This document summarizes the findings of the DialogoS+ project which examined best practices in social dialogue in the banking sectors of nine EU member states. It identifies four groups of experiences: 1) strong social dialogue practices in Denmark, Spain, and Italy, 2) emerging challenges to social dialogue in Portugal and Greece, 3) enhanced social dialogue in Cyprus and Malta when dealing with mergers and acquisitions, and 4) the challenge of building social dialogue capacity in Bulgaria and Romania. The analysis aims to understand different approaches to social dialogue in regulating banking employment across Europe.
TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION ISSUES IN BASE OF THE PYRAMID PROJECTSAnand Sheombar
The purpose of the research reported in this paper was to take one step closer towards a framework of cooperation issues in so-called BOP projects, specifically in the ICT arena, with the ultimate aim of developing a way to assess factors that may present a risk to the success of these projects. This framework could serve as the foundation for further research into developing a diagnostic instrument for this purpose.
Shaping a new regulatory and supervisory framework for the finance industryAristoteles Lakkas
The document outlines UNI Europa Finance's approach to shaping a new regulatory and supervisory framework for the finance industry in Europe in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Key points include calling for a comprehensive regulatory framework at the EU and global levels, focusing lobbying efforts on six priority EU legislative initiatives regarding financial supervision and responsible sales practices, and coordinating with affiliated unions and organizations to jointly influence financial reform.
The document summarizes recent economic trends in Europe. It reports that the euro area remains in a deep recession with rising unemployment, negative inflation, and strained government finances. Some signs of recovery are emerging, such as improving business confidence and stabilizing financial systems, but unemployment continues to rise in most countries. The surge in restructuring and job losses reported in previous quarters has declined slightly in the most recent quarter, but 125,000 job losses were still announced. The economic downturn is projected to last longer in Europe than other major economies.
The document is a newsletter from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) providing updates on ETUC activities, the trade union agenda, EU agenda, and positions on key issues. It discusses rising unemployment in Europe, calls for stronger financial regulation and a fair share of economic growth for workers, and demands guarantees from the EU on social issues.
This document discusses the evolution of communication strategies from 2003 to 2008. It outlines how assumptions that members don't use the internet or technology needed to be modified. From 2003 to 2006 the focus was on developing an online audience outside of traditional members and engaging in tailored online actions. From 2006 to 2008, emphasis was placed on embracing new technologies like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and text messaging as well as learning from models like the Obama campaign. The result was over half a million email opt-ins, an activist base focused on issues, and a department devoted to new media cooperation with campaigns.
Professional and Managerial Staff in Europe and their Trade Unions in the 21s...Aristoteles Lakkas
This document provides an overview of professional and managerial staff (P&MS) in Europe. It begins with definitions of P&MS according to the International Labour Organization, noting they are highly educated employees who perform intellectual work requiring judgment, initiative and responsibility. The introduction also presents statistics on the number of P&MS across Europe, which account for approximately one-third of the workforce. The remainder of the document contains 28 chapters with details on P&MS in individual European countries, including their legal definitions, representation by trade unions and working conditions. It aims to build understanding of this important and evolving sector of the European workforce.
TOWARDS A FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION ISSUES IN BASE OF THE PYRAMID PROJECTSAnand Sheombar
The purpose of the research reported in this paper was to take one step closer towards a framework of cooperation issues in so-called BOP projects, specifically in the ICT arena, with the ultimate aim of developing a way to assess factors that may present a risk to the success of these projects. This framework could serve as the foundation for further research into developing a diagnostic instrument for this purpose.
Shaping a new regulatory and supervisory framework for the finance industryAristoteles Lakkas
The document outlines UNI Europa Finance's approach to shaping a new regulatory and supervisory framework for the finance industry in Europe in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Key points include calling for a comprehensive regulatory framework at the EU and global levels, focusing lobbying efforts on six priority EU legislative initiatives regarding financial supervision and responsible sales practices, and coordinating with affiliated unions and organizations to jointly influence financial reform.
The document summarizes recent economic trends in Europe. It reports that the euro area remains in a deep recession with rising unemployment, negative inflation, and strained government finances. Some signs of recovery are emerging, such as improving business confidence and stabilizing financial systems, but unemployment continues to rise in most countries. The surge in restructuring and job losses reported in previous quarters has declined slightly in the most recent quarter, but 125,000 job losses were still announced. The economic downturn is projected to last longer in Europe than other major economies.
The document is a newsletter from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) providing updates on ETUC activities, the trade union agenda, EU agenda, and positions on key issues. It discusses rising unemployment in Europe, calls for stronger financial regulation and a fair share of economic growth for workers, and demands guarantees from the EU on social issues.
