Monday, March 09, 2015
Tweet[IWS] EMCC: RESTRUCTURING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: ERM ANNUAL REPORT 2014 [4 March 2015]
IWS Documented News Service
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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
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NOTE: Funding for this service ends on 31 March 2015. Postings will end on this date as well.
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC)
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
RESTRUCTURING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: ERM ANNUAL REPORT 2014 [4 March 2015]
or
http://eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_publication/field_ef_document/ef1470en.pdf
[full-text, 132 pages]
The European Restructuring Monitor’s annual report for 2014 explores the rapid transformation of the public sector in Europe since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008. Initially, employment expansion in the sector helped to stabilise Europe’s economy while the private sector suffered severe job losses. However, subsequent austerity measures (or fiscal consolidation) have brought in their wake widespread restructuring in the public sector. Hiring freezes have meant the public sector workforce has shrunk and become significantly older, with more female workers. Lack of job security means working in the public sector is no longer quite as attractive. More restructuring will undoubtedly occur, and it is vital that those involved in its planning develop a more forward-looking, anticipatory strategy, to soften the blow for those workers who leave and to enhance conditions for those who stay.
CONTENTS
Executive summary 1
Introduction and summary 5
Part A: Recent labour market trends
Chapter 1: Labour market and restructuring trends 13
Background 13
Restructuring and employment shifts by economic sector 16
Flows out of employment and reasons why 21
Data and methodology 21
General trends 23
Reasons for the transitions from employment to non-employment 25
Conclusion 30
Part B: Restructuring in the public sector
Introduction 35
Chapter 2: Mapping restructuring in the public sector 41
Descriptive statistics 41
Characteristics of public services employment 41
Extent of public services/public sector employment 43
Recent employment trends in the main public service sectors 46
Qualitative implications of recent employment shifts in public services 49
Recent restructuring in the public sector – evidence from the ERM 52
Chapter 3: Motives for restructuring in the public sector 57
Impact of austerity measures 58
Impact of reforms and efficiency drives 60
Demographic factors 61
Chapter 4: Processes and actors 63
Financial agencies 63
International actors 64
Role of trade unions 65
Role of citizens 67
Role of ex-ante impact assessments 68
Chapter 5: Restructuring practices 71
Introduction 71
Quantitative adjustments on wages and working time 75
Quantitative adjustments on headcount 77
Phased/early retirement 78
Restructuring tools as an alternative to quantitative adjustments 80
Privatisation/Outsourcing/External service delivery 85
New forms of employment within the public sector 88
Chapter 6: Effects of public sector restructuring on stayers and leavers 93
Introduction 93
Impact of public sector restructuring on ‘stayers’ 94
Impact of job loss for the dismissed employees 99
Chapter 7: Conclusions 105
Bibliography 109
Annexes 115
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