text: • Economic developments, particularly the dominance of neoliberalist policies and enhanced 
  competition between workers, companies and states; reduction of state influence and 
  privatisation.41 
  
  • Pressure due to substantial organisational changes, for example, introduction of short-term 
  economic objectives in enterprise policies, 42 expansion into new markets or new countries, 
  acquiring other enterprises or merging, being acquired, restructuring of management or of basic 
  staff working conditions (contracts, working time, flexibility).43 
  
  • Decrease of trade union influence or worker participation regarding labour relations. 
  • Liberalisation of labour legislation, creation of ‘new forms of work’ and new contract types, 
  beyond the permanent full-time employment.44 
  
  • New forms of management, application of management concepts like just-in-time production or 
  lean management, higher flexibility of production and higher customer orientation, 45 
  
  European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – EU-OSHA 
  36 