The working hours issue in Sweden

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christer Sanne
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Welfare State ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Working Time ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
Male Labour ◽  
The Welfare State

The Swedish welfare state model is based on a high volume of male labour and steadily increasing labour market participation by women. General working time reductions to below the 40-hour norm did not previously enter into the trade unions' framework of goals, preference being given to individual working time reductions, for example in the form of parental leave. As a result of the employment crisis in the early 90s the prevalent conception of the welfare state based on economic growth was shattered, so that the idea of general working time reduction began to enjoy increased popularity in large sectors of the population, particularly among women.

40 Jahre Stabilitäts- und Wachstumsgesetz. Theoretische Analyse und statistische Evaluation einer verfassungsökonomischen Innovation

2008 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz Grossekettler
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Full Employment ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wage Policy ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThis paper considers the impact over time of the German “Economic Growth and Stability Law”, which had its 40th anniversary on the 6th June, 2007. After looking at the history and development of the law and the associated expectations, the intended functions are analysed critically. Inappropriate use of the law is analysed from the perspective of public choice, as well as the insufficient consideration of reaction delays and, above all, the underestimation of the role of expectations. Furthermore, attention is paid to the fact that planning and coordination problems have not been satisfactorily resolved. A comparison with a control group from major European countries is then used to determine whether one can talk meaningfully in the German context of particular success stories in countering fluctuations in business cycles, the development of governmental debt and of legal objectives with respect to “price level stability”, “high levels of employment”, “current account equilibrium” and “satisfactory economic growth”. It becomes evident that government debt and unemployment have risen more in Germany and that growth rates have declined more sharply than in the countries on which the comparison is based. After discussing the hypotheses for explaining the weak German growth, growth accounting demonstrates that changes in the demographic structure, the substantial shortening of working hours and early retirement, blunders in the reunification process and an aggressive wage policy on the part of trade unions, particularly in the seventies, are the main reasons for low growth. This wage policy was triggered by the expectation of the trade unions that, with the aid of the Stability and Growth Law, the state would ensure full employment. In reality, however, the wage policy led to a reduced rate of investment and growth. This process could only be terminated by the restrained wage policy of the past few years.

Zum Aufstieg und Niedergang des Normalarbeitsverhältnisses in Deutschland 1800-2010 - ein Forschungsprojekt

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Pierenkemper ◽  
Klaus F. Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Welfare State ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
19Th Century ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Modern Concept ◽  
Employment Contract ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
The Future ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
The Welfare State

AbstractThis paper attempts to trace the construction of the standard employment contract in Germany from the beginning of the 19th century onwards. In 20th century Germany, it was reinforced alongside with the consolidation of the welfare state and developed into the modern concept of the standard employment contract. Due to globalization forces and dynamics of capitalist market economies, the standard employment contract has turned into an obstacle in the way of modern economy’s progress. The future might be determined by increasing work flexibility, rising working hours, falling income and increasing unemployment rates, rendering the standard employment contract anachronistic and obsolete.

Streven naar het Scandinavische model?

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maroesjka Versantvoort
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Labour Market Participation ◽  
Market Income ◽  
Labour Market Position ◽  
The Welfare State

Towards the Scandinavian model? Effects of parental leave schemes on the labour market position of women Towards the Scandinavian model? Effects of parental leave schemes on the labour market position of women Increasing the labour market participation and emancipation of women has been and still seems to be one of the major socio-economic policy goals for Dutch policy makers. The new coalition agreement mentions an extension of parental leave rights, and a further granting of parental leave by means of life course policies as potential effective policies in this respect. This paper endeavours to provide insights in the labour market, income, and emancipation effects of these policies. For that purpose it reviews the relevant theoretical and empirical literature on the effects of career breaks and places the effects in the context of the welfare state. The paper concludes with a trade-off: extension of parental leave rights may lead to better job possibilities for women, but this effect tends to go together with lower wages, and less career prospects for women in general.

scholarly journals The welfare state, thresholds, and economic growth

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Fic ◽  
Chetan Ghate
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Welfare State ◽  
The Welfare State

scholarly journals Legal regulation of working hours and rest periods of seafarers in Ukraine and Finland

2021 ◽  
pp. 170-175
Author(s):  
D.O. Dmitrenko
Keyword(s):  
Trade Unions ◽  
Legal Aspect ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Working Time ◽  
International Labour Organisation ◽  
Overtime Work ◽  
Rest Periods ◽  
Labor Legislation ◽  
The Right

The article considers the legal regulation of working hours and rest periods of seafarers under the legislation of Ukraine in the comparative legal aspect with the legislation of Finland. Much attention is given to an analysis of working hours of seafarers, compensation for the overtime work and securance of the right of annual leave and regular periods of rest under the legislation of Ukraine and Finland, as well as conformity of Ukrainian labour legislation and social rights of seafarers with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006), and with the legislation of Finland. Ukraine hasn’t ratified any of the International Labour Organisation Conventions relating to working time and periods of rest of seafarers, and these issues are governed by the Regulation «On working hours and periods of rest of floating sea and river transport of Ukraine» (approved by Order of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine № 135 from 29.02.2012). Finland’s trade unions play an important role in working life of seafarers, by not only protecting their rights and providing decent working conditions, but also by deviations from certain provision of the Seamen’s Working Time Act (296/1976). Those deviations can concern reduction of duration of working hours, increase of payments for overtime work, providing additional rest time, etc. It is concluded that the labor legislation of Ukraine does not contain provisions on imposing sanctions on captain or shipowner in case of violation of seafarer’s right of normal working hours, annual leave and regular periods of rest, while in Finland, captain or shipowner can be prosecuted for improper or malicious violation of the procedure of the register of working hours, rest periods, compensation payments and annual leaves. Also Ukrainian legislation provide no legal mechanism for obtaining state and social guarantees by seafarers. The article suggests changes to national legislation by passing the law regarding seafarers labour rights and ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006).

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