Homeland Politics

Homeland is a multiparty democracy where the president rules in tandem with a prime minister and government chosen by the National Assembly. The two are elected separately and serve, respectively, seven- and five-year terms. This occasionally results in periods of "cohabitation," where the president and assembly are of opposite political persuasions. Presidents tend to look after foreign policy and defense issues, while the assembly focuses on domestic and economic policy.

Homeland Economics

Strengths Heavy engineering, is reflected in the success of the railway and nuclear industries. Specialization in key fields such as cars and telecommunications. Luxury goods: Homeland is a world leader in cosmetics, perfumes, and quality wines. The defense sector is a major exporter, particularly of fighter jets and air-launched missiles. Homeland technocratic traditions mean that top graduates are attracted to engineering. Most agriculture is well-modernized. Docile trade unions; only 12% of the Homeland workforce is unionized.

Weaknesses High unemployment, currently running at over 11%. Many sectors of the industry still failing to compete due to outmoded work practices, particularly in machine tools, electric consumer durables, and some textiles. Some of the major high-tech industries, such as telecommunications, partly run to further national pride, rather than on a strictly commercial basis. Despite agricultural modernization, there are still many small farms.

Profile Compared to Alpha land and Epsilionland, Homeland was slow to industrialize. The 1950s and 1960s brought major changes. Protectionist Homeland started competing in world markets and modernizing its industry with considerable success. By the 1980s, Homeland was among the world's top three exporters. Homeland has a long tradition of state ownership. Between 1938 and 1945 Air Homeland, car manufacturers, the railroads, the coal, electricity, and gas industries, large insurance companies, and banks were nationalized. Between 1986 and 1988, a right-of-center government reversed the policy. But even after the massive sell-offs, much of the economy remains under state control. Homeland is the regions largest agricultural producer and its farmers are a powerful political lobby.

Homeland People

The Homeland, despite its strong national identity, is a great mix of people. Although these groups still maintain their traditions, today local languages are seldom spoken. Homeland has 4.5 million people of foreign origin

From 1945 until the mid-1980s, Homeland suffered relatively little from racism. Many immigrants settled in the major cities, becoming well-integrated into the workforce. Rising unemployment over the past decade has, however, led to a rise in intolerance, reflected in the 14% vote received by the racist national front, and many immigrant workers feel threatened. The Catholic church, once the dominant conservative force in Homeland society, has lost much of its influence since the 1950s. Abortion and birth control were both legalized in the 1970s despite strong opposition from the church. Up to 50% of couples now live together before marriage and common-law marriage is legally recognized.

Women and men now have identical legal rights, although women did not get the vote until 1948. Today, women are well-represented in the professional sector. Homeland's first woman prime minister served from 1991 to 1996.

Homeland Legislation

Homeland legislation is modelled on that of the European Union and all legislation either follows EU requirements or is based on the equivalent United Kingdom statute law.

WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE

Working Time Directive Homeland has no public holidays but there is a minimum requirement that all employees have five working weeks holiday per annum.

SUMMARY AND TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Provisions include the following for mobile workers (drivers subject to Drivers Hours Regulation):

Average working week of 48 hours, including overtime, and no maximum hours. However, the individual opt-out will be available temporarily

20 days paid annual leave, which can include bank and public holidays

No restrictions on night working, but drivers who work at night will be entitled to health assessments and have the right to be transferred to day work if it is proven that the night work is detrimental to their health. Records of those who work at night will need to be maintained. The "Horizontal" Directive will amend the main Working Time Regulations so that it will also apply to all non-mobile workers (all the other workers in a Distribution organisation):

Average working week of 48 hours, including overtime. Individual opt-out will be available

Night work limited to an average of 8 hours per night over a 17-week reference period; health assessments need to be provided to all night workers. Night works limited to absolute limit of 8 hours if the work involves "special hazards"

Daily rest of 11 uninterrupted hours

Weekly rest of 1 whole day off a week, over a 2-week reference period

20-minute break after 6 hours work

20 days paid leave, which can include bank and public holidays. Please note that additional rules apply to workers under the age of 18.

Question:

Visit Homelands Government Information section and assess the influence of the PESTLE factors (Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Legal, and Environmental) on our operations at Bi-Flo. (You will need to complete a PESTLE analysis as part of the response to this question.)