All articles

Germany: employers call for wage moderation for 2010 collective bargaining
year, which should be punctuated by no less than 84 collective negotiations affecting about 9.4 million employees in different sectors, a growing number of businesses and economic experts are in...
China: government to improve the protection of agency workers
Abusive practices. At the end of the 1990s, the affluent workforce on the labor market gave birth to employment agencies. Employment agencies – paiqian songsi – recruit workers – pianqian gong –...
Denmark: negotiations for the renewal of CCN in the private sector could be contentious
g to have to make special efforts to avoid the social conflicts which might arise from the renegotiation of collective agreements. This is what comes out of an analysis carried out by the Labor...
Netherlands: debate on arduous work and retirement at 67
vernment declined a proposal presented by unions and employers to allow low-income workers to escape retirement at 67 as provided by the reform in the offing. Unions think this income limit is a...
Suspension of the information thread during Christmas break
The Planet Labor team presents you their best wishes for this holiday season and is looking forward to treating with you again next year.
24 December 2009
Italy: Fiat presents industrial program to government and unions
“We have an ambitious plan for Fiat, especially in Italy” announced Sergio Marchionne, Fiat managing director, when presenting, on December 22, Fiat’s industrial plan for Italy in 2010-11 to the...
Sweden: services get a cooperation agreement (samarbetsvatal)
ions, and like the industry, services just got a cooperation agreement (samarbetsvatal) signed between Unionen (union of private sector employees), Sveriges Ingenjorer (engineering union), Jusek...
Germany: “Hartz IV” Act helped improve the labor market situation
Reduction of structural unemployment. Answering to the Federal Employment Agency (BA), the IAB is notably in charge of regularly analyzing the impact of the “Hartz IV” act (SGB II) enforced on...
Finland: employers withdraw from secret negotiations on employment and wages and accuse unions of threatening social peace
Secret negotiations encouraged by the government. To encourage employers to come to the negotiating table, the government offered reducing businesses’ taxes in the event of an agreement. Finance...
Portugal: December 24 retailing strike cancelled
Informal agreement. The negotiating meeting between representatives of the APED (Portuguese Association of Retail Companies) wasn’t held. It was replaced by an informal meeting which led to...
Germany: Bosch wants to share short-time working costs with employees
Planet Labor, December 22, 2009, No. 091164 – www.planetlabor.com
Sweden: employers and union launch a joint prevention campaign against drugs and alcohol in construction
A problem which affects all parties. The issue of abusive alcohol use was revived on March 4, 2009 by Maria Larsson, Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health. A report proposed revising the...
Great Britain: Unite union postpones British Airways strike to January
Illegal strike. While Unite announced a 12-day strike starting on December 22, 2009 (affecting one million employees), the Supreme Court announced, in a ruling initiated by British Airways, that...
Italy: pharmaceuticals/chemicals social partners sign unitary agreement for the renewal of their national collective agreement
After only two months of negotiations, “without a single hour of strike” and in spite of three different platforms (see our dispatch No. 090875), Filcem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uilcem-Uil for unions...
Netherlands: FNV changes its mind about retirement at 67
Agnes Jongerius, FNV general secretary, gave in to the rules of the democratic game and wants to respect the Parliament’s will. She’s also learning the lessons from a halftone mobilization in...
Portugal: government imposes 475 euros minimum wage in 2010 in spite of employers’ opposition
ings, the Portuguese government decided to impose a 25 euros increase for national minimum wage (SMN), bringing it from 450 up to 475 euros a month. This decision is in line with the agreements...
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
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...
2
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
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
5
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
6
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...