2008 discharge: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions EUROFOUND

PURPOSE: to present the final accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2008.

CONTENT: this document sets out a detailed account of the implementation of the Foundation’s budget for 2008. It indicates that the Foundation’s final budget amounted to EUR 21 million in 2008 (compared with EUR 20.2 million in 2007).

With regard to staff, the Foundation - with headquarters in Dublin (Ireland) - has 101 posts available of which 74 are occupied, and 10 other members of staff (Seconded National Experts, employment agency staff and Contract Agents), which is equivalent to a total staff of 87 undertaking operating activities, administrative tasks and mixed duties.

In 2008, the work undertaken by the Foundation included:

Monitoring and surveys

·        European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO): 572 information updates added, European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO): 159 information updates added and European Restructuring Monitor (ERM): 1 532 restructuring fact sheets added.

·        4th European Working Conditions Survey: secondary analysis (published: ageing workforce, work organisation, use of technology).

·        2nd European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS); completion of field work (31 countries; 35 000 interviewed), analysis of data; first results published (Resume).

·        European Company Survey; preparation of field work.

Employment and restructuring

·        European Restructuring Monitor case studies.

·        Impact of globalisation on selected sectors (Transport; Textiles; Energy).

·        Undeclared work (measures from five countries).

·        Changes in employment structure (Report ‘More and better jobs’).

·        Links between innovation, productivity and employment.

Work-life balance and working conditions

·        Working conditions and social dialogue.

·        Flexibility and security over the life course.

·        Global comparison of working conditions.

·        Older women workers in Europe.

Industrial relations and partnership

·        Codes of conduct and international framework agreements.

·        Dynamics of European sectoral social dialogue.

·        Working time and industrial relations; pay and industrial relations.

·        Stakeholder enquiry service: Liability in subcontracting processes in the European construction sector.

·        Employability and flexicurity.

·        Continuing vocational training and industrial relations.

Social cohesion and quality of life

·        Role of local authorities in the integration of migrants.

·        Demographic change and employment in social services.

Communication and sharing ideas and experience

·        437 publications, 1.59 million users sessions (average of 4370/day); 35 press activities; 2149 article cuttings with advertising value equivalent (AVE) of EUR 4.08 million, reaching 112 156 300 people, up from 58 765 900 in 2006; 242 journalist enquiries.

·        Promotion campaigns: four resource packs (Ageing, Globalisation, Flexicurity, Migration).

·        4 Roadshows (F, NL, CZ, GR).

·        Company Network Seminar: ‘Flexibility policies at the company level: a common interest?’ Foundation Seminar Series: ‘Developing workers’ skills - actors and actions’ - National Outreach Centres covering AU, BE, ES, FI, FR, HU, IT, LUX, SP, UK.

·        57 exhibitions and 52 visits to the Foundation.

The Foundation’s full 2008 accounts may be found at the following address: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu