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Great Britain: government looks into appeal zero hours contracts
In an interview to People Management, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that the government was reviewing zero hours contracts – a growing form of contracts with no minimum working time. ...
Germany: first report by Hans-Böckler foundation found wages should be up in numerous sectors in 2013
2013 collective bargaining is already well on its way.  In about 20 major sectors, the social partners have reached agreements, the outcome of which has been analyzed by the Institute of economic...
MSD speeds up development to move young talent into senior leadership positions
The Spanish subsidiary of MSD, a global healthcare leader known as Merck & Co., Inc. in the United States and Canada, enacted the “Internship Talent Program” in 2011 as part of its talent...
Denmark: Parliament approves bill transposing European temporary work directive
On May 30, after a third reading, the Parliament permanently adopted Act 209 which transposes the European temporary work directive into Danish law.  Unions were really waiting for this adoption...
31 May 2013
United States: Walmart under social pressure prior to its annual general meeting
Despite the fact that Walmart initiated actions with a view to improving its associates' scheduling in response to the strike action organised in the Autumn, including during the crucial Black...
France: reforms requested by Commission taste bitter
Following the publication of its recommendations to Member States for economic and social reform, the European Commission defended itself last Thursday from wanting to step onto national toes: Pia...
30 May 2013
Great-Britain : for the first time in a decade, unions grew according to the annual statistical report by the government department, Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Membership for 2012 was 59,000 higher at 6.455 million workers compared to 2011. However, it is still considerably below the level of 2007 before the Global Financial Crisis when the figure stood...
Italy: the Fim (metalworkers’) congress approves the merger with Femca (chemistry, energy) to constitute a single Cisl trade union federation for industry
The 18th national congress of Fim, the metalworkers' trade union federation of Cisl, which took place in Lecce, 22-24 May with some 500 delegates in attendance, approved the merger with Femca, the...
EU: European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) says ‘new China’ is rising within the EU
If current austerity policies continue, the minimum wage will be at the level of the Shenzhen region in China.”  This is basically the conclusion made by the European trade union confederation and...
30 May 2013
Italy: insurance social partners sign agreement arranging the sector’s solidarity fund
On May 20, the national association of insurance firms (Ania) and the national association of assistance companies (Aisa) for employers and the Fiba-Cisl, Fisac-CGIL, F.N.A., SNFIA and Uilca-Uil...
EU: Paris and Berlin reveal “New Deal” against youth unemployment
On May 28, in Paris, Michel Sapin, French Minister of Labor, and his German colleague, Urusla von der Leyen, presented the outline of a joint initiative against youth unemployment.  This...
28 May 2013
EU: more than three months after the Parliament’s report on socially responsible restructurings, the Commission remains silent
Procrastinating, despising the Parliament, confirming a real breakdown within the Commission… all reasons are possible. After the overwhelming vote, on January 15, in favor of the own-initiative...
28 May 2013
Germany: Volkswagen workers get a 5.6% wage increase and improved company pension
13 days after a pilot collective agreement was signed in the Bavarian metal industry, the IG-Metall union and Volkswagen’s management signed, on the night of May 27 in Hanover, a new “company...
Great Britain: Unite strive to regain influence over the Labour party
Members of the Unite union (1.4m members) voted by 87% on a 19% turnout to renew the union’s political fund. By law, a ballot must be held every ten years to decide upon whether a union can...
Hannover Re: agreement on employee involvement in the European Company
On May 3, 2012, the general assembly of Hannover Re (Hannover Rückversicherung), the German reinsurance company, one of the major reinsurance companies in the world, agreed to adopt the legal...
Greece: from January 1, 2017, minimum wage will be based on inflation and unemployment
The Council of Ministers is about to present a new system for calculating minimum wage which will apply in 2017 on.  It will no longer be determined by the social partners but annually by a bill...
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1
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
2
Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...