This document discusses the evolution of communication strategies from 2003 to 2008. It outlines how assumptions that members don't use the internet or technology needed to be modified. From 2003 to 2006 the focus was on developing an online audience outside of traditional members and engaging in tailored online actions. From 2006 to 2008, emphasis was placed on embracing new technologies like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and text messaging as well as learning from models like the Obama campaign. The result was over half a million email opt-ins, an activist base focused on issues, and a department devoted to new media cooperation with campaigns.
Professional and Managerial Staff in Europe and their Trade Unions in the 21s...Aristoteles Lakkas
This document provides an overview of professional and managerial staff (P&MS) in Europe. It begins with definitions of P&MS according to the International Labour Organization, noting they are highly educated employees who perform intellectual work requiring judgment, initiative and responsibility. The introduction also presents statistics on the number of P&MS across Europe, which account for approximately one-third of the workforce. The remainder of the document contains 28 chapters with details on P&MS in individual European countries, including their legal definitions, representation by trade unions and working conditions. It aims to build understanding of this important and evolving sector of the European workforce.
This report analyzes social dialogue practices in the banking sectors of nine EU member states to identify best practices and challenges. It groups the countries into four categories:
1) Best practices in Denmark, Spain, and Italy where collective bargaining plays a strong role in shaping effective social dialogue.
2) Social dialogue challenges in Portugal and Greece where sectoral collective bargaining, a key means of social dialogue, is emerging as a challenge.
3) Best practices in Cyprus and Malta where national unions enhanced social dialogue to regulate employment relations and deals with mergers and acquisitions.
4) Bulgaria and Romania where developing social dialogue is an ongoing process and collective bargaining is not yet firmly established in regulating banking sector employment relations
This document summarizes the key points of a paper on the role of business in civil society governance. It discusses how civil society organizations (CSOs) and businesses are increasingly forming strategic alliances to achieve their objectives. Such alliances allow them to share risks, resources, and complementary skills. However, they also carry risks related to incompatible cultures and objectives between the partners. The document uses the example of Hindustan Unilever Limited in India to illustrate how alliances with local CSOs and governments helped the company expand into rural markets among low-income populations. Overall, the strategic alliances are changing the governance of CSOs by increasing emphasis on performance measurement, accountability, and aligning more with business partners'
The document summarizes an online conference on public policy and corporate social
responsibility held from July 7-25, 2003. The conference explored the role of governments in
enabling CSR, how public and private sector priorities align in extractive industries, and the
relationship between CSR, trade and foreign direct investment. Participants shared expertise on
ways governments can promote CSR in developing countries. While CSR terms are not widely
used, many public programs support CSR goals. The conference aimed to identify optimal and
feasible policy interventions and build understanding of linking CSR and development.
Report 2011 Internal Communications Within Italian BanksEugenio Lanzetta
Recent research shows how social media promotes dialogue within Italian banks and
thereby helps define the social purpose of banks in the wake of a difficult decade.
Case study: Collaboration in Gruppo Banca Sella
Results of the 1st National Social Entrepreneurship ConferenceMentoringAE
The 1st Congress of Social Entrepreneurship in Greece was held in Athens on November 13, 2013. Over 600 people attended, including young entrepreneurs, scientists, and researchers. There were welcoming speeches from leaders of organizations like PROSVASIS and the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Athens about the importance of social entrepreneurship for addressing issues like unemployment and social exclusion in Greece. International speakers then discussed the growth of social entrepreneurship worldwide and how Greece can apply these models. They emphasized the need for cooperation across sectors and introducing social entrepreneurship concepts to youth. The event aimed to promote social entrepreneurship in Greece through improving legal/institutional frameworks and providing financial/mentoring support.
The Economic and Social Council will hold its Special High-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on 12–13 March 2012 at United Nations Headquarters, New York. The overall theme of the meeting will be “Coherence, coordination and cooperation in the context of Financing for Development”.
This document discusses establishing a European framework to facilitate the development of social investment funds. It provides context on social businesses, which target social goals over financial returns. Three examples of social businesses are described that provide employment for blind persons and those with autism. The document seeks input on whether private investment funds could better support social businesses and what steps might improve effectiveness of such funds. Respondents are asked to provide views to help the Commission develop proposals within this initiative.
The Community First action plan for innovation foresees, among its priority actions, a thorough exchange with the Member States and leading players in the field on the issues of start-up and growth of technology based enterprises and companies with a strong component of radical innovation.
This exchange was launched with a round table chaired by Edith Cresson on 9 December 1997 in Paris, and which gathered government officials, entrepreneurs, investors, academics and researchers, etc.
The round table helped to identify relevant themes and factors conditioning the success of technology-based and other innovative firms.
Further to the round table, three working groups have been set up to examine each stage in the development of the firm (gestation and birth; start-up and consolidation; growth). The list of participants is included in annex.
