The Open Political Science Journal

2008, 1 : 17-30
Published online 2008 February 25. DOI: 10.2174/1874949600801010017
Publisher ID: TOPOLISJ-1-17

Are the New EU Member States Prepared for the Flexicurity System?

Vida Sruk , Dejan Romih and Mejra Festić
Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor; EIPF - Economic Institute of the Law School, Ljubljana. Slovenia.

ABSTRACT

Social policy and labour market policy in the EU are facing a challenge to regulate a dynamic labour market in the context of the globalised economy. The New Member States are seeking more stability and security in order to encourage employers to invest more in human capital to be able to boost productivity and competitiveness. Countries need to promote more flexibility and adaptability for both – enterprises and workers, and to better balance them with security. Flexicurity system contributed to higher employment and also to higher mobility between unemployment and employment labour force in some west European economies. Attitudes, values and tradition of certain economy are preconditions for successfulness of the flexicurity system.

Keywords:

flexicurity, labour market, ethics.