FUCEIT

Publications

Publications

FUCEIT's reports, studies, policy papers and technical documents.

46 publications found

  • Report

    Trade unions and the countries with the highest quality of life in the world

    In the countries that top the world's well-being indices, the trade union movement is not a secondary actor but a fundamental pillar in improving working conditions and the equitable distribution of wealth. Its influence is decisive in guaranteeing decent work, strengthening participatory democracy and protecting the fundamental rights of those who drive the economy. By acting as a counterweight and a promoter of better standards, trade unionism actively contributes to successful human development models, where economic growth effectively translates into a higher quality of life for everyone. We invite you to examine how union organisation and its active role within the social structure translate into better levels of general well-being, and what lessons we can draw from these international models to strengthen our own social fabric.

  • Report

    Education and Development

    Education acts as the most powerful engine for the economic development and social progress of nations. It is not merely a learning process, but the fundamental basis on which the human capital needed to drive innovation, raise labour productivity and foster more equitable societies is built. Countries that prioritise quality, accessible academic training achieve greater global competitiveness and, above all, guarantee more solid well-being for all their citizens. Investment in knowledge is, without doubt, the most effective strategy for narrowing the inequality gap and promoting sustainable long-term development. We invite you to explore the key data on how educational attainment directly affects economic growth, and to learn about the current challenges we face in building fairer, more inclusive societies that are prepared for the demands of tomorrow.

  • Report

    Reducing working hours: the French case of the 35-hour week

    More than two decades after the implementation of the 35-hour working week law in France, enacted in 2000, the effects of this working-time reduction policy remain at the centre of a complex debate with ambivalent results. The technical analysis notes that, while the measure met important social objectives by allowing greater flexibility and a better balance between work and family life, its macroeconomic impact presents critical nuances. Among its achievements is a reduction in unemployment, which fell from 10.2% in 2000 to 7.9% in 2021. However, the negative effects on the productive fabric are evident: the increase in labour costs for companies, obliged to hire more staff to sustain the same workload, has led to a loss of international competitiveness. This is reflected in the decline of the French presence in the Fortune Global 500 list —from 34 companies in 2000 to 30 in 2021— and a slide in the ranking of global economies, from fifth to seventh place. Likewise, the stagnation of real wages is a decisive factor, given that the nominal increase of 8.8% over 21 years has been widely outstripped by cumulative inflation of 34.6%, raising serious doubts about the long-term sustainability of this measure.

  • Report

    Comparative analysis of working hours in the European Union

    This report offers an indispensable overview for understanding the European labour market through key indicators from the OECD, Eurostat and the World Economic Forum. The comparative table exposes the enormous gap between the nations that have consolidated reduced working hours and those that maintain high-intensity time regimes. While countries such as Germany (35 hours per week) record work-related stress of 18% and an unemployment rate of 3.5%, countries such as Portugal (38 hours) or Poland (40 hours) face different structural challenges with unemployment rates of 6.2% and 4.9% respectively, and stress levels reaching 21% in the Polish case. The information analysed highlights that, to date, none of the countries in the BRICS group has adopted a working-time reduction regime, which shows that this debate is, for the time being, a particularity of the European area and the European Economic Area. This document provides the empirical basis decision-makers need in order to assess the advisability of similar reforms, always bearing in mind that there is no unanimous global consensus on the ideal formula for balancing productivity and workers' well-being.

  • Report

    Comparative analysis of working hours

    The structure of weekly working hours in Europe reveals a significant disparity that directly affects countries' quality of life and economic performance. Analysing the comparative data, we observe that the nations with the lowest weekly averages, such as the Netherlands (29 hours), Denmark and Norway (33 hours each), position themselves at the forefront of productivity, with figures reaching $76.8, $77.4 and $89.3 of GDP per hour respectively, accompanied by quality-of-life indices above 7.5 points. By contrast, FUCEIT's technical report highlights a worrying correlation in countries with extended working hours. In Greece, for example, with an average of 42 hours per week, the quality-of-life index stands at 5.4/10 and productivity at $37.8 per hour, while in countries such as Spain the level of work-related stress reported by workers rises to 23%, significantly above the European Union average of 22%. These indicators are essential to understanding why reducing working hours is not an isolated measure, but a systemic component that requires highly developed economies in order to mitigate unemployment and improve workers' well-being.

  • Report

    Update: pension reforms in France

    The reform of the pension system in France, a central project of Emmanuel Macron's second term, has reached a critical institutional turning point following the Constitutional Council's decision not to raise any objection to the text submitted. While this ruling has allowed the law to be promulgated quickly, with entry into force scheduled for the coming northern autumn, social conflict has found no definitive resolution. Although it is true that, as the institutional progress of the reform consolidated, marches and protests began to lose the scale and impact they had in their initial stages, the unions have reaffirmed their willingness to continue with industrial action. A new front of conflict has emerged through a coalition of left-wing parties, which has formally submitted a petition to call a popular referendum to overturn or validate the reform. This initiative is currently under assessment by the Constitutional Council, which will have to rule on its admissibility in the first days of May, marking a decisive episode in the tense relationship between the executive, the legislature and the French public.

  • Report

    BRICS: international cooperation and the world of work

    Beyond geopolitics, how does joining blocs such as BRICS affect workers? We present a comparative report on the labour reality in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. From union influence in Brazil (CUT, Força Sindical) and the historical legacy of COSATU in South Africa, to the extreme challenges of informality in India, state control in China or legal restrictions in Russia, this analysis puts the bloc's asymmetries into perspective. For Argentina, this is an essential study: it assesses not only the potential for food and energy exports, but also the challenge of competing with economies where labour costs and social protection vary radically. A necessary analysis for anyone seeking to understand the advantages and the structural risks of our integration into the world.

  • Report

    The main trade union organisations of France

    To understand the intensity of the protests in France, it is vital to know the actors sitting at the negotiating table. In this report, we break down the structure, history and ideological profile of the main French confederations: the CGT and its historical weight, the CFDT and its conciliatory stance, and Force Ouvrière (FO) with its distinctive political independence. We also analyse the role of the National Federation of Transport and Logistics (FNTL FO UNCP), a key actor in the blockades and industrial action that keep the country's operations on edge. This document offers the technical overview needed to understand how these organisations, some with almost a century of history, articulate the defence of labour rights in one of Europe's most important economies.

  • Report

    Update on the status of the pension reform in France

    The protests in France have evolved: while their scale has receded, the intensity and determination of the unions remain intact. We are publishing an update on the legal status of the reform, now under the scrutiny of the Constitutional Council. We analyse the three possible scenarios following this body's ruling: acceptance, full censure, or a possible popular referendum initiative which, if it materialised, would open a nine-month negotiating window between the government and the unions. This technical report also details the Council's current composition, key to anticipating the final impact of this law on the French social fabric and on the stability of Macron's second term.

  • Report

    France Report: current status of the pension reform

    The social landscape in France is going through a critical stage as a result of the pension reform driven by Emmanuel Macron's government. Our new report analyses in depth the pillars of this change: raising the retirement age to 64, increasing the number of contribution years required and eliminating special schemes for sectors such as rail and energy. Beyond the technical data, we examine the response of the main trade union confederations —CGT, CFDT and FO— and the political tension arising from implementation by decree under article 49.3 of the French Constitution. It is an essential analysis for understanding how an executive is attempting to reduce a pension deficit estimated at 17 billion euros by 2025 while facing rejection from 70% of the population and a mobilisation that goes beyond the traditional union sectors.