Fafo

Odd Bjørn Ure

Presentation during study visit from Bulgaria and Romania12 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

More information:

www.fafo.no

odd.bjorn.ure@fafo.no