To what extent have policies aimed at enhancing flexibility been Essay

To what extent have policies aimed at enhancing flexibility been successful in reducing unemployment in Europe since the early 1990s - Essay Example um wages and policies of the labor market to empower employees, discouraging the employers from flexible working practices that could boost employment. It also affected the rates of tax, thereby making it difficult for employers to absorb more employees in from the labor market (Brodsky 1994 p. 68) The policy on minimum wages does not help employers in hiring more workers, especially the unskilled entry level graduates. It is believed that the rate of unemployment in Europe has steadily increased from 1970 to a high of more than 8% of the labor force in 2002. From 1990 and 1993, unemployment increased by 2.3%. This is an indicator of failure of labor market policies to enhance employment creation. It is mainly attributed to their rigidity. In order to solve this problem, â€Å"the OECD recommended an improvement in labor market flexibilities† (Brodsky 1994 p. 60) which include; non-wage labor cost reductions, enhancement of income re-distribution through re-assessment of the role of statutory minimum wages, job security provisions reforms and reforms in the benefits related to unemployment. These were the major policy drivers in Europe employed to reduce unemployment. Research indicates that the benefits associated with unemployment are highest in the European Union. More over, they are known to be prolonged and easily accessible to the population of the unemployed in the labor market. This is one factor that is seen to maintain the high unemployment rates. This provides evidence of lack of enough labor market flexibility that could enhance employment. It is what Nickell (1998) describes as â€Å"generous replacement rates† which have maintained the high unemployment patterns in European Countries. Even though there have been several draw backs in the efforts to reduce unemployment, the active labor market policies have served as a major tool for the government to increase the capability and motivation towards taking up the available jobs, including part time jobs.

Union Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Union Leadership - Essay Example The programs in the toolkit also offer guidance to workers (Melcher, 1992). The mandate of this action is to rescue the union from the worst depression that we are facing. The economic condition is deteriorating in an alarming rate therefore we risk facing retrenchment and rise in unemployment. I therefore urge all union workers to consider labor organization as a Political Action Committee to influence the outcome of the union. The reason why I have endorsed it is due to its flexibility and compatibility nature to accommodate the manifestos of our union. With all this I would like to ask you to elect me as the leader of the union. Having successfully contested and won a public office in my previous assignment and steering it to some outstanding achievement. I would like to given a chance to turn the tables round in this mantle. The position of women in union leadership has seen significant rise in the recent past. And it is now evident that women account for 37 percent for all trade unions under the umbrella of the International Labor Organization a key arm of the United Nation This field has however remained dominated by their male counterparts. Only two out of 95 unions in the AFL-CIO have women presidents. The increase of women leadership in the top national position has been very minimal over the past decade. Though there has been a major rise in women leadership in both local and regional levels they have not been able to find a ground to highlight their bargains and grievances to be heard (Swoboda, 1993). Unions have failed women in leadership since they reflect women’s problem at work places. This does not hinder the opportunities of women but also make them feel inferior hence they lack the morale to fight for top positions. The inclusion of women in top leadership in both local and national unions should be increased through unions accepting and paying attention to the growing