Flexibility and security: an asymmetrical relationship?
It is interesting to note that: (a) a pessimistic attitude towards the future is closely linked to a low
degree of confidence in having a job in the near future, and that (b) the degree of employment pro-
tection (EPL index) does not seem to affect the level of peoples’ optimism about the future (compare
for example Sweden and Denmark). Contrary to the argumentation commonly put forward by trade
unions, the sense of security of workers is not boosted by strict employment protection legislation,
in particular regarding dismissals (see for example Portugal and Greece); rather, it is boosted by active
labour market policies and by an adequate level of unemployment insurance. As the Eurobarometer
2006 findings suggest,13 French and Portuguese workers with a high EPL-index (3.05 and 3.46 re-
spectively, see table above) rate their chances of finding a job within 6 months —if made redundant-
Significantly lower, than Danish and Irish workers with a very moderate EPL- index (1.42 and 1.11
respectively), who rate them very high (see Table 2).
Table 2: If you were to be laid-off, how would you rate the likelihood of finding a job in the next 6
months (1= not at all likely, 10=very likely)?
|
Country |
Score |
|
Denmark |
8.1 |
|
Ireland |
7.6 |
|
Latvia |
7.4 |
|
United Kingdom |
7.3 |
|
Estonia |
7.2 |
|
Finland |
7.1 |
|
Sweden |
7.0 |
|
Netherlands |
6.9 |
|
Lithuania |
6.8 |
|
Czech Republic |
6.6 |
|
Belgium |
6.5 ~ |
|
Cyprus |
6.5 |
|
Luxembourg |
6.5 |
|
Spain |
6.3 |
|
Slovenia |
6.2 |
|
Austria |
6.2 |
|
EU-25 average |
6.1 |
|
Slovakia |
5.8 |
|
Hungary |
5.7 |
|
Germany |
5.6 |
|
Greece |
5.6 |
|
France |
5.5 |
|
Malta |
5.5 |
|
Poland |
5.4 |
|
Italy |
5.2 |
|
Portugal |
52 |
Source: Special Eurobarometer 261, 2006
13 See Special Eurobarometer 261, 2006, p. 27
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