The objectives of the working groups were:
• to identify what constitutes good practice,
• to point out weaknesses and insufficiencies which may exist in the European Union (or in certain of its regions) relative to competing areas elsewhere in the world (especially the United States)
• to make proposals for possible action, in particular at European level.
These proposals for action concern private actors in a first instance. However public actors have an important role to play in fostering a favourable environment or in stimulating interaction between the different actors (in particular though public/private partnerships), without necessarily adding to public expenditure.
The work was carried out in three stages. Written contributions were called for by 20 March. A core group drawn from each working group met on 26 or 27 March 1998 in Luxembourg with the objective to analyse and further elaborate on the submitted contributions. A first discussion paper was then issued and circulated to each group. The current set of documents attempts to synthesises the contributions and comments to date.
The three discussion papers were reviewed in detail at the Luxembourg conference on 18 and 19 of May.
A careful reader will notice some overlap between the analysis and recommendations by each group. This shows that the process from the initiation of the idea to the growth of the company is a continuum and cannot easily be split in discrete phases. At this discussion stage, no systematic attempt has been made to suppress this overlap. It is a task to be carried out further to the conference. Only the more striking misallocation of suggestions or examples have been tackled.
To facilitate the synthesis a similar structure has been adopted for each group, reflecting the main issues at stake. Besides the description of the relevant boundary conditions, each group has therefore focused on four main influential factors:
• a conducive environment,
• access to skills and competencies,
• access to financing,
• access to markets,
Vocational education can drive sustainable economic growth by developing skills beyond specific jobs, like problem solving, communication, and entrepreneurship. Smart growth policies recognize that vocational education institutions can play an enabling role by linking to local businesses and communities. For vocational education to truly contribute to innovation and sustainable growth, policies must consider how skills are utilized by businesses and address the underlying factors that drive firm competitiveness, not just skills supply. Evidence shows vocational education can stimulate entrepreneurship and help address global challenges through innovative education programs.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Development Sector: A Conceptual Framework Shipra Sharma
The MSP paradigm emerged in response to the failure of both the structural (that over-emphasize the role of government in facilitating development process) and the neo-classical or neo-liberal theories of development (that negate the role of the government and regard free market economy as the key to economic development) to effectively address the complexities of development.
Discovery of key factors that may influence the success of multinational ICT ...Anand Sheombar
This document summarizes a research paper that investigated key factors influencing the success of multinational ICT companies in Base of the Pyramid (BOP) markets in Africa. The research analyzed 10 case studies of ICT projects through literature reviews, case reports, and interviews. Three key factors emerged: 1) BOP strategy and business model, 2) partnerships, and 3) product and service development. The paper argues that successful contributions in developing countries made through ICT depend partly on the health of relationships between partners.
This document summarizes a research article about the emergence of "social multinational" firms that pursue both private profits and social objectives. It provides some examples of microfinance institutions like Grameen Bank that have expanded internationally while targeting poverty reduction. However, the document notes that market forces alone may not support the growth of social multinationals and institutional innovations are needed. It aims to distinguish social multinationals from corporate social responsibility strategies and outline factors that could promote their development.
This document provides an overview of industrial relations in Europe in 2010. It discusses variations in trade unions, employers' associations, collective bargaining, and employee representation across countries. It also examines the challenges posed by the economic crisis and social partners' perspectives on policy responses. The social partners negotiated responses to the crisis at cross-sector, sector, and company levels through measures like short-time working schemes, national recovery plans, and consultations. Overall, the involvement of social partners helped minimize job losses during the recession.
Financial and Institutional Reforms for an Entrepreneurial SocietyDr Lendy Spires
This document introduces a special issue on financial and institutional reforms needed to transition Europe to a more entrepreneurial society. It summarizes the key findings and contributions of the 12 papers in the issue, which address different facets of Europe's entrepreneurial ecosystem including access to knowledge, financial resources, labor markets, and how institutions and entrepreneurship drive economic growth. The papers find that Europe needs more fundamental reforms to improve its entrepreneurial ecosystem compared to past approaches. Access to knowledge, financial resources, and labor are particularly important for supporting more startups and challengers that drive innovation and economic growth through creative destruction.
The document summarizes the key roles and responsibilities of governments, businesses, civil society organizations, the financial sector, and consumers in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through implementing the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. It argues that the Guidelines provide a framework for responsible business conduct and "doing no harm", while the SDGs establish an agenda for sustainable development and "doing good". Working together through multi-stakeholder partnerships is essential to address social and environmental challenges and restore trust between societies and institutions.
This document provides information about a meeting between EUROCITIES members and Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy. The key points are:
1) Hahn informed members about his new role coordinating urban matters across the European Commission to streamline activities.
2) He updated members on negotiations for structural funds, noting his proposals for more funding directly to cities have been watered down.
