The conference will address one of the most pressing topics of our time: the transformation of the labour society. From a unique North-East European perspective these key questions will be discussed: How do the states of the Baltic Sea Region react to challenges as the erosion of demographic structures or the emergence of learning and knowledge-based societies? How do they attempt to shape the social dialogue and harmonise new forms of employment into existing social security systems?
In addition to support received from the Nordic Council of Ministers, the conference is being co-sponsored by the German trade union foundation Otto-Brenner-Stiftung and the Baltic Sea School Berlin. Funding is also being provided by the European Academy Berlin, which will be hosting the event at its splendid villa in Berlin Grunewald.
Programme
Sunday, 8th December 2002:
9:30 Opening
Claudia-Yvette Matthes Germany, FOR:N
Thomas Alslev Christensen Denmark, Nordic Council of Ministers
9:45 Introduction
„Labour and society in the Baltic Sea Region“
Franz Thönnes, Germany MP, vice chairman of the SPD
10:30 First meeting of three parallel workshops
„Labour and education“ Chair: Tom Schumacher, Germany, FOR:N
„Labour and social dialogue“ Chair: Claudia-Yvette Matthes, Germany, FOR:N
„Labour and social security“ Chair: Carsten Schymik, Germany, FOR:N
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Second Workshop Meeting – Thematic presentations
„Labour and Education“
Ingmunn Eidskrem, Norway Norwegian Institute for Adult Learning (VOX)
Christoph Anz, Germany Confederation of German Employers´ Associations (BDA)
Borisas Melnikas, Lithuania Vilnius Technical University
„Labour and social dialogue“
Tadeusz Sulkowski, Poland Polish Confederation of Private Employers (PKPP) (to be confirmed)
Herman Knudsen, Denmark Aalborg University
Wolfgang Schröder, Germany Metal workers trade union (IG Metall)
„Labour and social security“
Anu Toots, Estonia Tallinn Pedagogical University
Lisbeth Pedersen, Denmark Danish National Institute of Social Research (SFI)
Berndt Keller, Germany University of Konstanz
15:30 Coffee Break
Third workshop meeting – Identification of best practice examples
18:30 Dinner
Monday, 9th December 2002:
9:00 Plenary session – Presentation of workshop findings
Jyrki Hakapää, Finland University of Helsinki
Ainars Dimants, Latvia Freelance Journalist
Mai-Brith Schartau, Sweden Södertörn University College
10:30 Coffee Break
11:00 Concluding Discussion
„Labour market policies in the Baltic Sea Region: a role-model for Europe?“
12:30 Lunch and end of conference