European entrepreneurs see bright future ahead 2007 is looking brighter for the vast majority of European businesses, whose confidence has been boosted by this year’s stronger-than-expected economic growth. However, the benefits are not being felt universally.   Brief News : European companies are more confident about the business situation in Europe than in the past six years, according to an annual survey of the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES), released on 4 December 2006.  The report, which measures the mood among entrepreneurs for the coming year, shows that businesses across Europe believe that both export and domestic sales will improve in 2007, raising overall turnover and fostering optimism about investment and employment. Expectations […]

Forum 2005 – Reconciling labour flexibility with social cohesion  Social cohesion and flexicurity – The example of Denmark, Claus Hjort FREDERIKSEN, Minister for Employment  All European countries are facing the same challenge: Externally, globalisation places new demands on enterprises, employees and the labour markets. Internally, the demographic development – with an increasing number of elderly people and fewer active workers – puts pressure on the welfare systems and the possibility of attracting human resources. We cannot and we shall not work against globalisation. We must be prepared to reap the advantages of globalisation. For globalisation works both ways. We have seen this in Denmark. We have lost jobs but at the same time we have gained just as many. If we prepare and plan […]

EU to help soften blow of VW redundancies The European commission says it will propose a series of measures to help soften the blow of thousands of job cuts announced by Volkswagen. The carmaker has announced that it will end production of the Golf compact car at its Brussels factory, leading to 3600 redundancies at the Belgian site. The news was greeted with shock and anger in Brussels, with workers demonstrating and Belgian premier Guy Verhofstadt declaring that “I am disappointed to see that national interests are basically the reason for this decision”. VW will keep 1500 workers at the Brussels factory to build the Polo car, while the Golf will be made at the carmaker’s two plants in Germany. Danuta Hübner and Vladimir Spidla, the commissioners for regions and employment, […]

Algeria Bahrain Cyprus Egypt Iran Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Mauritania Morocco Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Sudan Syria Tunisia Turkey UAE Yemen   Main Countries  Saudi Arabia JEF 2007 adopts six segments concept to promote forum's theme of economic reform Taking a fresh approach under the leadership of its new Chairman Sami Fouad Bahrawi, the Jeddah Economic Forum 2007 has adopted a structural methodology to develop its theme 'Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons', by examining it from six different dimensions. With the objective of encouraging and assisting governments, businesses and   community leaders to harness the power of economic reform, each programme segment will take a look at an aspect of economic reform from local, regional and global […]

Vladimír ŠpidlaMember of the European Commission responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal OpportunitiesBoosting productivity and creating better jobsFinnish Presidency conference in cooperation with the European Commission "Boosting productivity and creating better jobs"Espoo (Finland), 16 and 17 October 2006 Reference:  SPEECH/06/598    Date:  16/10/2006     HTML: EN FR DE CS PDF:   EN FR DE CS DOC:  EN FR DE CS   SPEECH/06/598 Vladimír Špidla Member of the European Commission responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal OpportunitiesBoosting productivity and creating better jobs Finnish Presidency conference in cooperation with the European Commission "Boosting productivity and creating better jobs"Espoo (Finland), 16 and 17 October 2006 […]

Analyse intéressante des relations entre la mondialisation et le marché du travail qui reprend partiellement la typologie établie par André Sapir...       International trade raises the standard of living for most people in any country, but inevitably results in a loss of jobs for a few. The challenge for governments is identifying and implementing policies that support readjustment of those few workers at a reasonable cost. International trade accounted for about 4 percent of layoffs in Canada, the US and the EU in 2000, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Nations react to such layoffs with a range of policies: minimal state intervention and a flexible labor market, as found in the US; ample public support combined with strict government […]

Free trade may offer macroeconomic benefits, but it also claims human victims – laid-off workers who are lucky to find new jobs for less pay. The developed nations of Europe, with established manufacturing centers and generous social benefits, employ a range of strategies to compete globally with nations that have lower wages and minimal social protections. The second in this two-part series analyzes how Denmark prepares its economy for globalization while protecting workers. With a deliberate response to globalization and a program called “flexicurity,” Copenhagen offers laid-off workers a generous social safety net. If old jobs prove to be lost for good, the workers must undergo retraining for new jobs at government expense. As a result, Danish citizens do not fear change. By taking […]