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Spain: social partners in favor of the introduction of short-time working based on the German system
The idea of replacing layoffs by working time cuts with wage compensation from the State was Ignacio Fernandez Toxo’s, leader of the Workers Commissions (CCOO). “Employees in ailing businesses...
Germany: Karstadt employees ready to major sacrifices to keep their job
Judicial settlement with conditions. Gathered for a decisive assembly on November 10 in Essen, the creditors unanimously voted in favor of continuation for Karstadt, subsidiary of the bankrupting...
Finland: after several suicides at Rautaruukki, unionists are talking about a Finnish France Telecom
Demanding reorganization. While no one is trying to explain these tragic events by a single cause, it seems that the recent reorganization of work rhythms seriously weakened employees. In the unit...
Romania: National Union Bloc fights against gender discrimination at work
Lower pay. 100,000 employees were interviewed in over 200 businesses and administrations in Romania. In the end, eloquent figures clearly show that women are discriminated against at work. The...
Great Britain: mental health guide
Good practices to reduce costs related to mental problems. Commissioned by the Department of Health to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the guide promotion mental...
EU: gas social partners to raise businesses’ awareness regarding demographic ageing and the skills shortage
“The issue of demographic ageing and the skills shortage appeared as an obvious topic for social dialog given what the gas sector should expect” explained Didier Baur, EPSU representative and VP...
Germany: new government wants more flexible laws on fixed-term contracts and smaller supervisory boards
Restrictive laws on fixed-term contracts with no particular reason. Currently, the law on part-time work and fixed-term contracts (Teilzeit- und Befristungsgesetz – TzBfG), enforced on January 1...
Netherlands: new light metal collective agreement postpones wage increases to 2011
Increases postponed to 2011. The General Employers’ Association (Algemene Werkgevers Vereneging – AWVN), affiliated with the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), the...
Lithuania: towards the 4-day week with wage cuts?
Cut working time without employees’ consent. In fact, businesses willing to reduce the number of days worked by their employees, by appealing to short-time working, would be allowed to implement...
Portugal: priorities of the new Socrates government
Small and medium-size enterprises. Support will mostly be dedicated to introducing SMEs on foreign markets. In this respect, the government is going to unfreeze €250 million to support such...
Gras Savoye: agreement establishing the EWC
Scope and significant change of the legal structure. The new EWC affects all EU countries where the group has at least one subsidiary “whose accounts and annual totals are included in mandatory...
Denmark: SAS airlines failed to reach an agreement with all unions on cost-cutting program
After concluding, earlier this year, an agreement with unions on a cost-cutting program amounting to 1.5 billion Swedish crowns (almost €137 million – see our dispatch No. 090077), SAS presented...
Netherlands: TNT Post proposes alternative to unions to revive negotiations
Harry Kooistra Director of TNT Post, proposed, in a letter sent on Saturday, a new program. To get the negotiations on the future collective agreement and a social plan presented as unavoidable...
Great Britain: interim agreement between Royal Mail and the CWU pauses the postal conflict
Truce. After several weeks of conflict, the management of Royal Mail, the British post, and the Communication Workers’ Union, CWU, have buried the hatchet. A transitional agreement negotiated last...
Italy: social partners in the paper industry sign a unitary agreement for the renewal of the national collective agreement
War figure in spite of a unitary agreement. The unitary agreement for the renewal of the paper industry’s CCN was signed on November 4 in Rome by the Assocarta employers’ organizations and the...
Germany: IG-Metall union recommends flexible collective agreements to save jobs
e bargaining for the 3.4 million employees in metalworking and electronics, in March 2010, the key local units of the IG-Metall unions already presented several systems to save jobs. Thus, in...
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1
EU: Commission launches consultation with social partners on quality jobs
On 4 December, the European Commission launched the first phase of consultation with social partners with a view to a European directive on jobs, which is scheduled for the end of 2026. It could...
4 December 2025
2
United Kingdom: government scraps plan to introduce ‘day one’ protection against unfair dismissal
The UK government announced on 27 November, in a statement, that it would not be introducing the right to challenge unfair dismissal (without cause) from the first day of employment in its...
3 December 2025
3
Poland: bill adopted to amend definition of psychological harassment
On 27 November, the Polish cabinet adopted a draft amendment to the labour code aimed at simplifying the definition of psychological harassment at work, or “mobbing” (Article 94 3)...
4 December 2025
4
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
5
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
6
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