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Germany: Federal Labor Court makes appeal to fixed-term contracts more flexible
Three-year waiting period.  In their coalition contract of October 2009, the conservatives and liberals announced their will to make fixed-term contract regulations more flexible (see our dispatch...
Romania: government ready to engage liability on the reform of collective labor relations
Liability.  The Boc administration has chosen the same scenario: as it did for the Labor Code, it intends to engage its responsibility for the draft Social Code supposed to regulate the...
11 April 2011
Spain: Correos signs collective agreement
On April 5th, unions and management signed the new agreement regulating, until 2013, the working conditions of over 60,000 employees in the postal company.  The agreement includes the 3rd...
Germany: Bundestag adopts bill transposing new EWC Directive
Criticism from the Confederation of German Trade Unions, independent experts and opposition parties at the lasts meeting of the Parliament Committee on Social Affairs last Wednesday were not...
Areva: interview of Philippe Vivien, Group HR manager, about the European agreement on forecasting and anticipating employment and competences
Philippe Vivien.  No, it doesn’t.  It is our second negotiation around a theme that is complicated and polymorphous.  Our first negotiation was on professional equality and it is true that this...
Great Britain: new social conflict in engineering construction industry
At the beginning of March, a one-day strike took place at the BP Hull site on Humberside where a multi-million pound bio-ethanol fuel plant is being constructed. After lengthy discussions with...
France: interview of Philippe Martinez, general secretary of the French metalworkers’ union federation, FTM-CGT
Philippe Martinez.  The current economic and social crisis got us thinking about the need to quicken concrete collaboration on a certain number of determined issues, including manufacturing issues...
Spain: lower social contributions for businesses presenting “mobility and road safety programs” for their employees
Reduced contributions for good practices.  The agreement was signed by the Minister of Home Affairs, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, in charge of road safety, and the Minister of Labor, Valeriano Gomez...
Italy: broken negotiations on the national insurance collective agreement cause several mobilizations
“Strong and clear” employee support to unions’ platform: this is how Giuseppe Gallo, Fiba Cisl general secretary, qualified the national strike of March 28th with a 90% turnout.  The strike...
Italy: interview of Maurizio Landini, Fiom-CGIL general secretary
Maurizio Landini.  The crisis we are going through is more severe than in other parts of Europe.  Youth unemployment amounts to nearly 30% and precariousness has reached unprecedented peaks in...
Germany: new improvements of the apprenticeship market “thanks” to the decline in birth rate
Better professional prospects for young people.  As an introduction, Mrs. Schavan reminded that there was a close relation between businesses’ economic health and the situation on the...
Great Britain: enforcement of new social regulations
Paternity leave.  Fathers whose babies are born on or after 3 April 2011 now have the right to take up to 26 weeks, in addition to the two usual weeks (if the mother goes back to work, see our...
Romania: tense negotiations on the reform of collective industrial relations
”Pretence of dialogue” according to unions.  After a fierce first round on the reform of the Labor Code, it seems the fight is starting up stronger than ever between unions and the Romanian...
Germany: Verdi calls for 6.5% increase for the 2.9 million commerce employees
The social partners in Hessen opened, in early march, collective negotiations in retail trade.  Mid-march, they were followed by the social partners in Bade-Württemberg.  Their colleagues in...
Italy: tough negotiations ahead for the renewal of the national banking collective agreement
With over 1,000 participants, the round table on “Emergency national collective agreement” organized by the Fabi on March 29th on the priorities of the platform for the renewal of the sector’s...
Netherlands: threat of conflict in the light metal industry
Negotiations are at a standstill in the Metaal & Techniek industry, which employs 330,000 people in 30,000 different businesses.  No one came to the last meeting planned within the framework...
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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
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
3
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
4
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
5
EU: Parliament supports creation of 28th legal regime for innovative companies
On 11 December, the European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs approved their recommendations to the European Commission as part of its preparations for a 28th regime for companies, as...
12 December 2025
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