All articles

France: the government wants to reform the working time framework in 2016
Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, announced on Wednesday 04 November a complete rewrite of the labor code over the next two years. The overhaul will comprise three levels: fundamental principles to be...
5 November 2015
Austria: two draft laws adopted to inject more flexibility into work and achieve a better work life balance
In the fight against rising unemployment and in an attempt to boost a flagging economy, ministers and experts from both parties in Austria’s coalition government at the close of the ‘Summit...
5 November 2015
Italy: following the closure of the 6 month Universal Exhibition, Italy’s workers are in the process of being redeployed, whilst the ‘Expo model’ concept continues to makes waves
The 2015 Universal Exhibition held in Milan from 01 May 2015 until 31 October 2015 was a great success attracting over 21 million visitors. It was also a platform for experimenting with an...
4 November 2015
Great Britain: Government climbs down on parts of its controversial Trade Union Bill
The government has made what is being described by media commentators and unions as a significant ‘climb down’ and ‘U-turn’ over its controversial Trade Union Bill which is currently progressing...
4 November 2015
H&M: signs a global framework agreement on fundamental rights along its supply chain
On 03 November the Swedish clothing company together with the international union federation IndustriAll as well as the Swedish industry union IF Metall signed a global framework agreement (GFA)...
4 November 2015
Austria: 1.5% wage rise and a two-part three-tier working time model for the metals industry
The Austrian Machine Tool Industry Federation (FMMI) together with the Austrian metals employers organization and the PRO-GE (industry) and GPA-dip (private employers) unions came to agreement on...
3 November 2015
Great Britain: rising living wage is increasingly attracting companies
The living wage, generally considered to be the minimum amount needed to live decently in the UK is a voluntary pay benchmark and one that more and more companies are adopting even though it is...
3 November 2015
Umicore: renews its Global Framework Agreement on Sustainable Development
On 20 October the Belgian materials technology and recycling group together with the international union federation IndustriAll Global Union renewed for the third time their global framework...
2 November 2015
Spain: retail and food industries join forces in a ‘Pact for Youth Employment’
22 companies from amongst the major retail names and food industry labels have got together to launch a program of grants and ‘dual’ training aimed at students and young university graduates.
2 November 2015
Italy: Ikea and the unions conclude a new company agreement ending the conflict following termination of the previous agreement
Negotiations over this new company agreement had started following significant mobilization in the summer due to the unilateral denunciation of the Swedish company’s previous agreement. According...
2 November 2015
EU: publication of the 2nd edition of the Social Justice Index
For the second consecutive year, the Bertelsmann Stiftung, a liberal foundation, published, on 27 October, the results of its annual social justice index. The index allows for comparison of equal...
29 October 2015
United States: agreement between UAW and General Motors
The UAW trade unionists and representatives of General Motors were quick to reach a four-year salary agreement. No longer will salaries increase at two disparate rates, and there will be more...
29 October 2015
Denmark: 38th Congress of the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) elects its first ever female president, and moves towards a merger with the FTF, the second largest confederation in the country
Meeting in Aalborg, from 25 to 27 October, the 400 LO delegates elected Lizette Risgaard as the head of the main Danish trade union confederation (17 trade unions representing almost 1 million...
28 October 2015
Belgium: a time of “trade union bashing”
The month of October was marked by a significant wave of social protests, and the climate seems far from calming. Following the death of two people, who did not receive prompt healthcare due to...
28 October 2015
EU: Commission presents its Work Programme for 2016
Yesterday, on 27 October, the European Commission adopted its work programme for 2016. In social terms, it does not add to anything that has already been announced, which includes a mobility...
28 October 2015
Great Britain: to fight discrimination, Cameron turns to the name-blind CV
Under the aegis of the UK’s Conservative government, private companies and public institutions have committed to recruiting using name-blind CVs, to fight against discrimination.
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
EU: right and far right join forces in parliament to dismantle sustainability due diligence
On 13 November, the European Parliament approved the report by EPP MEP Jörgen Warborn on the proposed omnibus directive, clearing the way for trilogue negotiations. Backed by the far right, the...
13 November 2025
2
mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators
In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...
3
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
4
Germany: EU pay transparency directive to force companies to ‘get tough’
Germany introduced a pay transparency law in 2017, meaning companies are already somewhat familiar with the issue. However, the broader scope and stricter requirements of the EU directive, the...
24 October 2025
5
France: cabinet adopts suspension of pension reform
On 23 October, the French Council of Ministers approved an amendment to the social security financing bill (PLFSS), confirming the suspension of the 2023 pension reform until 2028. This measure...
24 October 2025
6
Carrefour and UNI Global Union renew global agreement on promoting social dialogue and diversity
On 17 October, Carrefour, one of the world’s largest retailers, with nearly 500,000 employees worldwide, and global union federation UNI Global Union renewed their global agreement on...