WageIndicator Gazette - 16 - October 2007
Russia: hit from the start
The Russian WageIndicator www.mojazarplata.ru was launched on September 1rst. And a fast take off it was. During the first six weeks an average of 50 completed questionnaires per day were submitted. This score, if compared to the data intake in other starting WageIndicator-countries, makes the Russian operation successful right away. This success is mainly achieved through cooperation with Independent Media Moscow. It offers the WageIndicator in the career section of its new Russian Business site RB.ru primarily directed to office workers in greater metropolitan Moscow.
Call centre agents: work in evening and weekends
A close look at the working hours of call centre operators in 3 European countries reveals that: Dutch call centre agents are most likely to work in the evening hours during the week. Their Belgian colleagues in addition to evening hours are likely to be called on duty on Saturdays too - much more often than the average employee in Belgium. In the UK call centres show yet another profile: over-average preference for working on Saturdays and Sundays, but relatively less so in the evening hours during the week. This outcome of a comparative analysis of WageIndicator data from September 2004 till March 2007 has been used as input for the October call center month. It is canvassed by Union Network International at www.killsecretmonitoring.org
Researchers: use WageIndicator survey for monitoring gender pay gap
Dutch researchers recommend the WageIndicator survey tool for monitoring wage trends linked to collective bargaining. STZ consultancy & research Eindhoven and University of Amsterdam/AIAS focused on union and HRM initiatives to ‘close the gender pay gap’ as the project was called. In food manufacturing, retail, finance, cleaning, public service, hospitals, other health care and social work women still earn less than man: in some on average 25-35% less per hour. Next to the monitoring of collective agreements they suggest the following remedies: Promotion of careering, Combined with adequate training; Stimulating women not to withdraw from the labour market for child rearing; Raising wages extra for the low paid, especially in cleaning and retail.
Preparing for a quantum leap to WageIndicator in 75 countries
The ambition of wageIndicator Foundation to reach out to 75 countries is alive and kicking. Here are some new initiatives inspired by its scope. 1• Proposal to include 4 new countries in Latin America with the help of our partners in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. The proposal has been submitted first week of October. 2• Plans to serve all of Spanish speaking Latin America. To submit - end of 2007. 3• A plan to develop a Russian WageIndicator web portal for post soviet countries where Russian is widely used as first or second language. 4• Similarly a plan for English speaking African countries. For Europe: Sweden will launch before end of this month. We can’t tell how many WageIndicator countries their will be by the end of 2008.
Paywizard.org in USA
The American operation has been reinforced by the recent launch - first week of October - of www.paywizard.org . It offers the salary survey, salary -, true pay – and credit calculators. On top a minimum wage check and an overtime pay check, both presented per State.
Equalpay website in The Netherlands
The Dutch WageIndicator team launched a site 100% dedicated to Equal Pay. The site covers small tests for employers and employees. A tool to scan a company on euqal pay. The site is sponsored by the ministery of Social Affairs. Check it out at Gelijkloon.nl
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!
