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

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