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Italy: unitary agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement of the Poste Italiane
After “long and difficult negotiations” during which, according to unions, only “unity and homogeneity” helped overcome “unjustified rigidity” from the group’s management, SLP-Cisl, SLC-CGIL...
Germany: IG-Metall wants to limit appeal to temporary work as in Thuringia
Combining economic subsidies and volume of temporary employment.  On Wednesday, April 13th, the IG-Metall Frankfurt and its general secretary, Armin Schild, met with the Minister of Economic...
EU: metal social partners eager to know more about the Commission’s industrial strategy
Risk of transverse approach.  First, the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) for unions and the Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries (CEEMET)...
Italy: ThyssenKrupp CEO sentenced to 16.5 years in prison for murder after the fire in the Turin establishment in 2007
After an investigation completed in record time, the case referred to the assize court with, for the first time in the case of a deadly industrial accident, murder charges for the highest-ranking...
Netherlands: mandatory registration for all temporary agencies
The Netherlands’ 2,300 temporary work agencies have until January 1, 2012 to enroll with the trade register (Handelregister).  For the moment, only 35% have registered.  The government wants to...
Spain: agreement on collective bargaining reform stuck on the fight against absenteeism and the creation of a youth contract
The signature of the social partners’ agreement on the reform of collective bargaining is running a little late.  So far, the debate between the social partners focused on the issue of improving...
Belgium: start of the negotiations for the new collective agreement in electricity and gas
Harmonizing statuses.  While energy prices keep increasing, employers plead a wage increase contained in the 2011-2012 cross-industry agreement, i.e. 0.3% maximum (see our dispatch No.  110122). ...
Germany: GDL train drivers’ union and Deutsche Bahn sign three collective agreements
Towards pay unity for all train drivers.  At a joint press conference with Ulrich Weber, DB HR manager, Claus Weselsky, GDL leader, rejoiced with the signature of these agreements which put an end...
EU: chemistry social partners define framework on the competence profiles of two “key” positions
In preparation for demographic ageing and in order to facilitate the movement of European workers within the EU, the chemistry social partners drew up a framework on competence profiles for two...
Denmark: close watch over the working environment of the LM Wind Power ‘green giant’
Denouncing unprotected styrene exposure for the employees of LM Wind Powers, the Berlingske Tidende daily published, on February 20th, an alarming survey on the working environment in the group’s...
15 April 2011
Italy: social partners sign joint opinion for the transposition of the new EWC directive
Dialogue.  The signatories said that the aim of this directive is to “develop, via the involvement of workers, a constructive attitude of change based on effective social dialogue.”  They share...
Germany: 5.3% increase over 24 months in building and civil engineering
Wolfgang Clement, former Minister of Economic Affairs under Gerhard Schröder and mediator appointed by the social partners in building and civil engineering in early April, presented on Thursday...
Ireland: new government faces heavy social agenda
Collective bargaining.  The wind is turning for Irish trade unions.  The government coalition that came out of the February election is working on a legal framework strengthening the right to...
Netherlands: agreement in the light metal industry
Mobilization in preparation for a strike allowed unions to reach, on April 6th, an agreement in principle on the next collective agreement in the light metal industry (Metaal & Techniek) which...
EU: “European future should be based on a constructive trade unionism” – John Monks, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation
John Monks.  I have had enjoyable 8 years as general secretary of the ETUC and I have appreciated the privilege of doing this particular job. We have been in an era when workers have been more on...
13 April 2011
EU: European Commission plans legislative procedure to regulate the right to strike in case of conflicts with the freedom to provide services
The communication the European Commission adopted on April 13th defines 12 levers including funding for SMEs, intellectual property, the digital single market, public procurement, taxation on...
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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
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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...
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
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Germany: ‘active retirement’ law adopted to encourage seniors to remain in the workforce
On 15 October, Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on ‘active retirement‘, which is expected to pass swiftly through Parliament. The bill would allow people who continue...
6
EU: omnibus bill stalls in parliament
On 22 October, members of the European Parliament narrowly voted against a negotiating mandate that would have opened trilogue talks on the omnibus directive, which seeks to dilute the corporate...
23 October 2025