EMPLOYMENT: REAL INCOME RISES BY 0.4% IN EU OVER PAST YEAR.

• Position: Brief Article

Average real income rose by 0.4% across the EU and Norway, according to data released on April 29 by the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO). In the ten accession states that joined the EU on May 1, the increase in average pay was significantly higher, rising 1.1% (from 2.8% in 2002 to 3.9% in 2003). These figures take account of changes in inflation.

In terms of the collectively agreed nominal wage increases, these fell by 0.4% across the EU and Norway (from 3.5% in 2002 to 3.1% in 2003), whilst the candidate countries saw them rise (from 8.1% in 2002 to 8.7% in 2003).

According to the EIRO, two out of three workers (72%) in the non-enlarged EU have their pay and working conditions set by collective agreements, but bargaining in...