WageIndicator Gazette -15-June 2007

Gazette special - FP6
This special edition of the WageIndicator Gazette is devoted to Woliweb-highlights. Woliweb stands for Work Life Web. This FP6-funded project served two purposes:

1. extending the Dutch WageIndicator to 8 EU-member states

2. experiencing what web surveys are all about.

At the conclusion of the project on March 31rst after 3 years, well over 300,000 valid questionnaires had been taken in. The data was analysed by researchers from all participating countries early 2007. A first selection of outstanding results is presented above.

Job insecurity and temporary work on the increase
Feelings of job insecurity in the EU are widespread and on the increase. They are not limited to temporary workers, as one would expect, but found also amongst the mainstay of the labour force. Large numbers of employees with an open ended contract in the age groups 35-55 also fear loss of their jobs, regardless of the type of industry they work in. And once they are out, chances are that their new job will be temporary. This is the most striking result from a comparison between Germany, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain using the WageIndicator dataset. It includes answers to the statement: I worry about my job security. >>

Unions face ignorance amongst young workers but may harvest too
The younger generation is less covered by collective agreements. This is one of the outcomes of an analysis of WageIndicator data in which 8 EU-states are compared. The study reveals sharp differences between countries. When bargaining coverage is low, this is particularly disadvantageous for the young. In Poland, where trade unions are marginalized, only 7 per cent of the young say they are covered by a collective agreement, compared to 35 per cent of those over 50. In the UK the respective figures are 21 and 37 per cent. On the other hand, in countries with a high bargaining coverage, the age differences in coverage are low. Especially in countries with low union density, union members turn out to be much more covered by collective agreements than non-members. >>

No time to retire
British research shows that there is a considerable group of men over 60 in the UK, who have to put in long working hours to make ends meet. They as a rule work more than 48 hours per week. They are found in a few sectors, most probably engaged in low skilled jobs. They have little formal education. The selected criterion which led researchers to this group is the fact that they signed an agreement with their employer to opt out from the European Working Time Directive EWTD. >>

Gender pay gap to be found everywhere
From its inception gender and pay has been a focal point in WageIndicator-research. Woliweb-research zoomed in on gender and pay in several countries: Denmark, Poland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. >>

Some jobs make for having children earlier, some don’t
Working in public administration, where leave arrangements are generous, jobs secure and contracts permanent, induces Dutch women and men to become parents earlier in life. Dutch women who work in financial administration, health and education have their first child earlier after finishing education than their female colleagues in manufacture and transport f.e. Also, Dutch women in male dominated companies or departments postpone becoming mother longer. This means that the choice for a particular study, occupation and work place influences one’s pro-creational options considerably – at least in the Netherlands. Apparently, the question parent now or never is job-related too. >>

ABANGAFRICA AND GOINAFRICA OFFER TRIPS FOR PRIZE WINNERS
Win a trip to Africa! An exciting opportunity offered by most of the WageIndicator-countries. A smart offer. Good for the WageIndicator project, great for the winners and a nice opportunity for GoInAfrica and AbangAfrica to offer their environmentally responsible tours and packages. Africa looks forwards to welcoming you!