Ministers of the cabinet and representatives of the Icelandic employment market met last night to discuss a stabilization pact, which they are trying to establish in unison. The attendees of the meeting agreed that the atmosphere was good during the so-called “reconciliation talks.”
Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon. Photo by Páll Kjartansson.
“Of course we can’t expect the employment market representatives sign whatever we suggest, but they understand the size of the problem,” commented Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon to Fréttabladid.
Sigfússon added that the government’s proposals will be submitted to the Althingi parliament in the next few days and that an overall long-term plan will be presented in June.
Thór Sigfússon, chairman of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers (SA) is satisfied with the government’s eagerness to include them in the talks.
The SA chairman said it was important that some concurrent items be announced in the coming days to increase optimism—lowering the policy rate and systematic policy in state finances—in addition to launching membership talks with the EU and abolishing the quota-lapse method.
Click here to read more about the talks between the government and the employment market, here to read more about Iceland and the EU and here to read more about the quota-lapse ideas.
