Work, a Market Vision
No. 31 JANUARY 2013
«Work, a Market Vision» takes a broad approach to the organisation of labour relations in Portugal. At the top is its segmentation, which inefficiently distributes employment opportunities. The emergence of fixed-term contracts as an almost exclusive way of joining the labour market and the low rate of conversion of these contracts into long-term employment relationships promotes disinvestment in training and education. This is one of the main sources of inequality in Portugal and the main reason why Portuguese workers feel there is a lack of protection. In Portugal it takes too long to get back to work. The structural characteristics of unemployment are very worrying. Unemployment is an investment period, but it can become a nightmare if unemployment is long term. The duration of unemployment creates stigmas associated with being away from the labour market, which lead to longer and longer periods of unemployment. The lack of qualified people in the labour market is responsible for part of the structural difficulties of the Portuguese economy, resulting in low productivity and poor potential growth. Low qualifications also limit workers' opportunities in the labour market and are at the root of one of the biggest wage inequalities in Europe. The reason for the divergence of the Portuguese economy is the poor quality of our institutions. Their transformation involves the simplification of contracts and the creation of a correct framework of incentives for the investments of companies and workers. This essay shows a possible path forward. With the market as a partner.
«Work, a Market Vision» takes a broad approach to the organisation of labour relations in Portugal. At the top is its segmentation, which inefficiently distributes employment opportunities. The emergence of fixed-term contracts as an almost exclusive way of joining the labour market and the low rate of conversion of these contracts into long-term employment relationships promotes disinvestment in training and education. This is one of the main sources of inequality in Portugal and the main reason why Portuguese workers feel there is a lack of protection. In Portugal it takes too long to get back to work. The structural characteristics of unemployment are very worrying. Unemployment is an investment period, but it can become a nightmare if unemployment is long term. The duration of unemployment creates stigmas associated with being away from the labour market, which lead to longer and longer periods of unemployment. The lack of qualified people in the labour market is responsible for part of the structural difficulties of the Portuguese economy, resulting in low productivity and poor potential growth. Low qualifications also limit workers' opportunities in the labour market and are at the root of one of the biggest wage inequalities in Europe. The reason for the divergence of the Portuguese economy is the poor quality of our institutions. Their transformation involves the simplification of contracts and the creation of a correct framework of incentives for the investments of companies and workers. This essay shows a possible path forward. With the market as a partner.
More details
Dimensions
8 × 130 × 200 mm
ISBN
978-989-8424-76-1
Book available only in Portuguese
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