes
Long-term care facilities are subsidised to a large extent by public money. When financial risks aimed at increasing profitability do not pay off, the state must step in to ensure the welfare of care recipients, from the public purse.
Women and frontline workers more often targeted at work
Women and frontline workers are most exposed to the risks of bullying, harassment, violence, verbal abuse or threat, resulting in burnout, exhaustion, anxiety and depression according to a study by Eurofound, an EU agency.
Leaving women behind in labour leads to economic loss
"It's important, especially in times of crisis, that we look at the benefits of gender equality," Carlien Scheele, the director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) said, adding that losing women in the labour market is a "shame".
'Healthcare drain': the EU's market-based medic migration migraine
While there is a shortage of healthcare workers all over Europe, wealthier European countries are recruiting healthcare workers from other parts of Europe. With dire consequences.
Stakeholder
Poor quality online work more prevalent in low-opportunity EU regions
A new report has found regional differences in the tendency for workers to take on low quality online jobs, with workers in less prosperous EU regions taking on more online jobs — often next to their 'traditional' jobs.
Feature
How can EU labour markets adapt to Ukrainian refugees in years to come?
The EU's response has been swift and coordinated, but will need adjustments to be sustainable in the long term if they want to effectively adapt their markets to Ukrainian workers.
The 'digital frontier worker', a response to address EU labour shortages
Telework in the EU has a growth potential of up to 49%—what if a status was created to work from any EU country without major bureaucratic hurdles?
Welcome to Work Week
In the spirit of ongoing experimentation, EUobserver presents our very first themed week. It's about work.
For France's 3m 'precarious workers', retirement age row is a sideshow
For France's over three million 'precarious workers' the retirement age has long been 67 — if they ever do retire.
How Europe can make work permits actually work
Coming to Europe to work from outside the EU is hard. Despite dramatic labour shortages across sectors and EU countries, work permits for non-EU workers are few and those that exist often leave workers at the mercy of exploitative employers.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- The Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
- Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
- UNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
- Georgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
- Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
- Global interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
A ticking time bomb: Europe's self-employed pensions
Recent research by the Bruegel think-tank warned that freelancers are, on average, at a much higher risk of poverty in old age than traditional employees. Here's how to fix this.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- 20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
- Join CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
- Seven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
- World Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
- Nordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
- Think-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics