Building up network of knowledge

The first meeting of the research working group was held on 18 September 2009 in Hamburg. The German partners BWH e.V. (Education and Training Centre for Hamburg Business - formerly ISH) and Nordmetall had invited the group members to discuss the labour market research activities within the project.

It was one decisive step towards implementing the Baltic Sea Labour Network (BSLN), since coordinated research on specific issues and cooperation with existing research institutions play a crucial part. In the workshop seventeen participants from trade unions and employers’ organisations in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) presented their recent research activities according to the BSLN work plans.

The statements made clear that the exchange of experience is of high importance for all social partners in the BSR, in order to develop active labour market policies that address the economic crisis. For the focus countries particularly, the main challenge is to foster dialogue with the social partners, especially communication between trade union and employers organisations to find a joint position and to strengthen the bargaining position.

Beside these overall issues, the partners have special priorities which will be also transported to the transnational level. The Finnish partners are planning to accomplish a qualitative interview study focusing on questions related to immigrant workers in Finland. Other partners have an interest in new approaches facing the impacts of the cross - border mobility as well. They will focus their research, for example, on questions regarding the social inclusion of immigrant workers.


Another area of interest is the training of young workers and those soon to enter employment and their integration into the labour markets. The gap between the need of the enterprises and the abilities of the applicants is a general problem in several partner countries. The differing training and educational systems in the Baltic Sea states provides the BSLN with the opportunity to exchange information and develop new approaches in this area..

Members of the group underlined the need for cooperation with existing research institutions. The BSLN offers a transnational platform with high political recognition. For this reason all partners will intensify the dialogue with their linked research institutions and get in contact with other organisations as well. The BSLN is open for interested research establishments, working in the main working areas of active labour market policy, mobility of labour and training and education.