The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of important commonalities and differences between the Nordic labour regimes, and their paths of adjustment in recent decades. It is hoped that such an overview can be useful in the ongoing debates over how to adjust to changing external and internal circumstances. In such presentations it is common to draw attention to the direct indicators of labour market organisation, typically:
• A high degree of union affiliation of workers;
• Centralised agreements and coordinated bargaining at several levels;
• Extensive worker representation at the company and community levels;
• Well-developed, smooth regulation of working life in legislation and agreements.
In 2006 Fafo initiated a programme titled ‘Leadership, cooperation and corporate governance in Norway’. The programme is conducted in cooperation with the Council of Fafo, where all the founding organisations of Fafo are represented. The aim is that the Council programme shall serve as an arena for exchange of views, experience and ideas as well as initiation and dissemination of research-based knowledge of relevance to the founders and the wider society. Based on a bundle of projects initiated for the period 2006 to 2008 (see next page), a series of working papers will be published and a web-page with relevant working life data and information is being developed.
• A high degree of union affiliation of workers;
• Centralised agreements and coordinated bargaining at several levels;
• Extensive worker representation at the company and community levels;
• Well-developed, smooth regulation of working life in legislation and agreements.
In 2006 Fafo initiated a programme titled ‘Leadership, cooperation and corporate governance in Norway’. The programme is conducted in cooperation with the Council of Fafo, where all the founding organisations of Fafo are represented. The aim is that the Council programme shall serve as an arena for exchange of views, experience and ideas as well as initiation and dissemination of research-based knowledge of relevance to the founders and the wider society. Based on a bundle of projects initiated for the period 2006 to 2008 (see next page), a series of working papers will be published and a web-page with relevant working life data and information is being developed.