3) Members discussed progress achieving partnership agreements and operational programs in their member states for the next funding period.
1. The document analyzes a project in Sao Paulo, Brazil that aims to revitalize the microeconomy of the Grande ABC region through the plastics cluster.
2. It studied 42 small plastics companies and found most emphasize productive processes over market, management, or products. They lack strategic planning, training, and financing.
3. The project aims to help companies through services from local universities and institutions to develop new technologies and processes, improve management, and increase competitiveness through collaboration in the local productive arrangement.
Social Dialogue - Social dialogue for a competitive, fair and modern Europe 2015Eurofound
social dialogue, industrial relations,ndustrial relations, industrial relations, european industrial relations, industrial relations in Europe, labour relations, employment relations, social dialogue, trade, unions, crisis, cross-sector, employers, european company, european framework agreements, european works council, industrial action, industrial action, industrial relations, law, minimum wage, sectoral social dialogue, social dialogue, trade unions, wages, working time, bargaining in the shadow of the law, collective agreements, European commission, EU law, EU treaties, decentralization of collective bargaining, single employer bargaining, multi-employer bargaining, extension of collective agreements, favourability principle, opt-out, opening clause, erga omnes, commodity, ILO, dispute settlement, varieties of capitalism, coordinated market economy, liberal market economy, bi-partite, tri-partite, Val Duchesse, macro-economic dialogue, tri-partite social summit, social dialogue committee, working time, labor productivity, labor cost, trade union density, collective bargaining coverage, pay, autonomous agreements, telework, parental leave, BUSINESSEUROPE, ETUC, CEEP, UEAPME, mega trends, information and consultation, liberal market economy, coordinated market economy,years of European social dialogue since its launch in Val Duchesse in Brussels,eprésentativité des partenaires sociaux européens interprofessionnels, les partenaires patronaux,European social dialogue, European Union, social dialogue, industrial relations, IR, European industrial relations, social policy, Val Duchesse, employers, trade unions, collective bargaining union, European works councils, European framework agreements, European company statute, représentativité, partenaires sociaux européens interprofessionnels, syndicats
This report provides an analysis of the financial services sector in Europe. It begins with an overview of the sector's size, structure, and trends. It finds the sector has grown significantly in recent decades and become more globally integrated. However, employment growth has slowed. Three scenarios for the sector's future are then presented: 1) "Sustainable Finance" prioritizes long-term stability over short-term gains. 2) "Laissez-Faire" deregulates the sector. 3) "State Ownership" increases government control over financial institutions. Each scenario would have different impacts on skills needs. The report concludes with recommendations to strengthen regulation, support employment, and ensure workers have needed skills.
UNI Europa Finance is developing a two-pronged approach and set of activities to address irresponsible sales practices in the financial industry that contributed to the financial crisis. This includes 1) assessing problems related to inappropriate sales practices and proposing solutions, and 2) exploring how to improve regulation and risk management by involving finance employees. A key element is developing a model "charter on responsible sales" that financial companies would agree to with unions and stakeholders. In 2010, UNI Europa Finance will form an expert network to finalize the charter, conduct country reports, and hold workshops to disseminate the charter and discuss implementation. They also plan a coordinated "day of action" for affiliates across Europe and globally to raise awareness of sales and
This report analyzes social dialogue practices in the banking sectors of nine EU member states to identify best practices and challenges. It groups the countries into four categories:
1) Best practices in Denmark, Spain, and Italy where collective bargaining plays a strong role in shaping effective social dialogue.
2) Social dialogue challenges in Portugal and Greece where sectoral collective bargaining, a key means of social dialogue, is emerging as a challenge.
3) Best practices in Cyprus and Malta where national unions enhanced social dialogue to regulate employment relations and deals with mergers and acquisitions.
4) Bulgaria and Romania where developing social dialogue is an ongoing process and collective bargaining is not yet firmly established in regulating banking sector employment relations
This document summarizes the key points of a paper on the role of business in civil society governance. It discusses how civil society organizations (CSOs) and businesses are increasingly forming strategic alliances to achieve their objectives. Such alliances allow them to share risks, resources, and complementary skills. However, they also carry risks related to incompatible cultures and objectives between the partners. The document uses the example of Hindustan Unilever Limited in India to illustrate how alliances with local CSOs and governments helped the company expand into rural markets among low-income populations. Overall, the strategic alliances are changing the governance of CSOs by increasing emphasis on performance measurement, accountability, and aligning more with business partners'
The document summarizes an online conference on public policy and corporate social
responsibility held from July 7-25, 2003. The conference explored the role of governments in
enabling CSR, how public and private sector priorities align in extractive industries, and the
relationship between CSR, trade and foreign direct investment. Participants shared expertise on
ways governments can promote CSR in developing countries. While CSR terms are not widely
used, many public programs support CSR goals. The conference aimed to identify optimal and
feasible policy interventions and build understanding of linking CSR and development.
