All articles

EU: difficult compromise agreement secured on the posting of workers directive
Meeting in Luxembourg, on the evening of 23 October, and after twelve long hours of discussions, Europe’s Employment and Social Affairs Ministers finally came to a compromise agreement on reform...
24 October 2017
Germany: ‘culture clash’ between Tesla Grohmann automation and IG Metall concludes with compromise
For several months a tough struggle has been underway between the German trade union IG Metall and the US electric automaker Tesla, which in 2016, bought the small German company Grohmann...
Great Britain: government to begin refunding employment tribunal fees
In July 2017 the UK’s Supreme Court ruling on a case brought by the trade union Unison held that the controversial Government’s 2013 employment tribunal fees system (c.f. article No. 10321) was...
24 October 2017
News update as of October 23, 2017
On the menu : a mediator for the ‘crowdworking’ sector in Germany, OECD highlights risk of UK departure from the EU, employers in California face stricter requirements for sexual harassment...
20 October 2017
Germany: collective negotiations schedule for 2018
In 2018, social partners in Germany will conduct negotiations over salaries and collective agreements, which will effect more than 9.7 million employees. This compares to the 11.4 million affected...
20 October 2017
Germany: Voith reduces the number of works councils at its headquarters amid digitalisation
Voith, the German industrial machinery corporation, will reduce the number of works councils at its company headquarters. As of March next year, when the works council elections are scheduled to...
19 October 2017
Brazil: government creates controversy as it modifies the criteria for defining ‘forced labor’
On 16 October, Brazil’s government published a Ministerial ruling relaxing how it defines ‘modern slave labor’ practices. Organizations intent on defending vulnerable exploited workers have called...
19 October 2017
SNCF: signs amendments to the SNCF EWC agreement
On 29 June 2017, the French rail company signed its first amendments to the 2012 agreement that established its European Works Council.
19 October 2017
Germany: Daimler to offer job security until 2029 as it prepares for restructuring
On 16 October, the leadership of the German automobile corporation Daimler decided to push ahead with the process to restructure the group. The revamp will see the group divided into three...
18 October 2017
Safran signs a global agreement with IndustriALL Global
On 18 October the French high-tech aerospace and defence group signed a global framework agreement on corporate social responsibility and all of the company’s other major social and HR policy...
18 October 2017
Total: EWC agreement renewed
On 30 June 2017, oil and energy group Total renewed and amended the agreement  governing the functioning of its European works council, in order to take into account how it has evolved since 2013.
18 October 2017
Brazil: trade unions braced for dip in funding when mandatory union dues end
As of November, mandatory union dues – which until have been paid by all Brazilian workers to fund trade unions – will turn into a voluntary contribution. The change forms part of reforms that...
18 October 2017
EU: European Parliament ‘almost’ ready to negotiate over posting of workers
On 16 October, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopted its position on draft rules regarding the posting of workers. It has been planned for Member States to take...
17 October 2017
Italy: 2018 budget prioritises youth employment
On Monday 16 October, Italy’s Council of Ministers approved the draft budget for 2018, which is targeting an increase in youth employment by reducing social charges for recruits under the age of...
17 October 2017
Bangladesh accord on textile factories: tribunal in The Hague to hear complaints against two leading international brands
In a statement issued on 17 October, IndustriAll Global Union welcomed the decision made public yesterday evening by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which deemed complaints tabled...
17 October 2017
News update as of October 16, 2017
On the menu : Employers and government agree to extend paternity leave to ten days in Luxembourg, new agreement on temporary work in the Netherlands, reform of social protections for independent...
13 October 2017
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: Decathlon introduces a ‘duty to respect others’ right to disconnect’
A right-to-disconnect agreement was signed in late September for the French arm of the Decathlon sports retail group. It sets out a "duty to respect others’ right to disconnect" and provides...
14 November 2025
2
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
3
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
4
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...
5
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
6
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...