All articles

Italy: CGIL denounces new blow to health and safety at work regulations
According to the National Institution for Insurance against Accidents at Work (Inail), industrial accidents are decreasing.  In 2009, 790,000 were listed (as opposed to 875,144 in 2008), 1,050 of...
13 October 2010
Netherlands: special “odd jobs” system maintained in 2011
Piet Hein Donner, outgoing Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, decided, on Friday, October 8th, to maintain, in 2011, the “kleinebanenregeling,” a special system for “odd jobs,” introduced this...
Great Britain: partial victory for insurers against asbestos victims
Checkered rulings.  In 2008, within the framework of a trial opposing six former employees suffering from mesothelioma and the company’s insurers, who refused to pay, the High Court declared...
EU: the schedule and content of the future framework on the anticipation of change and restructuring are taking shape
Significant shift in priorities. First act that sets the scene, the communication expected for October 27th on the industrial policy, presented by Commissioner Antonio Tajani, is already, in...
Sweden: Sandvik allows workers and executives to arrange the end of their career after 61
Equalitarian agreement.  Flexible end of career at Sandvik was introduced in 2003, but for workers aged 62 only.  It took longer to set up the process for executives because the union’s young...
12 October 2010
Slovakia: draft bill on the reform of the Labor Code about parental leave, EWCs and appeal to temporary work
Gender equality. The legislative proposal aforementioned provides, first, for the amendment of some of the principles of the Labor Code, which the ECJ ruled didn’t comply with Directive 2002/73 on...
Italy: the two poles of Italian unionism demonstrated in Turin and Rome on Saturday
“Over 100,000 demonstrators” (police say 50,000) were gathered by the Cisl and Uil on the Piazza del Popolo in Rome on Saturday, October 9th to ask the government for a table on the “fiscal...
Germany: federal government launches “national action plan for corporate social responsibility”
Make CSR a characteristic of the German economy.  “Successful companies don’t grow on trees.  In the network world of the 21st century, businesses can no longer afford short-term strategies. ...
11 October 2010
Sweden: unions agree on the principle of restructuring Posten Norden but criticize the modalities
Necessary restructuring because of drop in mail volume.  Aside from the announcement of the appointment of a new chair, a restructuring program was presented on September 29th.  It should apply...
11 October 2010
United States: General Motors reinvests in Detroit
From south Korea to the US.  The management of General Motors decided to make its new compact car in the US, after securing new pay concessions from the United Auto Workers (UAW). “No American...
France: the act on social dialog in very small enterprises was passed
Social dialog is finally going to be a part of France’s very small enterprises. Whereas employees working in these businesses represent over 20% of employees in the private sector, i.e. about 4...
Spain: after the labor market reform, the pension reform
Experts are sounding the alarm, pointing to the urgency and need for the implementation of a truly ambitious reform to establish strong social bases to move to a viable, fair and transparent...
Portugal: general strike against austerity on November 24th
Almost unseen movement.  This is extremely rare in Portugal, it has only happened once, in 1988, against the labor laws of Cavaco Silva’s administration (current President of the Republic).  The...
Greece: new decree questions national collective agreements
A country in the red.  Social atmosphere is getting even thicker in Greece this fall.  The application of the severity program, imposed by what is also known as the Troika (the IMF, the European...
7 October 2010
Italy: CGIL presents social dampers reform
Simplifying the Italian unemployment insurance system, extending protection to workers who don’t have it, and make it all financially bearable.  This is the goal of the social dampers reform...
Sodexo: union coordination attacks the international group caterer
The union coordination has brought in more countries since the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) launched the initiative earlier this year (see our dispatch No. 100543) since it is now...
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
Spain: government seeks to strengthen protection for employee whistleblowers
On 28 July, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved a draft bill aimed at providing legal protection to employees who report corruption or breaches of labour law, shielding them from potential...
27 August 2026
2
France: Cabinet adopts pay transparency bill
After several months of delay beyond the European deadline of 7 June 2026, French Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou finally presented the bill transposing the Pay Transparency Directive to the...
10 September 2026
3
Germany: IG Metall demands 5% pay rise amid severe pressure
Despite the crisis hitting the automotive industry, the leadership of the German trade union IG Metall announced on Wednesday 23 September that it would be asking for a 5% pay increase as well as...
23 September 2026
4
Italy: Crédit Agricole introduces a handbook on managerial behaviour
The document adopted in mid-July by Crédit Agricole Italia and the main banking trade unions goes beyond the proper use of meetings and emails. This six-point handbook aims to foster constructive...
3 September 2026
5
Spain: government revisits its draft decree on salary transparency
The Spanish Ministry of Labour has opened a consultation on the transposition of the European directive on salary transparency and the reduction of the gender pay gap. This decision follows a...
8 September 2026
6
Slovakia: 6% increase in the minimum wage from 1 January 2027
The news. As Slovakia’s social partners failed to reach an agreement during tripartite negotiations, Labour Minister Erik Tomas has decided to increase the minimum wage by 6% from 1 January...
1 September 2026