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Spain: El Corte Inglés forced to take measures to address the gender pay gap within three months
The justice system is giving the El Corte Inglés superstore three months to implement measures to reduce the gender pay gap, at the risk of financial penalties.  The Chamber for social and labor...
6 June 2013
Great Britain: groundbreaking agreement to build the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point
After months of negotiating, the UCATT, Unite and GMB unions have secured agreement with the client, EDF Energy, and the principal contractor, Bouygues Laing O’Rourke, a 'Common Framework...
Germany: Karstadt, Amazon…, the Verdi union is fighting several battles to improve collective agreements in retail trade
Since the Karstadt department store company announced, in mid-May, that it wanted to get out, for two years, of the collective agreements in force in retail trade, a major dispute burst out...
Italy: Turin Court of Appeal toughens sanctions against Eternit management (asbestos)
On Monday, June 3, the Court of Appeal of Turin sentenced Stephan Schmidheiny, the former Swiss CEO of Eternit, to 18 years’ imprisonment for “permanent culpable disaster and culpable omission of...
Sweden: fashion and textile businesses sign agreement that tries to take low wages into account
The fashion and textile industry is the sector where wages are the lowest in manufacturing.  This is way the agreement signed on April 2, 2013 after other manufacturing agreements signed by TEKO...
Spain: interns are going to be affiliated with social security again
The Supreme Court gave satisfaction to the CCOO union and recognized the right for students who do an internship within the framework of their university/vocational training – and who get paid –...
5 June 2013
Germany: more and more employees take sabbaticals
They’re obviously still a minority but they are more than they used to be.  A recent survey by the Handelsblatt daily found that more and more German employees, notably executives, dare to take a...
France: short employment contracts about to be taxed
On July 1, 2013, employers’ unemployment insurance contributions on short fixed-term contracts will increase (up to 7 percent instead of 4 percent today).  On the contrary, employers won’t have to...
5 June 2013
Lafarge: interview of Philippe Jacquesson, SVP Social Policies for the group, about the global agreement on fundamental social rights and international social relations
In 2005, when it signed its Global Framework Agreement on fundamental rights, the French group was already a pioneer in establishing global dialogue with international unions.  On May 21, the...
EU: European social partners reach joint framework of action on youth employment
This text, negotiated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the BusinessEurope, UEAPME and CEEP employers’ organizations, will be presented in Brussels on June 12.  Based on a joint...
4 June 2013
France: employment guarantee agreements rush?
When are employment guarantee agreements signed?  What’s in them?  And what about the promises made to the employees?  These agreements – alternatives to layoffs – will soon have a legal...
Portugal: UGT and CGTP call for general strike on June 27
The UGT has decided to join in on the general strike decided by the CGTP for June 27.  Support from the moderate union – which until now was the only one involved in dialogue with the government –...
Italy: Confindustria, Cgil, Cisl and Uil sign “historical” agreement on union representativeness and democracy
The agreement on union representativeness and democracy signed on May 31 by the three biggest union confederations and the primary employers’ organization defines the modalities for calculating...
3 June 2013
Belgium: should ArcelorMittal Liege be nationalized?
The rescue of the Walloon steel industry hogged the best of the weekend news after ArcelorMittal decided to postpone the nearly €32-billion investments it was planning for the cold-processing...
Poland: permanent adoption of the new anti-crisis act
On May 21, the government adopted the law on employment protection during economic slowdown (so-called ‘new anticrisis law’). The text mostly aims to prolong the short-time working support system...
3 June 2013
American retail brands come up with their own safety plan for textile subcontractors in Bangladesh
Walmart, Gap and a few other companies have decided to design their own program to monitor their subcontractors in Bangladesh.  Indeed, they’ve refused to sign the global agreement on building...
3 June 2013
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: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
2
Argentina: government unveils labour reform
Argentina's ultra-liberal president Javier Milei wants to "modernise labour" with a new reform that has been greeted with opposition from trade unions. Submitted to the Senate on 11 December, the...
6 January 2026
3
France: minimum wage to rise by 1.18% on 1 January
On 12 December, the French government announced a 1.18% increase in the minimum wage, taking effect on 1 January 2026. The pay level will rise from €1,802 to €1,823 gross per month (for...
16 December 2025
4
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
5
Poland: reform introduces possibility of working for another employer while on sick leave
On 7 January, the President of Poland promulgated an amendment to the country’s social insurance act. The reform aims to clarify the activities permitted during sick leave, so that...
6
Spain: government wants 3.1% minimum wage hike
Spain's ministry of labour has informed the social partners of its intention to raise the minimum wage to €1,221 gross per month. This increase is expected to be approved by the Council of...
8 January 2026