Internship for Spring 2017 at NIR

newsMöjlighet till praktikplats på Näringslivets Internationella Råd i Stockholm

Vad gör NIR?
NIR stöttar näringslivets långsiktiga intressen och arbetar med social och ekonomisk utveckling på marknader som är politiskt, ekonomiskt eller socialt komplexa. Vi fokuserar i huvudsak på att förbättra de strukturella förutsättningarna för näringslivet i de länder vi arbetar i. Det innebär i sin tur att förutsättningarna för social och ekonomisk utveckling förbättras. Vi samarbetar både med det privata näringslivet och med den offentliga sektorn, både i Sverige och utomlands. Vi arbetar också med att skapa nätverk. När våra mål överensstämmer med andra organisationers mål, som exempelvis Sidas, kan vi samarbeta med dem och därmed få extern finansiering för olika projekt. Vi bygger vårt arbete på övertygelsen att näringslivet kan vara en positiv kraft i samhället och att företagens insikter och förmågor ska användas i utvecklingen. Vi tror också på dialog och engagemang som den bästa vägen att skapa utveckling.

Ett tjugotal personer (varav ca tolv i Sverige) arbetar på NIR inom projekt eller i grundorganisationen.

NIR grundades 1960 och arbetar i dag med länder som Iran, Palestina och Israel, Colombia, Cuba, Ukraina och Vitryssland och ett flertal länder i Afrika söder om Sahara.

Arbetsuppgifter

Som praktikant hos oss deltar du i den löpande verksamheten såväl inom projekt som i grundorganisationens arbete. Uppgifterna varierar från enklare researchuppgifter till att förbereda möten och organisera event, skriva protokoll och författa kortare rapporter. Du är delaktig i det mesta som händer på organisationen och får delta i en mängd möten, seminarier och konferenser.

Vi söker dig som vill göra praktik som del av din utbildning på Universitet eller Högskola där NIRs arbete är relevant, så som Statskunskap, Ekonomi, Freds- och konfliktkunskap, Utvecklingsstudier eller Juridik.

Det är meriterande om du har kunskap om att arbeta med att utforma och uppdatera hemsidor och med layout, till exempel i InDesign. Det är också meriterade om du pratar spanska, arabiska, franska eller ryska.

Ansökningar skickas till: info@nir.se

Sista ansökningsdag är 30 November 2016, men intervjuer sker löpande.

 

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This executive summary presents the findings from the study “Workplace Cooperation: Finding Practical Solutions in the Colombian Context,” conducted by the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (FIP). The study evaluates the added value of the Swedish Workplace Programme (SWP) dialogue and cooperation model within the Colombian labor market.

Throughout 2022, FIP dedicated efforts to thoroughly understand the SWP model, including its concept, foundations, implementation process, and contributions to the labor market. In 2023, FIP documented the experiences of three companies—SKF Latin Trade, Securitas, and Epiroc—that implemented the SWP model in practice. The study also included face-to-face workshops to gather feedback from various stakeholders including civil society, businesses, government, academia, and international cooperation. The findings suggest that the SWP model has the potential to strengthen labor relations, contribute to decent work, and resolve workplace conflicts in Colombia.

The case studies highlight the importance of collaboration between employers and workers to promote decent work and sustainable development in Colombia. They demonstrate that social dialogue facilitates worker participation in labor decision-making, enhances their representativeness, and promotes cooperation between employers and employees, thus improving labor relations and contributing to the well-being of both employees and companies.

The SWP model is particularly noted for improving workplace relationships and commitment to jointly finding solutions to challenges faced by workers and the company. It empowers workers, enhances leadership, and helps integrate business policies into daily practices, reducing the initial disconnect between management objectives and the day-to-day realities of workers. The study also highlights the model’s capacity to manage conflicts constructively, transforming the perception of conflict as an opportunity for improvement. Structured dialogues deepen understanding of the underlying causes of conflicts, fostering empathy and facilitating effective resolution. This promotes a culture of collaboration and a democratic approach to decision-making, building trust.

Additionally, the model is recognized for enabling workers to make decisions, identify challenges, and propose solutions that impact their well-being, and bridging gender gaps in the workplace. Its inclusive approach adapts to the unique needs and characteristics of each company, promoting a stronger and more diverse organizational culture. It also drives good work performance and productivity by involving workers in problem identification and resolution, as well as in implementing improvements and efficiently identifying ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks for companies.

The document identifies the SWP model’s added value in empowering direct interaction among labor stakeholders in Colombia, overcoming historical or cultural reservations, and contributing to the development of stronger labor relations and improved workplace environments in the country.

Challenges and opportunities of the model are also discussed. The study points out the importance of addressing value chain risks, particularly in a global context where corporate clients demand decent work processes and due diligence. It emphasizes the need to integrate SMEs into this process and use anchor companies as drivers of social dialogue throughout the value chain. The role of the state in social dialogue and the importance of highlighting the benefits of the model for adoption across various business sectors are discussed.

The opportunities of the model include raising awareness of human rights in the workplace in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP), to strengthen due diligence, manage risks, promote long-term sustainability, and improve organizational culture. The document also underscores the importance of involving workers in change processes, leveraging their insights for continuous improvement of processes, and fostering innovation opportunities. Lastly, it suggests replicating the model in value chains to address work environment risks and gender biases, involving suppliers and contractors, and integrating the model into corporate policies to strengthen existing programs and transform organizational culture towards resource efficiency and effective participation of employers and workers.