IWS Documented News INTERNATIONAL

[IWS] PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE in the EUROPEAN UNION [online 16 July 2009]

2009-07-17T13:21:00.001-07:00

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

European Commission (EC)

Private health insurance in the European Union [online 16 July 2009]
Final report prepared for the European Commission, Directorate
General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Sarah Thomson and Elias Mossialos
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=559&furtherNews=yes
or
http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=3211&langId=en
[full-text, 333 pages]

Executive Summary
http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=3210&langId=en
[full-text, 9 pages]

The European Commission has published a report providing an overview and analysis of markets for private health insurance (PHI) in the European Union (EU).

Part 1 reviews market role, size, structure and conduct and public policy towards PHI. Part 2 focuses on the impact of EU law on public policy towards PHI. Part 3 examines the policy implications of PHI. It looks at the impact of PHI on health policy objectives within the market and on the wider health system. It also discusses barriers to market development and public debate about the current and future role of PHI.

Table of contents
Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... 1
List of figures.................................................................................................................. 2
List of tables.................................................................................................................... 3
List of abbreviations ...................................................................................................... 4
Executive summary........................................................................................................ 6
Introduction.................................................................................................................. 11
Part 1 Markets for private health insurance in the European Union ..................... 12
Market role..................................................................................................................... 13
What is private health insurance? .......................................................................... 13
What role does private health insurance play in EU health systems? ................... 13
Market size..................................................................................................................... 20
Contribution to health care finance........................................................................ 20
Levels of population coverage ................................................................................ 27
Levels of premium income ...................................................................................... 28
Market structure ............................................................................................................. 29
What drives demand for private health insurance?................................................ 29
Who buys private health insurance? ...................................................................... 30
Who sells private health insurance?....................................................................... 36
Market concentration.............................................................................................. 39
Market conduct............................................................................................................... 41
Policy conditions .................................................................................................... 41
Premiums ................................................................................................................ 42
Benefits ................................................................................................................... 50
Consumer choice and information ......................................................................... 52
Purchasing.............................................................................................................. 57
Insurer costs and profits ......................................................................................... 62
Public policy .................................................................................................................. 65
Regulation............................................................................................................... 65
Fiscal policy ........................................................................................................... 71
Part 2 EU law and public policy towards private health insurance........................ 75
Regulation and the Third Non-Life Insurance Directive ............................................... 76
Implications for government intervention in health insurance markets......................... 79
When can governments intervene? ......................................................................... 80
How can governments intervene?........................................................................... 84
Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 94
Part 3 The policy implications of private health insurance ..................................... 98
Framework for analysis.................................................................................................. 99
Implications within the PHI market ............................................................................. 101
Implications for the wider health system ..................................................................... 106
Market development and public debate ....................................................................... 124
Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 130
References ................................................................................................................... 132
Appendix A Note on methods ................................................................................... 143
Appendix B Contributor details ............................................................................... 145
Appendix C Country reports .................................................................................... 148
Belgium........................................................................................................................ 148
The Czech Republic ..................................................................................................... 160
Denmark....................................................................................................................... 168
France.......................................................................................................................... 179
Germany....................................................................................................................... 195
Hungary........................................................................................................................ 206
Ireland .......................................................................................................................... 215
Italy .............................................................................................................................. 226
Latvia ........................................................................................................................... 256
The Netherlands ........................................................................................................... 261
Poland.......................................................................................................................... 278
Romania ....................................................................................................................... 289
Slovenia....................................................................................................................... 295
Spain............................................................................................................................ 309
The United Kingdom ................................................................................................... 315

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

****************************************
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016

Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************

[IWS] RWANDA GENOCIDE TRIBUNAL: PAPERS PRESENTED at ROUNDTABLE on COOPERATION BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS & NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES, 26 to 28 November 2008, Arusha, Tanzania

2009-07-17T12:31:00.001-07:00

* The Completion Strategy of the ICTR: A Status Report by Justice Hassan B Jallow, Prosecutor, UNICTR

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/status-report-of-the-completion-strategy.pdf

[full-text, 9 pages]

Presenters: Justice Hassan B. Jallow, ICTR; Mr. Serge Brammertz, ICTY; Â Â Mr. Stephen Rapp, Prosecutor SCSL

