Sex, violence and the Metro
Employees at CMT, which is co-ordinating construction of the Metro City Ring extension, face regular sexual harassment and physical violence by their managers, according to an occupational health review. The 2012 report, which included interviews with 123 of the company’s 260 employees, all of whom are office workers, found 16 instances of bullying, nine instances of violence, six threats of violence and six cases of sexual harassment. “We faced threats every day,” said one employee who has since stopped working with CMT. “Their strategy is control through fear.” Earlier this year, after a series of four visits at the company and further interviews with 24 employees, Arbejdstilsynet, the occupational health agency, concluded that the company’s employees faced massive amounts of workplace pressure and bullying. “This is an unusually bad case,” Karsten Bach Hansen, the head of Arbejdstilsynet, said. – Politiken
SEE RELATED: Metro complaint could mean go-ahead for night work
Finger-pointing over paternity leave flip-flop
Governing coalition member Radikale says the reason for the recent decision to drop efforts to earmark three months of paternity for fathers was uncertainty by Socialdemokrat members of the cabinet. “Out of respect for the very strong desire by Socialdemokraterne to do so, we chose another option,” Radikale leader Margrethe Vestager, the economy minister, said ahead of her party’s annual congress. Vestager is expected to be roundly criticised by party members for walking away from earmarked paternity for men. – Jyllands-Posten
SEE RELATED: Coalition bitterly divided over paternity decision
Forgotten pensions fading away
As much as 40 billion kroner in forgotten private pension accounts is slowly being eaten up in administration costs and inflation. Pension funds have an interest in holding on to the pension accounts, each with an average of 32,000 kroner, but the government is ready with a proposal transferring administration of the funds to ATP, the state pension fund. But while the government suggests requiring that pension-fund holders opt-in to the move, the consumer watchdog Forbrugerrådet wants it to be mandatory. – Berlingske
Execs: business is looking good
Confidence among executives is at its highest level since spring 2011. According to a survey of business leaders, more than half said they expected to see expanding sales in the coming months. Unlike previous surveys, however, executives predicted growth in both domestic and international markets, particularly as the economies in Germany and the US begin improving. – Berlingske Business
SEE RELATED: GDP shows modest growth
More exports, but no new jobs
A solid increase in export levels is unlikely to lead to job growth before 2015, according to Danmarks Eksportråd, a Foreign Ministry export agency. Sales of goods and services abroad are expected to improve by 29 billion kroner in 2014, but the increase will likely do little to replace any of the 100,000 jobs lost by exporters since 2008. The Trade Ministry calculates that each billion kroner of additional exports creates up to 700 jobs, but with companies focused more on competitiveness, they have been reluctant to add employees, according to DI, a business lobby. – Børsen