Report 2011 Internal Communications Within Italian BanksEugenio Lanzetta
Recent research shows how social media promotes dialogue within Italian banks and
thereby helps define the social purpose of banks in the wake of a difficult decade.
Case study: Collaboration in Gruppo Banca Sella
Results of the 1st National Social Entrepreneurship ConferenceMentoringAE
The 1st Congress of Social Entrepreneurship in Greece was held in Athens on November 13, 2013. Over 600 people attended, including young entrepreneurs, scientists, and researchers. There were welcoming speeches from leaders of organizations like PROSVASIS and the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Athens about the importance of social entrepreneurship for addressing issues like unemployment and social exclusion in Greece. International speakers then discussed the growth of social entrepreneurship worldwide and how Greece can apply these models. They emphasized the need for cooperation across sectors and introducing social entrepreneurship concepts to youth. The event aimed to promote social entrepreneurship in Greece through improving legal/institutional frameworks and providing financial/mentoring support.
The Economic and Social Council will hold its Special High-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on 12–13 March 2012 at United Nations Headquarters, New York. The overall theme of the meeting will be “Coherence, coordination and cooperation in the context of Financing for Development”.
This document discusses establishing a European framework to facilitate the development of social investment funds. It provides context on social businesses, which target social goals over financial returns. Three examples of social businesses are described that provide employment for blind persons and those with autism. The document seeks input on whether private investment funds could better support social businesses and what steps might improve effectiveness of such funds. Respondents are asked to provide views to help the Commission develop proposals within this initiative.
The Community First action plan for innovation foresees, among its priority actions, a thorough exchange with the Member States and leading players in the field on the issues of start-up and growth of technology based enterprises and companies with a strong component of radical innovation.
This exchange was launched with a round table chaired by Edith Cresson on 9 December 1997 in Paris, and which gathered government officials, entrepreneurs, investors, academics and researchers, etc.
The round table helped to identify relevant themes and factors conditioning the success of technology-based and other innovative firms.
Further to the round table, three working groups have been set up to examine each stage in the development of the firm (gestation and birth; start-up and consolidation; growth). The list of participants is included in annex.
The objectives of the working groups were:
• to identify what constitutes good practice,
• to point out weaknesses and insufficiencies which may exist in the European Union (or in certain of its regions) relative to competing areas elsewhere in the world (especially the United States)
• to make proposals for possible action, in particular at European level.
These proposals for action concern private actors in a first instance. However public actors have an important role to play in fostering a favourable environment or in stimulating interaction between the different actors (in particular though public/private partnerships), without necessarily adding to public expenditure.
The work was carried out in three stages. Written contributions were called for by 20 March. A core group drawn from each working group met on 26 or 27 March 1998 in Luxembourg with the objective to analyse and further elaborate on the submitted contributions. A first discussion paper was then issued and circulated to each group. The current set of documents attempts to synthesises the contributions and comments to date.
The three discussion papers were reviewed in detail at the Luxembourg conference on 18 and 19 of May.
A careful reader will notice some overlap between the analysis and recommendations by each group. This shows that the process from the initiation of the idea to the growth of the company is a continuum and cannot easily be split in discrete phases. At this discussion stage, no systematic attempt has been made to suppress this overlap. It is a task to be carried out further to the conference. Only the more striking misallocation of suggestions or examples have been tackled.
To facilitate the synthesis a similar structure has been adopted for each group, reflecting the main issues at stake. Besides the description of the relevant boundary conditions, each group has therefore focused on four main influential factors:
• a conducive environment,
• access to skills and competencies,
• access to financing,
• access to markets,
Vocational education can drive sustainable economic growth by developing skills beyond specific jobs, like problem solving, communication, and entrepreneurship. Smart growth policies recognize that vocational education institutions can play an enabling role by linking to local businesses and communities. For vocational education to truly contribute to innovation and sustainable growth, policies must consider how skills are utilized by businesses and address the underlying factors that drive firm competitiveness, not just skills supply. Evidence shows vocational education can stimulate entrepreneurship and help address global challenges through innovative education programs.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Development Sector: A Conceptual Framework Shipra Sharma
The MSP paradigm emerged in response to the failure of both the structural (that over-emphasize the role of government in facilitating development process) and the neo-classical or neo-liberal theories of development (that negate the role of the government and regard free market economy as the key to economic development) to effectively address the complexities of development.