NGO Panel:

The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in the Fight against Impunity

* In the Interests of Justice? Prospects and Challenges for International Justice in Africa by Mr. Dismas Nkunda, IRRI

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/challenges-for-international-Justice-in-Africa.pdf

[full-text, 7 pages]

* International Justice and the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region by Mr. Dismas Nkunda, IRRI

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/International-Justice-and-the-pact.pdf

[full-text, 15 pages]

Presenters: Ms. Cecile Aptel, ICTJ; Ms. Aisling Reidy, HRW; Mr. Gabriel Oostheizen, ICLS; Mr. Dismas Nkunda, IRRI; Mr. Jurgen Schurr, FIDH/Redress

NPA Panel 1:

Issues in International Cooperation (Mutual Legal Assistance) â" Focus on International and Regional Mechanisms

* Status and Future of State Cooperation with the ICTR by Richard Karegyesa

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/Future-of-State-Cooperation.pdf

[full-text, 12 pages]

* Presentation by Interpol by Mr. StefanoÂ Carvelli

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/interpol.pdf

[full-text, 8 pages]

Presenters:Â Mr. Richard Karegyesa, OTP-ICTR; Mr. David Fraser, Commonwealth Secretariat; Mr. StefanoÂ Carvelli, Interpol

NPA Panel 2:

The Challenges of National Prosecutions for International Crimes

* The Challenges of National Prosecutions for International Crimes--Canada by Joseph Rikhof

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/Challenges-of-National-Prosecutions-for-International-Crimes.pdf

[full-text, 6 pages]

Presenters: Mr. Philippe Meire, Belgium; Mr. Joseph Rikhof, Canada; Mr. John Lucas, Netherlands

NPA Panel 3:

The Challenges of Extradition for International Crimes

* The Challenges of Extradition for International Crimes by Paul Hardy, UK

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/extradition-international-crimes.pdf

[full-text, 27 pages]

Presenters: Mr. Paul Hardy, UK; Dr. Christian Johnson, Germany; Mr. Martin Ngoga, Prosecutor General, Rwanda

NPA Panel 4:

Challenges of Cooperation in Africa

* Presentation from Kenya by Keriako Tobiko

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/Keriako-Tobiko.pdf

[full-text, 9 pages]

* Presentation from Burundi by Pascal Barandagiye

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/challenges-of-cooperation-in-Africa_E.pdf

[full-text, 6 pages]

Presenters: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda; DRC; South Africa; Burundi

NPA Panel 5:

Access to ICTR Resources

* Access to OTP Evidentiary Sources - A Practical Guide - Ms. Ayo Fadugba C/IESS

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/Access-to-EvidentiarySources.pdf

[link not working -- contact author]

* Access to the ICTR Judicial Public Records database (TRIM) - A Practical Guide - Mr. Jean-Pele Fomete C/CMS

* Access to OTP materials post-closure - Mr. Richard Karegyesa, Ag. C/Prosecutions

Sexual Violence: Challenges in the investigation and prosecution of Sexual Offenders

* The investigation and presentation of evidence relating to sexual violence by Linda Bianchi

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/sexual-violence.pdf

[full-text, 10 pages]

* Way Forward Strategies by Renifa Madenga

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/Discussion-Points.pdf

[full-text, 6 pages]

* Challenges in the relocation of acquitted persons, released prisoners and protected witnesses by Roland Amoussouga

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/challenges-in-relocation-of-acquitted-persons.pdf

[full-text, 12 pages]

* OTP Best Practice Manual by Maria Warren

http://www.ictr.org/ENGLISH/international_cooperation/papers_presented/Best-Practices-Manual-Sexual-Violence.pdf

[full-text, 17 pages]

Presentation of Final Report
Chair: Justice Hassan B. Jallow, Prosecutor of ICTR

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

[IWS] WEF: AFRICA COMPETITIVENESS REPORT [4 June 2009]

2009-07-17T08:40:00.001-07:00

[IWS] AFDB: MOZAMBIQUE, BENIN, & MALAWI COUNTRY PROFILES [Bank Perspective] [16 July 2009]

