All articles

Belgium: a new chemicals sector agreement puts a ‘demographic fund’ in place
As usual, the chemicals sector (CP 207) has opened Belgium’s sectoral collective agreement signing season. On June 08 the social partners agreed on a protocol and on June 16 the union bodies all...
Germany: conflict escalating at Deutsche Post as DPVKom joins strike action
10 days after services union Verdi went on indefinite strike at Deutsche Post DHL, DPVKom, the Post and Telecoms union, has announced it will join the action. The union started consultations on...
Italy: FS and Trenitalia sign an agreement with unions over common lines of action to combat assaults on personnel
On June 15, the transport unions concluded an agreement with Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Spa (FS) and Trenitalia Spa* on common action to be taken to combat attacks on their personnel. Assaults...
Great Britain: Wages rising at fastest rate since the economic crisis
UK wages rose by a near 8-year record high of 2.7% between February and April compared with a year earlier.
Norway: a note on changes to the Working Environment Act (arbeidsmiljøloven) coming into force on July 01
Despite fierce opposition and demonstrations from trade unions, the draft law changing several rules on the Working Environment Act (arbeidsmiljøloven) was approved by the Norwegian parliament on...
17 June 2015
Sweden: negotiations set to restart over industry worker job security agreement (omställningsavtal)
Interrupted in December 2013 negotiations over the “omställningsavtal” agreement, between the PTK (federation of private sector administration employees) and the employers confederation Svenskt...
Great Britain: Unite members set up specific strike fund to gear up against looming job losses at Rolls Royce
The 12,000 Unite members at Rolls Royce have voted to set up their industrial action fund by paying £1 per month to their Unite union (in addition to their union subs). The ‘war chest’ is expected...
Germany: faced with labor shortages, businesses are increasingly looking to refugees to fill the gap
Just a few days ahead of the summit meeting between the representatives of the Federal State and the Länders on June 18, Germany’s large employers federations and trade unions have come together...
Great Britain: About turn for non-European skilled workers as cap on migrants is reached for first time
For the first time the UK had to close its doors to non-European skilled workers earning under 155,000 GBP a year (214,000 €) because the maximum allowed number of working permits per month was...
Germany: future reforms to interim work starting to make waves
The Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Andrea Nahles has kept up momentum with multiple announcements on the content of her reform to temporary work and services contracts due to be...
Italy: Council of Ministers gives final approval on two new Jobs Act decrees
On June 11 the Italian Council of Ministers gave final approval for two new decrees relating to the Jobs Act – the law enabling labor reforms approved in December 2014 (c.f. article No. 8763)...
12 June 2015
EU: start and end travelling time for peripatetic workers constitutes working time (Opinion of the ECJ Advocate General)
On June 11 Yves Bot, Advocate General at the ECJ, delivered his opinion on a Spanish case and requested that working time for peripatetic workers (no fixed or habitual place of work) includes the...
11 June 2015
Italy: tax break for productivity-linked pay unlikely to continue in 2015 due to lack of funds
Introduced back in 2008 with the dual goal of reducing fiscal pressure on workers salaries as well as promoting the conclusion of local collective agreements, the productivity-linked pay tax...
UNI Europa the European federation for skills and service sets out its four-year action plan for the commerce sector
Delegates from 31 unions and 23 countries came together at the UNI Europa Commerce conference from June 01 – 03 to approve its four-year action plan. The main theme was the issue of how unions can...
France: parliament adopts the proposed law to put an anti-discrimination action group in place
On June 10 France’s National Assembly adopted a proposed law for anti-discrimination action groups. Government support has finally come through for an initiative that has come back to the fore at...
11 June 2015
Austria: Postal workers to receive a 1.9% pay rise
The social partners at the Österreichische Post have awarded a 1.9% wage rise to all of its 24,000 workers. The minimum salary of recent hires (after 2009) and working in the network of agencies...
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1
France: Medef puts forward proposals to improve management quality
On 31 August, Medef, French main employers' organisation, published a practical guide to managerial skills, which it considers to be a driver of economic performance for businesses. Concerned by...
2
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
3
France: Ministry of Labour unveils plan to accelerate the rollout of AI
On 22 September, the French Ministry of Labour presented a plan named Impulsion IA 2027 aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI by companies and employees. It contains 12 measures applicable from...
4
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
5
Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
6
UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...