German Bender, author at Social Europe

About German Bender

German Bender is chief analyst at the Stockholm-based think tank Arena Idé and a PhD student at the Stockholm School of Economics, specialising in industrial relations, wage formation and the influence of social partners on algorithms. He was previously senior research officer at the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO) and a speechwriter at the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO).

Algorithmic control

by German Bender on 12th February 2021

Work in the social sciences on algorithmic systems can inform how unions address their impact on the power balance between workers and employers.

The myth of job polarisation may fuel populism

by German Bender on 30th January 2020

There is only one problem with the theory that the labour market is becoming polarised between the low- and high-skilled. It’s wrong.

A Cautionary Tale To Be Had From Swedish School Reforms

by German Bender on 4th December 2018

Since the general election in September, Sweden has found itself in a political deadlock awaiting the formation of a government. One of the issues dividing the two main parliamentary blocs is whether there should be a cap on profit margins for publicly funded private schools. A government proposal to introduce such regulation was stopped by […]

FEPS Progressive Yearbook

Twenty-twenty has been an extraordinary year. The Covid-19 pandemic and the multidimensional crisis that it triggered have boosted existing trends and put forward new challenges. But they have also created unexpected opportunities to set a new course of action for the European Union and—hopefully—make a remarkable leap forward in European integration.

The second edition of the Progressive Yearbook, the yearly publication of the Foundation for European Progressive studies, revolves around the exceptional events of 2020 and looks at the social, economic and political impact they will have in 2021. It is a unique publication, which aims to be an instrument for the progressive family to reflect on the recent past and look ahead to our next future.

With a pandemic raging, for those countries most affected by Brexit the end of the transition could not come at a worse time. Yet, might the UK's withdrawal be a blessing in disguise? With its biggest veto player gone, might the European Pillar of Social Rights take centre stage? This book brings together leading experts in European politics and policy to examine social citizenship rights across the European continent in the wake of Brexit. Will member states see an enhanced social Europe or a race to the bottom?

'This book correctly emphasises the need to place the future of social rights in Europe front and centre in the post-Brexit debate, to move on from the economistic bias that has obscured our vision of a progressive social Europe.' Michael D Higgins, president of Ireland

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Renewing labour relations in the German meat industry: an end to 'organised irresponsibility'?

Over the course of 2020, repeated outbreaks of Covid-19 in a number of large German meat-processing plants led to renewed public concern about the longstanding labour abuses in this industry. New legislation providing for enhanced inspection on health and safety, together with a ban on contract work and limitations on the use of temporary agency employees, holds out the prospect of a profound change in employment practices and labour relations in the meat industry. Changes in the law are not sufficient, on their own, to ensure decent working conditions, however. There is also a need to re-establish the previously high level of collective-bargaining coverage in the industry, underpinned by an industry-wide collective agreement extended by law to cover the entire sector.

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Working on digital labour platforms: a trade union guide for trainers on crowd-, app- and platform-based work

This guide aims to raise awareness about the reality of platform work among national trade union organizations. It provides trade union trainers with all the necessary pedagogical elements to deliver education activities at national level, compatible with various professional sectors as well as different time/resource availabilities.

It covers a wide range of needs:

• information on the concept of platform work, its evolution and impact on the labour market;

• development of competences for trade union representatives involved in social dialogue in sectors with a high prevalence of platform workers, and

• raised awareness of the importance of trade union action for decent working conditions for platform workers.

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Industrial relations: developments 2015-2019

Eurofound has monitored and analysed developments in industrial relations systems at EU level and in EU member states for over 40 years. This new flagship report provides an overview of developments in industrial relations and social dialogue in the years immediately prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Findings are placed in the context of the key developments in EU policy affecting employment, working conditions and social policy, and linked to the work done by social partners—as well as public authorities—at European and national levels.

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