2009-07-17T08:29:00.001-07:00

[IWS] WEF: MEXICO & BRAZIL 2009 COMPETITIVENESS REPORTS

2009-07-17T07:53:00.001-07:00

Mexico Competitiveness Report [22 June 2009]

http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/MexicoCompetitiveness/MexicoCompetitivenessReport/index.htm

http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Mexico/MCR_2009.pdf

[full-text, 128 pages]

Brazil Competitiveness Report [16 April 2009]

http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/BrazilCompetitivenessReport/index.htm

http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Reports/Brazil/BrazilCompetitivenessReport2009.pdf

[full-text, 151 pages]

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

[IWS] Call for Papers: THE RETURN OF KEYNESIANISM? THE WORLD ECONOMY IN CRISIS

2009-07-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

[IWS] Hans Böckler Foundation: COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT ARCHIVE

2009-07-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

[IWS] TOWARDS COMPUTER-AIDED COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: ENHANCING THE TRADE UNIONS POSITION UNDER FLEXICURITY

2009-07-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

[IWS] ILR Press: ILO & THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, 1919-2009

2009-07-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

[IWS] White House: PREPARING WORKERS OF TODAY FOR JOBS OF TOMORROW [13 July 2009]

2009-07-16T08:16:00.001-07:00

[IWS] SBA: HIGH-TECH IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES [16 July 2009]

2009-07-16T07:16:00.001-07:00

[IWS] ILO: MSEs & INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS & LABOR LAW: A VIEW [online July 2009]

2009-07-16T05:42:00.001-07:00

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

International Labour Organization (ILO)
Job Creation and Enterprise Development Department (EMP/ENTERPRISE)

Employment Sector
Employment Working Paper No. 18
A view on international labour standards, labour law and MSEs [online July 2009]
by Julio Faundez
http://www.ilo.org/empent/Whatwedo/Publications/lang--en/docName--WCMS_110485/index.htm
or
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_110485.pdf
[full-text, 70 pages]

Additional working papers from this unit are found at-
http://www.ilo.org/empent/WorkingUnits/lang--en/facet--ORG-_-ED_EMP----EMP_ENT----IFP_SEED-_-TYP-_-Publication-_-2678/WCMS_DOC_ENT_DPT_SEE_EN/index.htm

[excerpt]
The working paper examines the extent to which International Labour Standards
(ILS) apply to MSEs, as the International Labour Standards is the principal frame of
reference for seeking guidance on the design and application of labour legislation in the
national context.

ILO Standards are universally applicable to all workers and enterprises.
Nonetheless, although several ILS have been ratified by most developing countries,
application of Core Labour Standards as well as other International Labour Standards
have remained difficult in the workplace with subsequent absence of workers' rights and
protection and a general environment of inequity and vulnerability among various groups.
In the hope of increasing livelihood opportunities for the unemployed and
underemployed workforce, ILO's member States have created in their respective national
labour codes exemptions, exclusions and in some cases, parallel labour regimes for the
MSEs. Although ILS in several instances allow member States to adapt to the unique
national situations, such adaptation need not lead to the major portion of the workforce
and enterprises remain outside the purview of labour law.

Successful implementation of innovative policies and good practice requires taking
into account the special features of the context in which these policies and practices are
implemented. The success of some of the initiatives owes much to the cohesiveness of
members representing MSEs and to the responsiveness and openness of the national and
local political systems.

An interesting lesson that emerges from the experiences reported in this working
paper is the importance of enlisting the support of other state institutions in the efforts to
strengthen and enforce labour rights. A broader institutional strategy is especially
appropriate for ensuring respect of the fundamental principles and rights at work
protected by the ILO Declaration.

