European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
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Professional drivers holding a driving licence of category C/C1 and D need to undertake training every five years after they have gained their basic qualification. The training covers a minimum of 35 hours (5 days of 7 hours), including courses on technology, modern driving and petrol-saving, social regulations and health and cargo securing. In category D, 42 hours (6 days of 7 hours) are compulsory. The training requires full attendance. After the training is completed the code '95' is entered in the driver's licence.
The law addresses drivers and does not include any obligation of employers to provide the necessary training. However, some collective agreements stipulate that employers cover costs for the relevant courses and/or allow participation during working time.
The amendment to the Ordinance on the Basic Qualification and Continuing Education of Professional Drivers was published with BGBl No. II 531/2021 on December 9, 2021. This transposes the Directive (EU) 2018/645 into national law and modernizes the Austrian system of Professional Driver Qualification modernized. Changes are e.g. the registration period for the exam will be shortened to 3 weeks (instead of six weeks previously). Notification of the examination will now take place 2 weeks beforehand (instead of three weeks before).
Eurofound (2015), Austria: Employees obligation to undertake training, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/employees-obligation-to-undertake-training/austria
Between the end of 2022 and the first half of 2023, almost 300,000 employees working for ‘big tech’ companies were laid off across the world, making headlines for months in global media. This development has been a shock, considering the high numbers of jobs in well-known tech corporations with a reputation for offering good working conditions and well-paid positions.
The retail banking sector is fertile ground for studying the impacts of digitalisation on work and employment. Financial services are increasingly provided online, without the intermediary of customer-facing institutions. Many banks in the sector have been undergoing serial restructuring since the global financial crisis, and it is one of the few service sectors with stagnant or declining employment.
Since 2011, the Restructuring support instruments database of the EU PolicyWatch has been collecting information on measures that assist companies and workers to anticipate and manage restructuring. This article looks at measures in the database aimed at supporting employees and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022).
Eurofound’s European Restructuring Monitor database reveals the impact of the energy crisis on employment in the EU. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, energy prices have hit record highs. The European Commission imposed sanctions and limitations on the import of oil and gas from Russia, which has reacted by reneging on supply commitments to many Member States.
