Two international reports open this edition. One is the recently published ILO flagship report,World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023 which examines the impact of economic slowdown on the global labour market; while the second one released by Adecco, Paying attention: A Report on Agency Work and Wages offers an interesting analysis of wages in the temporary employment sector.
The latest social dialogue developments from across the globe are featured in this edition. We report on a just transition programme in the Middle East and North African countries, the adoption of an agreement in Pakistan on safety in the workplace, and in France the signing of the first agreement in the ride-share platforms sector setting a minimum fare for rides. In addition, there is an article on a joint letter sent by the European Sectoral Social Partners organisations to the European Commission expressing their concerns about the review of the rules on financing the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees.
In other news, this edition spotlights legislation, blocked since 2017, finally passing the Senate in Chile significantly reducing working hours, along with new rules for temporary workers and agencies in the US state of New Jersey.
The protection of employee health also occupies an important place in the section of case law decisions. There is an analysis of a decision from the European Union Court of Justice on the employer's obligation to provide vision correction devices to screen washers, as well as decisions on the scope of the obligation to protect disabled employees and the limits in safeguarding their jobs. The Court of Justices also clarified the extent of the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Mental health also features in this edition with a review of an opinion delivered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in Australia.
We also examine the effectiveness and scope of active labour policies in Finland.
We conclude, as always, with some private initiatives, one on flexibility in work organisation and the other on adopting a company agreement on social responsibility.