Table of contents
Preface.............................................................................................................................................. iii
Foreword .......................................................................................................................................... v
Executive summary ........................................................................................................................... ix
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Section 1: International Labour Standards and MSEs....................................................................... 3
1.1 Background................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 The ILS regime and international law .......................................................................... 3
1.3 ILS and flexibility......................................................................................................... 4
1.4 The ILS regime is inclusive and dynamic..................................................................... 5
1.5 Enterprise size as a factor in the ILS regime ................................................................ 5
1.6 Family enterprises and other small units ...................................................................... 7
1.7 References to small and medium-sized enterprises ...................................................... 8
1.8 ILS guidance on MSEs ................................................................................................. 9
Section 2: National legislation and policies towards MSEs.............................................................. 11
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Enterprise size and the reach of labour law .................................................................. 12
2.3 Collective representation and consultation ................................................................... 12
2.4 Collective bargaining.................................................................................................... 14
2.5 Wages and employment conditions .............................................................................. 15
2.6 Hours of work, weekly rest and night work.................................................................. 16
2.7 Employment protection and collective dismissals........................................................ 18
2.8 Labour inspection ......................................................................................................... 19
2.9 Occupational health and safety ..................................................................................... 21
2.10 Child labour .................................................................................................................. 21
2.11 Equality legislation and policies against discrimination............................................... 21
2.12 Maternity protection ..................................................................................................... 22
2.13 Parental leave................................................................................................................ 23
2.14 Concluding comments .................................................................................................. 23
Section 3: Laws and policies for the promotion of MSEs in developing countries .......................... 25
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................... 25
3.2 General features of MSE promotion laws..................................................................... 25
3.3 Labour law reform and MSEs....................................................................................... 26
3.4 Improving compliance with labour law ........................................................................ 28
Section 4: Achieving decent work in micro and small enterprises.................................................... 30
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................... 30
4.2 Improvements in law and governance benefit MSEs ................................................... 30
4.3 Representation and voice .............................................................................................. 31
4.4 Extending social security .............................................................................................. 35
4.5 Occupational health and safety ..................................................................................... 37
4.6 Labour inspection ......................................................................................................... 38
4.7 Initiatives on equality.................................................................................................... 38
4.8 International initiatives ................................................................................................. 39
4.9 Concluding comments .................................................................................................. 40
Section 5: Summary of conclusions .................................................................................................. 41
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................... 43
Annex ............................................................................................................................................... 53
Table 1: Collective bargaining coverage in OECD countries ................................................ 53
Table 2: Definition of collective dismissal ............................................................................. 54
Table 3: Labour inspectors in Latin America......................................................................... 55
List of boxes:
Box 1: Act for the Promotion and Formalization of Micro and Small Enterprises
(Law No. 28015, 3 July 2003), Peru.......................................................................... 28
Box 2: Puente Aranda, a small squatter settlement in Bogotá, Colombia............................. 31
Box 3: Self-help..................................................................................................................... 34
Box 4: Support of large firms................................................................................................ 35
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

[IWS] OECD: ECONOMIC SURVEY of BRAZIL 2009 [14 July 2009]

2009-07-15T10:46:00.001-07:00

[IWS] World Bank: CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFERS: REDUCING PRESENT AND FUTURE POVERTY [15 July 2009]

2009-07-15T10:37:00.001-07:00

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

World Bank
Policy Research Report

CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFERS: REDUCING PRESENT AND FUTURE POVERTY [15 July 2009]
www.worldbank.org/ccts-report
or
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2009/02/27/000334955_20090227075314/Rendered/PDF/476030PUB0Cond101Official0Use0Only1.pdf
[full-text, 384 pages]

Press Release 15 July 2009
Financial Crisis Highlights Need for More Social Safety Nets, Including Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT)
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:22244113~menuPK:34463~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html

Beijing, July 15, 2009 Demand for well-designed safety net and cash transfer programs to assist poor families is growing across the world, as 2009 has developed into a year of tough economic challenges-especially for households already hit by the recent food and fuel crises, and for governments concerned that the financial crisis could turn into a humanitarian one, according to a World Bank report presented in Beijing today.

The report, Conditional Cash Transfers: Reducing Present and Future Poverty, evaluates CCT programs that offer qualifying families cash in exchange for commitments such as taking babies to health clinics regularly or keeping children in school. It finds that these programswhere the responsibility for breaking out of poverty is shared by the state and poor householdscan reduce poverty both in the short and long term, particularly when supported by better public services.

After early successes in South Asia and Latin America, CCT programs are now found on every continent. They operate in more than two dozen developing countries, as well as in several developed countries, including the United States. In countries such as Mexico and Brazil, CCT programs were introduced as part of larger efforts to make safety nets more effective, replace badly targeted subsidies, or integrate smaller programs. Colombia's nationwide Familias program has generated important and positive evaluation results and has received sustained support from the World Bank.