Discovery of key factors that may influence the success of multinational ICT ...Anand Sheombar
This document summarizes a research paper that investigated key factors influencing the success of multinational ICT companies in Base of the Pyramid (BOP) markets in Africa. The research analyzed 10 case studies of ICT projects through literature reviews, case reports, and interviews. Three key factors emerged: 1) BOP strategy and business model, 2) partnerships, and 3) product and service development. The paper argues that successful contributions in developing countries made through ICT depend partly on the health of relationships between partners.
This document summarizes a research article about the emergence of "social multinational" firms that pursue both private profits and social objectives. It provides some examples of microfinance institutions like Grameen Bank that have expanded internationally while targeting poverty reduction. However, the document notes that market forces alone may not support the growth of social multinationals and institutional innovations are needed. It aims to distinguish social multinationals from corporate social responsibility strategies and outline factors that could promote their development.
This document provides an overview of industrial relations in Europe in 2010. It discusses variations in trade unions, employers' associations, collective bargaining, and employee representation across countries. It also examines the challenges posed by the economic crisis and social partners' perspectives on policy responses. The social partners negotiated responses to the crisis at cross-sector, sector, and company levels through measures like short-time working schemes, national recovery plans, and consultations. Overall, the involvement of social partners helped minimize job losses during the recession.
Financial and Institutional Reforms for an Entrepreneurial SocietyDr Lendy Spires
This document introduces a special issue on financial and institutional reforms needed to transition Europe to a more entrepreneurial society. It summarizes the key findings and contributions of the 12 papers in the issue, which address different facets of Europe's entrepreneurial ecosystem including access to knowledge, financial resources, labor markets, and how institutions and entrepreneurship drive economic growth. The papers find that Europe needs more fundamental reforms to improve its entrepreneurial ecosystem compared to past approaches. Access to knowledge, financial resources, and labor are particularly important for supporting more startups and challengers that drive innovation and economic growth through creative destruction.
The document summarizes the key roles and responsibilities of governments, businesses, civil society organizations, the financial sector, and consumers in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through implementing the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. It argues that the Guidelines provide a framework for responsible business conduct and "doing no harm", while the SDGs establish an agenda for sustainable development and "doing good". Working together through multi-stakeholder partnerships is essential to address social and environmental challenges and restore trust between societies and institutions.
This document provides information about a meeting between EUROCITIES members and Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy. The key points are:
1) Hahn informed members about his new role coordinating urban matters across the European Commission to streamline activities.
2) He updated members on negotiations for structural funds, noting his proposals for more funding directly to cities have been watered down.
3) Members discussed progress achieving partnership agreements and operational programs in their member states for the next funding period.
1. The document analyzes a project in Sao Paulo, Brazil that aims to revitalize the microeconomy of the Grande ABC region through the plastics cluster.
2. It studied 42 small plastics companies and found most emphasize productive processes over market, management, or products. They lack strategic planning, training, and financing.
3. The project aims to help companies through services from local universities and institutions to develop new technologies and processes, improve management, and increase competitiveness through collaboration in the local productive arrangement.
Social Dialogue - Social dialogue for a competitive, fair and modern Europe 2015Eurofound
social dialogue, industrial relations,ndustrial relations, industrial relations, european industrial relations, industrial relations in Europe, labour relations, employment relations, social dialogue, trade, unions, crisis, cross-sector, employers, european company, european framework agreements, european works council, industrial action, industrial action, industrial relations, law, minimum wage, sectoral social dialogue, social dialogue, trade unions, wages, working time, bargaining in the shadow of the law, collective agreements, European commission, EU law, EU treaties, decentralization of collective bargaining, single employer bargaining, multi-employer bargaining, extension of collective agreements, favourability principle, opt-out, opening clause, erga omnes, commodity, ILO, dispute settlement, varieties of capitalism, coordinated market economy, liberal market economy, bi-partite, tri-partite, Val Duchesse, macro-economic dialogue, tri-partite social summit, social dialogue committee, working time, labor productivity, labor cost, trade union density, collective bargaining coverage, pay, autonomous agreements, telework, parental leave, BUSINESSEUROPE, ETUC, CEEP, UEAPME, mega trends, information and consultation, liberal market economy, coordinated market economy,years of European social dialogue since its launch in Val Duchesse in Brussels,eprésentativité des partenaires sociaux européens interprofessionnels, les partenaires patronaux,European social dialogue, European Union, social dialogue, industrial relations, IR, European industrial relations, social policy, Val Duchesse, employers, trade unions, collective bargaining union, European works councils, European framework agreements, European company statute, représentativité, partenaires sociaux européens interprofessionnels, syndicats
This report provides an analysis of the financial services sector in Europe. It begins with an overview of the sector's size, structure, and trends. It finds the sector has grown significantly in recent decades and become more globally integrated. However, employment growth has slowed. Three scenarios for the sector's future are then presented: 1) "Sustainable Finance" prioritizes long-term stability over short-term gains. 2) "Laissez-Faire" deregulates the sector. 3) "State Ownership" increases government control over financial institutions. Each scenario would have different impacts on skills needs. The report concludes with recommendations to strengthen regulation, support employment, and ensure workers have needed skills.
