EIROnline, April 1998

The European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO), a network of major research institutes co-ordinated by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, officially launched its database on industrial relations in Europe in January 1998 and it is a must for anyone involved in any way in that field - from government bodies to employers and the ordinary citizen, academics to trade unions. It provides news and analysis of issues relating to industrial relations in all fifteen Member States plus Norway at an individual level as well as at an EU level, with up to 100 records being added monthly. Short news items, longer features and in-depth comparative studies are available in full text. For example, the comparative analysis by Mark Hall (Industrial Relations Research Unit, Warwick Business School), 'EU parental leave agreement and Directive: implications for national law and practice', is a substantial and helpful study outlining current practices, the national changes required and the practical impact. It includes tables assessing the present situation by Member State - a useful summary for an enquiry which no doubt strikes many a chord! - but this is simply one example out of many. Hypertext links within the text make connections to the full text of related documents such as, in this case, the 'Community charter on the fundamental social rights of workers'. The full text of the newsletter EIRObserver can be read on screen or downloaded. Alternatively you can register to have it sent by e-mail on a regular basis. A site map allows navigation by country or date and there is also a search facility with help screens and advanced searching options. Explore the site for yourself at http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/