Labour Market

Employment Participation and Support for Job Seekers

Equality in the Labour Market

Equality in the labour market promotes increased productivity and offers a more diverse perspective on projects, leading to advancement and a stable labour market. Framsókn emphasises that actions should be taken so that management in the business sector reflects the gender diversity in society.

Full Employment

The participation of all working-age individuals is not only economically important but also socially significant. It is vital to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to utilise their workforce appropriately. The societal benefit is substantial as social issues generally decrease with normal employment participation.

Framsókn wants to continue supporting projects like recruitment subsidies, which promote activity among job seekers and reduce long-term unemployment. Cooperation and efficiency between institutions providing services to job seekers and other employable people outside the labour market need to be enhanced, aiming to empower and/or retrain individuals to increase their chances of finding suitable employment.

Framsókn aims to simplify the social regulatory framework to facilitate people with reduced work capacity, such as the disabled, entering the labour market.

Flexible Retirement

Framsókn believes in offering individuals the option of flexible retirement based on their health and capability. Concurrently, changes in current legislation need evaluation to allow pension payments to continue beyond 70 years of age. It is also crucial to ensure that the employment participation of older workers on the labour market does not reduce their pension rights.

Support for Job Seekers

Livelihood / Unemployment Benefits

Framsókn believes it is important to support job seekers as much as possible to prevent individuals and families from falling into debt problems that are difficult to recover from. Unemployment benefits should be regularly reviewed concerning amounts and payment criteria according to the social conditions of the time. Reviews related to the financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic are examples, but regular review of the system is necessary to maintain its value and to define who are considered "active job seekers" according to the system's rules.

Activity and Maintenance of Work Capacity

The activity of individuals within the labour market is important from both an economic and an individual perspective. Support must be ensured for individuals at risk of falling out of the labour market by assisting them in engaging in employment according to their skills and abilities. In some cases, it might be a temporary departure from the labour market if support is sufficient, and those individuals can return to regular social employment activity with its positive effects.

Individuals unable to re-enter the labour market need other kinds of activity measures to turn to, whether it's employment with support, training, or otherwise. Activity promotes improved physical and mental health for those at risk of isolation.

Job-related Icelandic Lessons for Immigrants

Icelandic is the key to society. It is important that immigrants have access to accessible and diverse Icelandic lessons, including job-related Icelandic lessons. Framsókn wants to implement incentives for learning Icelandic and ensure immigrants' right to Icelandic education during working hours, free of charge.

Recognition of Overseas Education for Immigrants

Framsókn wants to facilitate immigrants in undergoing skills assessments and gaining recognition for their overseas education. Consistency in assessment by unions, other organisations, and the state regarding how such assessments are conducted must be ensured.

International Experts

Framsókn considers it favourable to make Iceland an attractive choice for international experts. Their presence can lead to advancements in their field and increase international opportunities for Icelanders. It is important for their residency to comply with rules, including tax laws.

Consideration must be given to the fact that international experts may be employed full-time in Iceland, but there are also examples of international experts classified as "digital nomads." They work online and regularly move their residence between countries. It is necessary to ensure that the flexibility provided by the rules for international experts is not abused.

People with Reduced Work Capacity

It is essential to make provisions for people with reduced work capacity within the educational system and the labour market, ensuring they have opportunities equal to those of others. Framsókn wants people with reduced work capacity to have the opportunity to participate in the labour market and wishes to continue strengthening labour market measures, such as employment with support.

Proactive Measures and Job Rehabilitation

Work-Life Balance

Framsókn considers it important that work-life balance exists. It aligns with Framsókn's family policy.

Proactive Measures and Occupational Safety

The labour inspectorate must be more powerful in taking action against companies that do not comply with employee safety laws and regulations. It is necessary to ensure that the measures available to the labour inspectorate, such as proactive measures, fines, or otherwise, are strong enough.

Burnout

It is important to examine why there has been an increase in burnout in the country. The causes and consequences of burnout and long-term illness in the workplace need better analysis, with subsequent work to combat those factors.

Rights and Obligations of Employees

Pay Equality

Framsókn reiterates the importance of pay equality, where equal pay is given for equal work.

Social Undermining and Violations of Collective Agreements

Cases involving social undermining, typically in project-based industries and involving foreign labour, regularly arise. Social undermining must be eradicated entirely. It must not happen that parties exploit people's distress for their own gain through social undermining. Unions and public bodies need to work together to be vigilant against social undermining and other violations of collective agreements to ensure safety in the labour market.

Status and Rights of Sole Traders/Self-employed

There is a need to review the status and rights of sole traders/self-employed individuals regarding whether specific regulations in certain areas are necessary or whether they should be simplified and improved. The rights of sole traders concerning parental leave, various requirements made to companies regarding registrations and certifications, and other issues that may be insurmountable except for small and medium-sized enterprises need to be examined.

Illegal Labour Practices

There is a need to prevent bogus self-employment from growing uncontrollably and to set clear boundaries. Bogus self-employment is also too common in other jobs, and it is important for unions, the state, and the entire labour market to cooperate in eradicating it.

Framsókn wants to address illegal labour practices and seek ways to control them.