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Economic and Social Research Institute of Trade Union (ESRITU)
- Address :
- Városligeti fasor 46-48
- 1068 Budapest
-
Hungary
- Contact person :
- Szilvia Borbély, Director
- Phone: +36 302 686997
- Fax: nn
- Email:h10095bor@ella.hu
- Website:nn
Short description
The almost 40 years old SZGTI is presently a non-profit foundation carrying out research and counselling activities aiming to help the trade unions and social partners within the framework of EU accession. The SZGTI operated from 1968 until 2001 as part of the Hungarian unitary peak trade union federation - SZOT (National Council of Trade Unions) under the title 'Theoretical Research Institute of Trade Unions' (SZEKI). It was established following the need for theoretical support of the trade union activities, especially in the period of softening of the Soviet type of centrally planned economy, called "the new economic mechanism" (1968). In this early stage the institute employed 40-50 researchers and cooperated widely with trade union institutes from abroad. Many books, reviews and debate documents were issued at that time. In 1989 SZOT was replaced by eight separate independent federations and MSZOSZ (National Confederation of the Hungarian Trade Unions) is considered as direct successor of SZOT. In the period 1989 - 2001 the research institute changes its name into SZGTI. It is no longer a legal entity, there is budget shortage and continuous decrease of staff takes place. In 2001 SZGTI is converted into Public Utility Foundation with the participation of MSZOSZ and is open now to all other five Hungarian confederations to take part in it. The institute guiding principle is taking into consideration the interest of the entire trade union movement. However, there are no long-term employees and the institute is working on project base with ad hoc research teams. It is managed by a Board of Trustees, including: Dr. Janos Horn (Minors' Trade Union), Mate Komiljovics (Railway Workers Trade Union) and Dr. Szilvia Borbely (MSZOSZ).
Areas of expertise and competencies
Topics of basic and applied research: atypical work, collective bargaining, equal rights, European companies, European Union, Social Partners in the European Union, European Works Councils, Health and Safety, information society, interest reconciliation, labour market, lifelong learning, lifelong guidance, regional studies, sectoral level researches, social dialogue, social partners, social security, trade union poll, wage and wage issue, counselling activity, EU tenders and grants, elaboration of topics, preparing tender materials, translations, translation and interpretation of EU professional materials, preparing and editing publications, professional organisation of conferences and seminars, composition of conference papers and materials.
Topics included in the charter of the foundation:
1) Analysis of industrial relations
2) Analysis of employees' working condition
3) Counselling decision - and law makers
4) Elaboration of projects supporting the employees
5) Supporting the employees in disadvantaged situations, including the minorities and migrants
6) Supporting adult training
7) Supporting employment of young and old people
8) Supporting the cultural development of employees
9) Preparing and disseminating publications
Work programme, strategic plan, projects
Some projects include:
2000: National Employment Agency: Atypical works and their influence on the employment. Telework
2001: National Employment Agency – The possible consequences in joining European Union in the field of productivity, wages and employment
2001: Preparing to enter the European Union in the car industry. Preparing to enter the European Union in Hungarian National Railways. Preparing to enter the European Union in the Hungarian Electrical Works
2002: Cross-border migration, Hungarian and Austrian joint research. “The dilemmas of enlargement from the Austrian and Hungarian employees’ viewpoint” - Burgenland Forschungsgesellschaft/RSB, (Research Society Burgenland) Eisenstadt
2003/2004: National Employment Agency (OFA) The EQUAL in Europe, research
2005 - 2008: EQUAL project „Equal wage for equal work! Establishing e-WageBarometer”
2009: Lifelong guidance project – preparing policy and learning material on lifelong guidance and training 250 shopstewards to be able to offer lifelong guidance information service
Publications, language, newsletter
The institute delivers newsletters to all six Hungarian confederations on a permanent basis.
Latest publications are:
'Working conditions of women and men, Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands', 2007 (also in English)
'Gender wage gap, Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands', 2007 (also in English)
Guidance for jobseekers, 2009 (in 35,000 samples, only in Hungarian)
websites carried out by the institute: www.berbarometer.hu and www.palyatanacsadok.hu
Other networks the institute is participating in
Network for EQUAL projects