ABSTRACT
Small companies traditionally offer inferior conditions in terms of a whole range of personnel management and welfare provisions. When non-regular workers increase in companies in which regular workers are losing jobs, the remaining regular workers feel that their employment is in jeopardy. The employment system, together with the observance of social norms, was built on the conviction of the main political and industrial actors that female labour should continue to be confined to a subsidiary role for economic reasons. Issues related to the availability of suitable jobs, work environment, working hours and practices; the design of a pay structure satisfying both parties and the development of new skills must be thoroughly examined. The plan to make of the national universities "independent entities", largely autonomous from the government by the year 2004 indicates a sudden acceleration of the reform process.
