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Spain: metal social partners sign agreement on the structure of collective bargaining in the sector
The agreement determines negotiation levels (national, local and company collective bargaining) and divides normative competences between them.  Thus, it lists topics which will purely be...
Germany: transport sector worries about the growing shortage of drivers and is starting to increase wages
Recruiting drivers is becoming a major issue.  On Wednesday, January 11, 2012, Appearing in court for cheating social contributions up to €44,000, the manager of a transport firm in Bavaria fired...
16 January 2012
Netherlands: disagreements within the Federation of Christian Unions
eration in the Netherlands, the CNV, is going to split, for the same reasons the Federation of Netherlands Unions (FNV) did. The pension reform, once again in question, is driving the ACP union...
France: government starts work on social VAT and competitiveness-employment agreements three months to the Presidential election
Competitiveness-employment agreements.  Clearly drawing inspiration from Germany, and its long-term experience with employment guarantee agreements, the government launched the theme of...
Italy: government finishes ‘informal’ consultations on the labor market reform
Union positions.  Banking on the newfound unity because of the mobilization against the “Monti maneuver” (see our dispatch No.  110775), the leaders of the CGIL, Cisl and Uil – Susanna Camusso...
12 January 2012
Germany: 4 percent wage increase at the Deutsche Post
For the most part, the serenity that governed the negotiations between Deutsche Post and Verdi came from the important profits the Deutsche Post made in 2011, notably because of the boom in...
Italy: successful Facebook campaign against the relocation of Omsa (Golden Lady Group) to Serbia
Launched by blogger Massimo Malerba (expert in web political campaigns, who initiated, among others, the ‘No Berlusconi Day’) after the layoff, on December 27, of the 329 workers of Omsa’s Faenza...
12 January 2012
Germany: introducing universal minimum wage and equal pay in the temporary sector will be the core of union action in 2012
For universal minimum wage and equal pay in the temporary sector.  The first press conference organized by the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), which traditionally marks the beginning...
Portugal: enforcement of the extraordinary extension of fixed-term contracts
Extraordinary measure.  Act 3/20122 temporarily amending the maximum duration of fixed-term contracts came into force on January 10.  The goal of the measure is to keep unemployment from getting...
Spain: unions and employers cannot agree on all labor market reform issues
The social partners had until January 6 (now January 10) to agree on a labor market reform (see our dispatch No.  110745).  When the deadline came, employers and unions sent Premier Mariano Rajoy...
Denmark: CSC computing company signs two collective agreements substantially reviewing working conditions
A “historical” defeat for the union.  The conflict between PROSA (FTF member) and CSC burst out in February 2011 when the multinational’s management did a lock-out to oppose the strike organized...
Germany: focus on the election of union representatives in metal firms
Union representatives and WC, two different roles.  There are many of them in businesses, working on a voluntary basis and usually ignored by the public: “Vertrauensleute” are unionists defending...
10 January 2012
Russia: battle over temporary work
Short union victory.  On may 20, 20, the Russian Duma adopted, in its first reading, the bill presented by union MPs M.V. Tarasenko and A.K. Isaev (from the traditional Federation of Independent...
EU: the Danish Presidency’s social program
Strike and social dumping.  Denmark is going to take over the European Commission’s initiatives as regards the reconciliation of the right to strike and economic freedoms (Monti II draft...
China: notes from the China Labour Bulletin
“Unity is strength: The Workers’ Movement in China 2009-2011.”  The report opens with the story of what happened on May 31, 2010 at the Nanhai Honda automotive components factory when about 200...
Italy: the Fiom is organizing to reconquer union rights at Fiat
Starting on January 1, 2012, Fiat lost union representation rights at Fiat following the separate agreement of December 13 (see our dispatch No.  110779), the Fiom no longer receives contributions...
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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
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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...
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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
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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...
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EU: omnibus bill stalls in parliament
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23 October 2025
6
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