Social Policy Guides

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Doing business in Portugal: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 01 May 2012, 15:58 CET

The Portuguese Labour Code defines the workplace rules applicable to the employees of a business.

Doing business in Luxembourg: Sustainability by Ina Dimireva — last modified 01 May 2012, 23:00 CET

Even though legislation in Luxembourg does not oblige businesses to adopt sustainability practices, the government gives advice on how improving companies' corporate social responsibility can be beneficial for them.

Doing business in Luxembourg: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 28 April 2012, 13:23 CET

The Labour Code in Luxembourg covers employee rights regarding health and safety in the workplace, discrimination, recruitment, dismissal, and employment contracts.

Doing business in Lithuania: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 27 April 2012, 22:01 CET

This guide outlines the major social rules on staff welfare in Lithuania.

Doing business in Latvia: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 24 April 2012, 12:33 CET

The guide summarizes the main legislation that sets out employment and social rules in Latvia.

Doing business in Hungary: Sustainability by Ina Dimireva — last modified 11 April 2012, 23:12 CET

Hungarian legislation defines certain rules that businesses have to follow in order to ensure that their activities do not have adverse social and environmental impacts.

Doing business in Hungary: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 10 April 2012, 11:37 CET

Social legislation in Hungary ensures equal opportunities for men and women and sets health and safety standards at the workplace.

Doing business in Cyprus: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 03 April 2012, 12:27 CET

According to Cypriot legislation, banning all forms of discrimination with regard to employment and gender equality in terms of employees' rights and obligations in the workplace is guaranteed through relevant acts, both in employment and in vocational education.

Doing business in Poland: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 03 April 2012, 12:04 CET

This guide outlines the social rules in Poland and the legislation that regulates workers' rights and employers' obligations.

Doing business in Denmark: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 30 March 2012, 00:50 CET

This guide summarizes the Danish legislation responsible for ensuring staff welfare.

Doing business in the Netherlands: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 30 March 2012, 00:48 CET

In the Netherlands, government rules on staff welfare can be found in the Working Conditions Act, the Working Conditions Decree, the government's Health and Safety Regulations and also its Guidelines on Working Conditions, including standards.

Doing business in Belgium: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 30 March 2012, 00:48 CET

Social legislation in Belgium prohibits discrimination and advocates equal opportunity and gender equality. Employers are responsible for promoting welfare within the company.

Doing business in the UK: Staff welfare by Ina Dimireva — last modified 30 March 2012, 00:48 CET

Labour legislation covers basic workplace standards which employers must follow. These include protection against discrimination, the right to equal pay and the national minimum wage.

The economic crisis and pensions in the EU by EUbusiness — last modified 16 February 2012, 23:37 CET

The EU has put forward a range of plans for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions. How does the economic crisis affect the pensions situation in the European Union?

Commission White Paper on pensions - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 16 February 2012, 21:06 CET

The European Commission as today issued a White paper on pensions. It puts forward policy initiatives to support Member States in the reform of their pension systems. The measures proposed by the White Paper aim to help people who are able to work longer and save more for their retirement. They aim to raise the average age at which people retire, reflecting the rising life expectancy, to encourage complementary private retirement savings and protect them, including when people change jobs and have to switch to other occupational pension schemes.

Proposal for a Regulation on the Statute for a European Foundation - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 February 2012, 22:49 CET

The European Commission has presented a proposal for a European Foundation Statute to make it easier for foundations to support public benefit causes across the EU.

European Social Entrepreneurship Funds - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 07 December 2011, 19:21 CET

Social businesses are companies that have a positive social impact and address social objectives as their corporate aim rather than only maximising profit. It is a growing sector in Europe, already representing 10% of all European businesses and employing over 11 million paid employees. While these businesses often receive public support, private investment via funds that invest in social entrepreneurs remains vital to their growth. However, such specialised social investment funds are rare or are not large enough. Cross-border investment in such funds is unnecessarily complicated and expensive. With today's proposal for a Regulation, the Commission lays the foundations for a strong European market for social investment funds. It introduces a new "European Social Entrepreneurship Funds" label so investors can easily identify funds that focus on investing in European social businesses. The approach is simple: once the requirements defined in the proposal are met, managers of social investment funds will be able to market their funds across the whole of Europe. To get the label, a fund will have to prove that a high percentage of investments (70% of the capital received from investors) is spent in supporting social business. Uniform rules on disclosure will ensure that investors get clear and effective information on these investments.

Consultation on the right to family reunification of third-country nationals living in the EU - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 17 November 2011, 23:25 CET

The European Commission has launched a public debate on the right to family reunification of third-country nationals living in the EU. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, the Commission will decide whether any policy follow-up is necessary – such as setting up clear guidelines, modifying the current rules or leaving the legislation as it is.

Corporate Social Responsibility: new definition, new agenda for action - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 26 October 2011, 18:08 CET

The European Commission's new strategy on corporate social responsibility (CSR), part of a package of measures on responsible business, aims to help enterprises achieve their full potential in terms of creating wealth, jobs and innovative solutions to the many challenges facing Europe's society. It sets out how enterprises can benefit from CSR as well as contributing to society as a whole by taking greater steps to meet their social responsibility.

Social Business Initiative - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 26 October 2011, 17:54 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Social Business Initiative action plan as part of a package of measures entitled the Responsible Business Initiative.