CCTs have also grown tremendously within countries. Mexico's Progresa began in 1997 with 300,000 households; its successor Oportunidades now reaches 5 million households. Positive evaluations by researchers encouraged this scaling up. In economic terms, the program's transfers account for about one-fifth of the consumption of the median recipient household.

"With their focus on mothers and young people and their ability to deliver critical health and education services, conditional cash transfers are a vital safety net for countries seeking to help those hardest hit by the financial crisis," said Justin Lin, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President, Development Economics.

The report's analysis of more than 20 impact evaluation studies of these programs shows that CCTs have led to many positive results: higher household consumption; increased use of preventive health services; a reduction in child labor; and higher school enrolment.

"CCT programs have also helped modernize social sector management since they require coordination across many agencies," said Ariel Fiszbein, report co-author and Chief Economist for Human Development at the World Bank. "Many have built in careful monitoring and evaluation that is invaluable in assessing results objectively and helping design better programs going forward."

KEY LESSONS LEARNED

CCT programs should be seen as part of a social protection system. CCT programs are mainly intended to support poor households with children. They should be supplemented by other transfer programs such as social pensions or workfare to provide social protection to all vulnerable groups.

CCT programs have reduced poverty. In general, transfers have been well targeted to poor households, raising consumption levels among beneficiaries, and reducing the incidence of poverty by several percentage points. Concerns that participants might exit the labor force or have more children as a result of receiving cash are not borne out-such effects were absent or very small.

CCT programs have increased the use of health and education services. For example, in Mexico the CCT program decreased the drop-out rate between 6th and 7th grade by 9 percentage points; while in Cambodia, two pilot programs have reduced the drop-out rate between these grades by 20 to 30 percentage points. In Pakistan, another program increased the number of 10- to14-year-old girls in school by 11 percentage points. CCT programs have increased the use of preventive health care services in Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua by between 8 and 33 percentage points. Encouragingly, many of these improvements have been concentrated among the poorest households.

CCT programs cannot work in isolation. Using services more has not always translated into improved outcomes in health and education. For example, in Cambodia and Mexico higher school enrollment rates have not been matched by better performance in learning tests. To actually reduce child mortality or improve learning, CCTs need to be complemented by higher-quality education and health services and a strong focus on giving children a head start, such as via better nutrition or preschool programs.

"CCT programs enable households to make critical investments in child nutrition, health, and education," concluded Norbert Schady, report co-author and a Senior Economist in the World Bank's Development Research Group. "But many obstacles remain at the household level, including a lack of information and inadequate parenting practices. CCT programs are now experimenting with new complementary approaches to help address these constraints."

"CCT programs have growing relevance for China," noted Jack Langenbrunner, Human Development Sector Coordinator in the World Bank's Beijing office. "In Health, coupon programs are being piloted in Chongqing, allowing mothers to better access post-natal care services and child nutritional supplements. With growing numbers of multi-drug resistant TB patients (now over 100,000), CCTs also could be utilized to improve compliance with drug treatment programs, helping patients and reducing risks to those around them. To improve the quality and effectiveness of education, CCTs hold the potential in areas such as Early Childhood Development to provide cash to poor families if they can send kids to kindergartens or child centers. These could be used to help provide subsidies to poor families if the children can complete compulsory education, and, finally, CCTs can help in the areas of technical and vocational education and training by providing cash to poor families that send graduates of junior or senior secondary to enter into vocational schools and obtain skills certification."

______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

[IWS] Dublin Foundation: TACKLING the RECESSION: EMPLOYMENT-RELATED PUBLIC INITIATIVES in the EU MEMBER STATES & NORWAY [13 July 2009]

2009-07-15T08:37:00.001-07:00

[IWS] ILO: GUIDELINES ON SOCIALLY-SENSITIVE LABOUR FORCE RESTRUCTURING IN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE [February 2009]

2009-07-14T13:23:00.001-07:00

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Guidelines on Socially-Sensitive Labour Force Restructuring in South Eastern Europe
by Andrea Broughton
Institute of Employment Studies (IES)
February 2009
ISBN: 978-9-22122-203-3, pp. 76
http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pubs/report.php?id=ilo0609
or
http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pdflibrary/ilo0609.pdf
[full-text, 82 pages]

For related studies from the ILO Subregional Office in Budapest, see -- http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/eurpro/budapest/publ/employ/index.htm

ABSTRACT:
These Guidelines set out the main ways in which organisations can contribute to the socially-sensitive restructuring of the labour force. The report highlights practical considerations such as:

The roles that social dialogue can play at national, sectoral and company level.