UNI Europa Finance is developing a two-pronged approach and set of activities to address irresponsible sales practices in the financial industry that contributed to the financial crisis. This includes 1) assessing problems related to inappropriate sales practices and proposing solutions, and 2) exploring how to improve regulation and risk management by involving finance employees. A key element is developing a model "charter on responsible sales" that financial companies would agree to with unions and stakeholders. In 2010, UNI Europa Finance will form an expert network to finalize the charter, conduct country reports, and hold workshops to disseminate the charter and discuss implementation. They also plan a coordinated "day of action" for affiliates across Europe and globally to raise awareness of sales and
The Danish flexicurity model combines high flexibility in the labor market through easy hiring and firing of employees, with a strong social safety net and active labor market policies. Collective bargaining between unions and employers plays a key role in providing both flexibility arrangements as well as security measures for workers. While the model has supported Denmark's competitiveness, critics argue it may undermine training investments and social responsibility of companies. Maintaining the delicate balance between flexibility and security requires ongoing cooperation between social partners and the political system.
The document provides an overview of industrial relations developments in Europe in 2008. It discusses political developments in various European countries, including elections and changes in government. It also examines developments in collective bargaining, social partner activities, and the impact of the global economic crisis. The document contains information on industrial relations in 28 European countries and Norway.
This document summarizes data on working hours in Europe from 2008. Some key points:
- Average collectively agreed weekly working hours in the EU were 38.6 hours. Agreed annual working hours were about 1,740 hours.
- Among sectors, weekly hours were highest in metalworking (38.7 hours), followed by banking and local government (both 38.3 hours).
- Average annual leave was 25.2 days across the EU, but varied between older and newer member states.
- The report examines statutory limits, collective agreements, and actual working hours across various European countries and sectors.
This document summarizes data on working hours in Europe from 2008. Some key points:
- Average collectively agreed weekly working hours in the EU were 38.6 hours. Agreed annual working hours were about 1,740 hours.
- Among sectors, weekly hours were highest in metalworking (38.7 hours), followed by banking and local government (both 38.3 hours).
- Average annual leave was 25.2 days across the EU, but varied between older and newer member states.
- The report examines statutory limits, collective agreements, and actual working hours across various European countries and sectors.
The ICT sector can be divided into three main groups of self-employed workers:
1. Web designers and web hosts who work on smaller projects like websites. This group is estimated to make up around half of self-employed ICT workers.
2. ICT architects and developers, including programmers and systems analysts. In 2005 there were an estimated 21,800 self-employed architects and developers in the Netherlands.
3. ICT project managers who work on longer term assignments, often at a higher level of specialization and education. This group is estimated at around 10,000 workers.
The groups have different levels of tasks, clients, and skills. Overall the ICT sector is diverse and
This document summarizes a workshop on strengthening European Works Councils (EWCs) through external expertise. It discusses the roles of different types of experts - external consultants, trade union representatives, and others - in advising EWCs. The workshop presented case studies of external experts assisting EWCs in various companies and countries. There was discussion around developing common standards for approving external experts, recognizing the need to differentiate between specialized experts and more general advisors. The role of experts must be clearly defined to complement rather than replace the roles of EWCs and trade unions.
ΚΛΑΔΙΚΗ ΣΣΕ ΣΤΙΣ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΕΣ ΜΕ ΔΙΑΙΤΗΤΙΚΗ ΑΠΟΦΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΟΜΕΔ
Newsletter Dialogos+ Eng
1. Funded by:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
INE - OTOE
Labour Institute OTOE
DialogoS+
DialogoS+@ine.otoe
Social Dialogue is considered a driv- The best practices identified can assist in “learning from
ing force for economic and social each other” and facing the new challenges. In half of the
reform, a key to better governance countries examined in the project, social dialogue has been
of the new enlarged European Union indeed used as a driving force for economic and social
and a vital element of the European reform in the banking sector, generating practical solutions
Social Model. that helped in preserving the European Social Model.
The European project DialogoS+
examines the best practices in
social dialogue in the banking sector
of nine member states of the European Union by develop-
ing a comparative discussion and perspective which stimu-
lates ideas, analysis and important conclusions based on
the participative training by the project’s participant part-
ners just before the eruption of the global financial crisis.
This experience becomes even more important under the
new conditions of the current financial and economic crisis
which affects employment and industrial relations in the
banking sectors of every economy and society. On behalf of INE OTOE, we would like to thank all partici-
pant trade unions and their representatives for their active
Evaluation of international experience on social and productive way in shaping the development of the Di-
dialogue in respect with changes ensuing the new
economy in the banking sector and transfer of best alogoS+ project that helps to identify social dialogue best
practices to new member countries practices in the banking sectors at national level and high-
light how they can help us in meeting the new challenges.
