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EU: new EWC directive published in the Official Journal
The revised EWC directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 16. The Member States have to transpose the new directive at the latest on June 5, 2011 and businesses...
Austria: the Austrian Post announces partial privatization of its activities and prepares for social conflict
ralization of the Austrian Post (Postgesetz) is at the stage of the consultation procedure, the management of the Österreischiche Post AG (OPAG) has just announced that it is going to...
TUI: renewal of the agreement on the TUI Europa Forum, the European staff representation structure
Composition. Employees of the companies concerned by the agreement are “divided up according to TUI’s branches.” Staff representatives are divided this way: “each country shall nominate one...
EU: social partners embattle to support the new European Social Deal
An expanded European recovery plan financed by the EU. The ETUC demands a European investment plan totaling an annual 1% of GDP in the areas of areas of renewable energies, social infrastructure...
Fiat-Opel: Italian and German unions united against job cuts after a possible merger
Beginning of European coordination. The European trade unions created a “work group” and demanded “true negotiations because the possible reduction of the European structure must be done without...
Germany: SEMs ignore challenges related to demographic change
Youth cult. Another disturbing fact: almost one in two businesses systematically rejects applications from people over 50. This “youth cult” is particularly present in SMEs with less than 50...
Schering-Plough: EWC demands further consultation on the merger with Merck
The representatives’ letter only explicitly mentions the closure of the Bray site in Ireland and the subsequent transfer of production – “which is a transnational issue” – stresses the letter...
Great Britain: the objectives set to improve skills by 2020 may not be achieved
Worsening competitiveness. Ten years before the deadline set by Lord Leitch in his report condemning the extremely low skill level in the UK (see our dispatch No. 061233), the Commission for...
Spain: railway unions apprehensive about the decentralization of rail network management in Catalonian suburbs
ster of Transport and Infrastructures, José Blanco, concerning the transfer of the management of Catalonian suburban trains (Cercanias) to the region starting January 1, 2010, has provoked...
Italy: Fim-Cisl 17th national Congress adopts new guidelines on union strategy
Industrial relations. Convinced that participation strengthens union relations in the company, the Fim is banking on the development of equal organizations, “in addition to traditional social...
Morocco: employers are advanced in terms of corporate social responsibility
Unions are hardly present. “In general, Moroccan unions are not well organized” confessed Mohamed Chaibi, Director General of Ciments Morocco, subsidiary of Italcementi. “Union membership is...
14 May 2009
Belgium: metalworkers demonstrate against the agreement in metallic manufacturing
Main points of the agreement signed on April 28. What’s the main progress of this agreement? The CSC lists eight:
Metro Group : the death of a worker in Bangladesh again raises the problem of the control of the respect of social standards by suppliers
The fartema Akter affair dates back to her death on December 7, 2008, but it was not until recently that on the initiative of the Clean Clothes Campaign that the circumstances were related in the...
13 May 2009
Germany: construction social partners ask a mediator to arbitrate their dispute
Towards a harmonization of wages in the west and in the east. The IG Bau’s second claim is that, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, wages in eastern Germany be brought in line with those...
Biomet Europe: establishment of a European works council
Competence of the EWC on the “territory” only. The agreement specified that the EWC represents employees “insofar as activities are carried out within the Territory.” Besides, “the EWC shall be...
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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
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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
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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
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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