The role of workforce consultation, beginning with how restructuring plans should be announced to the workforce, how the workforce should be informed and consulted about the restructuring, and how negotiations concerning restructuring should be conducted.

The measures that can be put into place to lessen the impact of restructuring.

If redundancies are inevitable, the range of measures that can be implemented to cushion their impact.

After considering these issues, in connection with the case study examples annexed to these Guidelines, a range of best practices and lessons learned are identified.

Contents
Foreword ............................................................................................................................ 7
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 9
Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 13
Current Statistics on Restructuring ............................................................................... 13
Existing Guidance ........................................................................................................ 15
EU Legislative Framework ............................................................................................ 16
Corporate Social Responsibility .................................................................................... 18
The Views of the Social Partners ................................................................................... 18
Sectoral Initiatives ............................................................................................................. 21
Energy Sector ............................................................................................................... 21
Manufacturing ............................................................................................................. 22
The Transport Sector .................................................................................................... 22
Restructuring in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans .......................................... 25
The Role of Social Dialogue .............................................................................................. 29
National-level Social Dialogue ...................................................................................... 29
Sector-level Social Dialogue .......................................................................................... 30
Company-level Social Dialogue .................................................................................... 31
Role of the State and Other Institutions ......................................................................... 33
The State ...................................................................................................................... 33
State role in Regional Restructuring ............................................................................. 34
Other Public Bodies ..................................................................................................... 35
The Role of Workforce Consultation ............................................................................... 37
Announcing the Restructuring ..................................................................................... 37
Informing the Workforce .............................................................................................. 37
Consulting the Workforce ............................................................................................ 38
Measures to Lessen the Impact of the Restructuring .................................................... 41
Reducing Non-core Staff .............................................................................................. 41
Introduction of Different Working Patterns .................................................................. 42
Cuts in Pay and/or Bonuses .......................................................................................... 43
Internal Redeployment ................................................................................................. 44
External Redeployment within the Sector and Outside the Sector ................................ 44
Training and Other Measures to Increase Employability ............................................... 45
Help with Job Search .................................................................................................... 47
Priority of Rehire .......................................................................................................... 48
Support for Entrepreneurship ....................................................................................... 48
Investment in the Local Economy in Order to Help Regeneration ............................... 49
Measures to Cushion the Impact of Redundancy .......................................................... 51
Downsizing across the Sector ........................................................................................ 51
Spreading Redundancies Evenly across Countries ......................................................... 51
Voluntary Severance ..................................................................................................... 52
Early Retirement .......................................................................................................... 53
Best Practice and Lessons Learned .................................................................................. 55
The Importance of Training and Development ............................................................. 55
Key Role for the State and the EU ................................................................................ 56
The Importance of a Coordinated Response ................................................................. 56
Implementing Redundancy Management ..................................................................... 56
Working with External Organisations ........................................................................... 57
Tailoring the Interventions ........................................................................................... 57
Passive vs Active Measures ............................................................................................ 57
Looking after the Survivors ........................................................................................... 58
Looking to the Longer Term ......................................................................................... 58
Influence of Social Dialogue on Outcomes .................................................................... 61
Annex: The Case Studies ................................................................................................... 63
CROATIA: Restructuring in the Shipbuilding Sector ................................................... 63
CZECH REPUBLIC: Restructuring in the Steel Industry ........................................... 65
MONTENEGRO: Restructuring in the oil Sector ....................................................... 67
SERBIA: Restructuring at the RTB Bor Group ............................................................ 68
SLOVAKIA: Restructuring in the Mechanical Engineering Sector ................................ 70
SLOVENIA: Restructuring in Manufacturing Industry ................................................ 71
Western European Examples ........................................................................................ 73

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