Transcript Fafo 2004 - hse

Fafo
Odd Bjørn Ure
Presentation during study visit from Bulgaria and Romania
12 August 2010
Fafo’s history
• Founded by the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) in 1982
• Re-organised into a foundation in 1993, with financial contribution from LO,
Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees Orkla + five large
companies (Umoe, Elkem, Coop Norge, Sparebank1, Telenor).
• Today Fafo is organised in two institutes;
– Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research
– Fafo Institute for Applied International studies
• Fafo now operates independently from LO
• Still close links with the trade unions; LO’s Secretary General is chair of
Fafo’s board.
• One of Fafo’s goals is to produce research of high relevance for the trade
union movement
Fafo facts and figures
• 100 employees; the scientific staff counts 82.
• In 2009; turnover close to 14 million EURO
• Around 10 % of the income is basic grant from the Research Council of
Norway
• Mainly commissioned research (+ some research grants from national and
international sources, such as the EU)
• Fafo conducts research for trade unions, employers’ associations,
government agencies, NGOs and companies
• Largest labour research institute in Norway
Fafo, Institute for Labour and Social research
Four research groups:
• Industrial relations and labour market issues
• Social policy and public services
• Company development and workers’ participation
• Social inclusion, training and skill formation
Most of the researchers are sociologists, political scientists or economists
International Cooperation and Networks
• Eur. Ind. Rel. Observatory; Fafo is the national centre of EIRO in Norway
• European Restructuring Monitor; Fafo provides information from Norway
• LabourStart; Fafo runs Norway’s LabourStart
• Harvard Program of Inequality and Social Policy
• BalticWelfare, Lifelong Learning 2010, Variable Pay, FORMULA
(consequences for Nordic labour markets of the enlarged EU).
Focus areas of Fafo’s trade union related research:
• Collective bargaining, trade union membership, trade union development,
labour conflicts
• Occupational health and safety
• Labour migration, minimum wage mechanisms, regulation of service
mobility
• Corporate governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Workers’ participation
• Working time
• Pension schemes
More information:
www.fafo.no
[email protected]