The experience of social dialogue for regulating the trans-
formation of banking sector restructuring in nine old and
new EU member states indicates that, although sectoral Stavros Koukos
industrial relations remain mainly national, social dialogue is President ΟΤΟΕ
President ΙΝΕ-ΟΤΟΕ
not only theory or part of a normative approach, but has
provided noticeable ‘best practices’ in the banking sectors
at the national level that evolved till the eruption of the
global financial crisis.
Labour Institute of OTOE
2. DialogoS+
Best Practices for the European Social Dialogue in
The DialogoS+ project aims to promote the role of social The first group of “Best Practices” refers to three “old”
dialogue in the banking sector, strengthen the link between member states namely Denmark, Spain, and Italy. Their
old and new members and make European social dialogue common characteristic is the relatively strong role of col-
a force for innovation and change. DialogoS+ builds on the lective bargaining in shaping effective social dialogue in the
successful implementation of the previous project Dialo- banking sector.
goS by using new tools such as roadmapping and simula-
tion of social dialogue. It elaborates on the communication In Spain we consider as best practice the regulation of
mechanisms of the European banking sector trade unions’ M&As implications through collective agreements that
community in order to facilitate exchanging important ex- produced results embodied in the case of early retirement
periences, creating and diffusing knowledge, as well as iden- law for bank employees made redundant in the banking
tifying and transferring best practices. Given the context of sector restructuring process.
the international crisis in the banking sector, the outcome
of DialogoS+ aims to provide important added value on In Italy we consider as best practice the regulation of bank-
investigating how the crisis may affect employment rela- ing restructuring implications through collective agree-
tions and social dialogue dynamics and analyze what is and ments that were regulated through the innovative and col-
should be the role of employees within this environment. lectively agreed and operated “income support fund”.
In Denmark we consider as best practice the joint regula-
tion of banks and insurance sectors and the strong influ-
ence of the social dialogue in shaping the “flexicurity” solu-
tions in the banking sector.
The second group of national experiences refers to chal-
lenges for social dialogue rather than to “Best Practices”,
in the sense that the pre-existing pathway of developing
social dialogue is challenged. These challenges emerged in
the case of two “old” member states, namely Portugal and
Greece, were their common theme is the emerging chal-
lenge to the sectoral collective bargaining as a means for
By analysing recent developments in ‘national’ banking sec- effective social dialogue.
tor systems from a comparative perspective with regard to
social dialogue practices we have drawn interesting con-
clusions concerning the different degrees and the different
stages of social dialogue in regulating banking sector em-
ployment relations in nine EU member states.
This analysis and comparison of different national systems
in regulating employment and industrial relations in “na-
tional” banking sectors was formed according to contri-
butions made by DialogoS+ participant trade unions. For
analytical purposes, they were classified in four different
groups.
3. INE - OTOE
Labour Institute OTOE
the Banking Sector and New Challenges
The third group of na-
tional experiences re-
fers to best practices
of social dialogue that
emerged in two “new”
member states, namely For more information:
Cyprus and Malta, were
the influence of the na-
tional unions acting in
the banking sector en-
hanced social dialogue
as a means for regulating employment relations and more specifically in deal-
ing with “new comers” in the sector (through Mergers & Acquisitions) by
maintaining union membership and effective role for social dialogue. http://www.otoe.gr/dialogosplus
http://www.ine.otoe.gr
http://ineotoe.wordpress.com
DialogoS+
INE - OTOE
Labour Institute OTOE
(Coordinator)
Partners:
OTOE (Hellenic Federation of Bank
Employee Unions)
FABI (Independent Federation
of Italian Bank Workers)
The fourth group of national experiences refers to challenges faced by de-
Federacion de Servicios
veloping national unions in two “new” member states, namely Bulgaria and
de UGT (FeS-UGT) - Spain
Romania, were their common theme refers to the challenge of building social
dialogue capacity through increasing membership and establishing sectoral Sindicato Dos Bancarios
do Centro Direccao - Portugal
collective agreements.
ETYK (Cyprus Union of Bank Employees)
Malta Union of Bank Employees
FSAB (TUFIB) - Romania
Trade Union of the Bank Employees
Aristoteles Lakkas Dr Christos Ioannou and Workers in UBB - Bulgaria
Managing Director ΙΝΕ-ΟΤΟΕ Scientific Consultant DialogoS+ Finance Sector Union of Denmark
Project Manager DialogoS+
Vocational Training Centre DIASTASI
SEV (Hellenic Federations of Enterprises)
Brunel University - United Kingdom