Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002 (pdf) - mol.fi
Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002 (pdf) - mol.fi
Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002 (pdf) - mol.fi
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SUMMARY<br />
This research study is <strong>the</strong> second <strong>Work<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>Barometer</strong> concern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Baltic</strong> nations. Its purpose is to exam<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> current state of Estonian, Latvian<br />
and Lithuanian work<strong>in</strong>g life and recent changes <strong>in</strong> it. The results of <strong>the</strong> barometer<br />
are representative - that is, <strong>the</strong>y reflect <strong>the</strong> overall work<strong>in</strong>g life situation<br />
<strong>in</strong> each of <strong>the</strong> countries. Besides monitor<strong>in</strong>g changes with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Baltic</strong><br />
nations and mak<strong>in</strong>g comparisons between <strong>the</strong>m, it is also possible to compare<br />
<strong>the</strong> results with those for F<strong>in</strong>land. The study is part of <strong>the</strong> co-operation with<br />
neighbour<strong>in</strong>g areas implemented by <strong>the</strong> F<strong>in</strong>nish M<strong>in</strong>istry of Labour.<br />
The subjects of <strong>the</strong> survey were work<strong>in</strong>g people (both wage earners and entrepreneurs)<br />
aged 16-64 years <strong>in</strong> Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It covered 900<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g people <strong>in</strong> Estonia, 904 <strong>in</strong> Latvia and 909 <strong>in</strong> Lithuania. They were <strong>in</strong>terviewed<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own homes for <strong>the</strong> survey. The questionnaire form used <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviews had been prepared <strong>in</strong> co-operation by <strong>the</strong> project researchers<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r with experts on work<strong>in</strong>g life from <strong>the</strong> countries under study. Local<br />
market research <strong>in</strong>stitutes were responsible for select<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> sample and carry<strong>in</strong>g<br />
out <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>terviews.<br />
The research report is divided <strong>in</strong>to three parts. The <strong>fi</strong>rst part conta<strong>in</strong>s essays<br />
written by local experts with <strong>the</strong> purpose of giv<strong>in</strong>g an overall picture of <strong>the</strong><br />
countries to be exam<strong>in</strong>ed. The second part is <strong>the</strong> actual <strong>Work<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>Barometer</strong>,<br />
which is based on <strong>the</strong> research data collected speci<strong>fi</strong>cally for this<br />
study. It comprises n<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong>mes: unionisation and barga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, salary and<br />
livelihood, work<strong>in</strong>g time and contracts, stress factors, wage earners’ possibilities<br />
of <strong>in</strong>fluenc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir jobs, job satisfaction, telework and <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
technology <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g life, job-related tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and development of work<br />
organisations. The third part of <strong>the</strong> book is about current trends and future<br />
expectations.<br />
On <strong>the</strong> surface, observed from afar, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Baltic</strong> countries appear similar, but<br />
<strong>the</strong>re are considerable differences <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> practices that <strong>the</strong>y follow <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
life. In Estonia, <strong>the</strong> development <strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g life <strong>in</strong> recent years has been quite<br />
steady and even; and it has, on <strong>the</strong> whole, been positive. The trend has been<br />
towards ”normalisation”. This means, among o<strong>the</strong>r th<strong>in</strong>gs, a decrease <strong>in</strong> ex-