In a summarising blog, published by Eurofound, it is said that the growth in average (nominal) pay of employees has accelerated in recent years in EU countries after the slump following the economic crisis. Similar developments show up in data on collectively agreed wages. However, higher wage growth figures do not automatically mean that all employees benefit equally. The data illustrate the vast differences across Europe of the minimum wage rates and an included graph shows the nominal growth in statutory minimum wages. At EU-level, the discussion about the necessity of a minimum wage intensified in 2017. A second blog looks after the income inequalities and disparities in Europe. EU-wide income inequality declined notably prior to 2008, driven by a strong process of income convergence. The Great Recession broke this trend. After 2008, income convergence has been sluggish, while inequality within many countries increased significantly.
Read on: in English (1) … in English (2) …
For more information, please contact the editor Jan Cremers or Nuria Ramos Martin, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) cbn-aias@uva.nl or the communications officer at the ETUI, Willy De Backer wdebacker@etui.org. For previous issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit http://www.etui.org/E-Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter. Since June 2013 readers can consult our archive and search through all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net.
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