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Ursula Holtgrewe, FORBA

Hard work. New and growing ‚bad‘ jobs in Europe and ways to improve them: Findings from the walqing project. Ursula Holtgrewe, FORBA Presentation to the „Addressing quality of work in Europe“ Conference, Sofia, October 18-19, 2012. Why is quality of work important?.

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Ursula Holtgrewe, FORBA

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  1. Hard work. New and growing ‚bad‘ jobs in Europe and ways to improve them: Findings from the walqing project Ursula Holtgrewe, FORBA Presentation to the „Addressing quality of work in Europe“ Conference, Sofia, October 18-19, 2012

  2. Why is quality of work important? Limitationsof „jobs, jobs, jobs“ policy inequality, „workingpoor“, expandinglow-wage sectors Access toandexitfromlabourmarket. Whathappens in between? Demographics, changing & diverse workforces, health, sustainability Changesin theworldofwork (flexibility, uncertainty, intensity) Global trendsandchallenges (restructuring, globalisation, financialmarkets, greening), crisis: austerity, disinvestment, welfarestateretrenchment, cost-cutting

  3. The aims of walqing: to investigate • Growing jobs in Europe with • Problematic working conditions, • Precarious employment, • Low wages, • and/or lack of social integration.

  4. Basic data • EU contribution 2.7 Mio. EUR • Duration December 2009 – November 2012 • 12 partners & 11 countries • Co-ordination by (Ursula Holtgrewe) • www.walqing.eu

  5. The aims of walqing: to influence policies and practices by ... … identifying the conditions of favourable “new and growing job” configurations in this context; … involving stakeholders in this assessment; … developing small-scale interventions (action research) … diseminating examples of good practice in Europe and exploring the limitations of such transfers; … identifying gaps in stakeholder, national and European policies.

  6. www.walqing.euwww.walqing.eu/webresource

  7. The design • analysis of European employment and quality of work and life data • Sectors selected based on that evidence: • Cleaning, Catering, Construction, Elderly Care, Waste Management • Stakeholder policies sector x country • Company case studies (theory-led selection) • Individuals’ careers and perspectives

  8. Case selection: data x theory x research strategy Analysis of European datasets (EWCS, ELFS, EU- SILC, EQLS) Construction Hotels & restaurants Care Cleaning Waste Growing sectors + Problematic working conditions + Gender composition Previous research & research interests Societal challenges, Recognisability newness for research F c t n Prev. knowledge Company types Small/large/ International public/privat Green construction Contract catering Mobile elderly care Commercial cleaning waste collection The Matrix b

  9. Results: Characteristics of „new and growing“ sectors • Cleaning, Catering, Construction, Elderly Care, Waste Management • address fairly basic needs: clean shelter, food, care, waste disposal • are labour-intensive services “on the ground” (except construction) • require mobility (work on clients’ sites) • face cost pressure by clients and employers (part public or ex-public sector) • are shaped by issues of sustainability and quality of life and shape them for society

  10. General observations • The range of job quality is enormous: • Bulgarian Roma street sweeper who can’t afford a bus ticket to work • vs an “empowered”, team-working, unionised, well-trained Norwegian or Belgian builder or cleaner • “Institutional anchors”, national employment regimes and worker voice continue to shape “new and growing jobs” • (policy-induced) market and competition logics mostly exert downward pressure

  11. Results: Dimensions of quality of work

  12. Results: Dimensions of quality of work

  13. Ways of addressing these issues: Observed good practices More: www.walqing.eu/webresource

  14. General findings: Contradictions Cost-cutting Outsourcing Work intensification Quality efforts Skill demands „high road“ Crisis Ageing workforces Second careers Establishing standards Investing into sustainable arrangements Segmentation Downward spirals Labour market „newcomers“, vulnerable groups

  15. Policy challenges to • Create safety nets against downward spirals, “level playing fields” • Support and develop comprehensive institutions to do this and enforce standards • Develop welfare and industrial relations to become more inclusive and extend beyond ‘core’ sectors/segments • Involve new actors (clients, NGOs) and address new issues (environment), support worker voice along value chains • Encourage and support investment in innovative job design

  16. Appendix: walqing research and output

  17. Appendix: walqing research and output

  18. Thank you and watch this space: www.walqing.eu Contact: holtgrewe@forba.at

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