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Austria: government and social partners agree on the creation of a “red-white-red” card for highly-skilled migrant workers
The removal of the rigid quota system is acclaimed.  It took the Austrian government two years to keep the promise it made in 2008 when it was established, to modernize the system for the...
EU: electricity social partners keep working together on skills
Environmental transition.  This summer, the Syndex accounting firm did simulations and interviews with unions and businesses to bring out good practices.  On October 5th though, the social...
Italy: the success of the Fiom’s demonstration increases the divide with the Cisl
The union didn’t want to give any numbers.  From the “80,000 participants” according to the police to the half a million or more according to the press, there was, in any case, an “extraordinary...
Netherlands: FNV wants “labor policy” and an “update to the Finnish level”
On Friday, October 15th, the FNV responded to the announcement of the new government which, at the request of right-wing populist Geert Wilders, is going to launch a new special police unit, with...
Germany: employers are afraid the immigration controversy is going to affect the recruitment of skilled foreign workers
Base immigration on the labor market’s needs. “The German economy needs skilled workers” reminded, once again, the head of the employers’ confederation, Dieter Hundt, this week end, protesting...
18 October 2010
Finland: towards a bill to better control appeal to fixed-term contracts
The proposal is supported by all employees’ organizations and some employers.  Minister of Labor Anni Sinnemäki said she was satisfied, hoping the Labor Code amendment would help reduce groundless...
Great Britain: new report on simpler regulations for health and safety at work
Bring common sense back.  While acknowledging the benefits of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in reducing industrial accidents, Lord Young’s report judges that the current system encourages...
Austria: metal employers deceive unions at the first collective bargaining meeting
Yesterday, in Vienna, the metal employers announced that they were no longer ready to discuss flexible working time within the framework of collective negotiations, which just opened and which...
Romania: pension act sent back to Parliament
Attacked by the social-democrats and liberals (two opposition parties) at the Constitutional Court, the text was declared constitutional by the judges and only required validation from the...
Great Britain: new online service to help businesses recruit disabled people
Created by and for businesses.  “Disability Clearkit” was born after three years of research by the 220 organizations working in association with the Department for Work and Pension (DWP), to...
14 October 2010
Netherlands: Henk Kamp is the new Minister of Social Affairs
The largest employers’ organization, the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) rejoiced with the appointment of Henk Kamp, “a man with great experience,” as the previous...
Italy: “egg attacks” against the Cisl and Uil’s headquarters stigmatize the Fiom-CGIL
“Better one egg today than no rights tomorrow.”  This message, written with red nail polish on the gates of the Cisl’s headquarters in the roman quarter of Garbatella, is the “nicest” of the...
Germany: first representative study to look at measures increasing older workers’ productivity
German lab.  Since demographic ageing is more significant in Germany than for its neighbors, the businesses of the top European economy have become true labs on the employment of older workers. ...
Denmark: union membership is decreasing, threatening the Danish model
1,045,000 employees (39%) aren’t members of a union organization that signed an agreement.  Among these, one in three (versus one in four in 1995) isn’t a union member at all.  It’s the first time...
Germany: the two major rail unions announce a series of warning strikes starting on October 25th
Warning strikes and employers’ anger.  In an ultimatum presented in mid-September (see our dispatch No. 100648), Transnet and GDBA warned that, if the employers of the key private operators in...
Rhodia: interview with Bernard Chambon, President of Rhodia Chemistry, and Jacques Kheliff, sustainable development director
global agreement with the International Federation of Chemical Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), Rhodia stands out with its early commitment in terms of CSR. In an interview...
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
Italy: Enel signs agreement to manage the effects of AI on work
An agreement signed at the end of July by the electricity company Enel (31,000 employees) and the unions Filctem-Cgil, Flaei-Cisl, and Uiltec is pioneering in the Italian energy sector. It aims to...
7 September 2026
2
Italy: artificial Intelligence on the menu of Barilla’s new company agreement
Prior consultation with trade unions on innovations related to artificial intelligence, strengthened training, and progress on parenthood: these are the main new features of the agreement signed...
2 September 2026
3
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
4
Germany: a high-tension start to the social and political year
The German government must finalize its major reforms (pension funding, corporate competitiveness, and labor law) while the chancellor’s popularity hits an all-time low and three regional...
5
Germany: working time dispute between Mercedes and the IG Metall Union
The news. At the beginning of September, Mercedes-Benz asked employee representatives and the IG Metall union to agree to an increase in the weekly working time from 35 to 40 hours, without any...
16 September 2026
6
Sweden: IF Metall union forced to end industrial dispute with Tesla
The news. After three years of conflict, the Swedish union IF Metall announced it would suspend its strike actions against Tesla starting Wednesday, August 19, after the American automaker...