Woliweb/Wage Indicator Newsletter 3, July 2004
Table of content:
1. WAGE INDICATORS NOW IN 9 COUNTRIES
2. THE ILO ENCOURAGES
3. RESEARCH FOCUS WOLIWEB/WAGE INDICATOR PROGRAMME
4. ONLINE METHODOLOGY: PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED
5. HARD BUT INFORMAL TEAMWORK
6. FROM SEPTEMBER ON: LAUNCHES IN EUROPE AND…
7. DOWNLOADS
1.
WAGE INDICATORS NOW IN 9 COUNTRIES
The wage indicator project spilled over the Dutch border. On July 8th, new national Wage Indicator websites in 8 European countries were launched during a festive meeting of all national teams and guests of honour in Amsterdam. This extension has been made possible by a grant under the EU FP6 research programme. Also a Chinese version could be shown, though not covered by the grant. It served as a reminder that interest in the project is not confined to Europe alone. Furthermore, the Dutch ‘family’ of Wage Indicator websites was enlarged by the introduction of a version aiming at the young, i.e. the target group that is entering the labour market for the first time. The Dutch ministry of social affairs sponsored the event.
About 70 participants witnessed the national teams testing their knowledge by playing the worldwide wage game. (Not?) surprisingly, the London based IDS
beat the others already in the first round. After the new Wage Indicator websites had been launched into cyberspace, they were wished a safe trip into orbit with champagne. For an impression go to
Pictures
Launch programme
WORLD WIDE WAGES GAME
Dutch website for youth
2.
THE ILO ENCOURAGES
Also present in Amsterdam on July 8th was the International Labour Organization, in the person of Frank Hoffer. The ILO welcomes the Wage Indicator project, he said, as an additional source of labour market data of which there was and is a great need. The ILO allows the Wage Indicator websites to publish its logo in combination with the letter of encouragement. It is truly exceptional, a great source of pride and a boost for the international Wage Indicator team.
See ILO-page
3.
RESEARCH FOCUS WOLIWEB/WAGE INDICATOR PROGRAMME
In her presentation during the Amsterdam event, research coordinator
professor Kea Tijdens laid out the research plan for the remaining
Woliweb-period of 2 years and 9 months. Focus will be on 4 areas she said, i.e.
1. gender pay gap
2. working hours preferences - work/life balance
3. collective bargains and real wages
4. job insecurity due to reorganizations
Her whole presentation can be consulted here.
4.
ONLINE METHODOLOGY: PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED
In his assessment of the Wage Indicator project, Harvard professor of
economics Richard Freeman stresses the importance of a large N, i.e. the
more visitors fill in the questionnaire the smaller the bias in the dataset will be, compared to random surveys. Professor Freeman thinks that remaining methodological problems can be solved. The even better news is that he adopts the project and is going to bring an American version online. See his conference paper
.
5.
HARD BUT INFORMAL TEAMWORK
Web manager Wage Indicators, Paulien Osse, in a ‘flashy’ presentation
inspires the international Wage Indicator team to work hard, but uphold a spirit of informal cooperation at the same time. See this page
.
6.
FROM SEPTEMBER ON: LAUNCHES IN EUROPE AND…
The days after the official launch of the new Wage Indicator websites were
primarily used by the national research teams to discuss the translations and adaptations of the master version of the online questionnaire. Between now and September/October the national questionnaires will be finalized and brought online. Then the groundwork, gathering data as fast as possible, can start! This means: before the end of October at least 8 national launches in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK.
Parallel to this, Wage Indicators in other new countries may be brought
online - faster than we now presume. Hungary is trying to be online before October. The US, personified by professor Richard Freeman and his web developing spouse, may hook up even faster.
And over the horizon loom Rumania, Norway, Sweden, Austria, India, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and - who knows - Russia. The Chinese launched is planned to coincide with the Chinese New Year. We keep you posted on these exciting events!
7.
DOWNLOADS
The following documents can be downloaded. They relate to
- Wage Indicator statistics
- model contracts
- EQUAL (before end of July)
- policy regarding data (online before end of July)
- 3 draft questionnaire (online before end of July)
www.WageIndicator.org will be regularly updated with documents as the Woliweb/WageIndicator-programme progresses and the Wage Indicator project develops
further.
All the best!
PROJECT TEAM
NEXT NEWSLETTER: First week of September 2004
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