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Portugal: draft reform of the code of labor procedure
Adjustment. The new code is going to determine courts’ role within the framework of the new labor code (see our dispatch No. 090227). It introduces the notion of emergency for illegal dismissals...
EU: the Twenty-Seven get a new strategic framework for education and training with employers involved
The cooperation framework is divided up into cycles; the first one goes from 2009 to 2010. Each Member State is free to choose its own priorities. Nevertheless, the Twenty-Seven set figured...
Great Britain: consultation for the implementation of the European directive on agency workers
Agency workers will get new rights in terms of pay, paid leaves and overtime after 12 weeks at work. Measures will be implemented to prevent employers from firing these workers after 11 weeks to...
Italy: metallurgy as a testing ground for union opposition to the reform of the conventional system
No unitary platform for the renewal of the metallurgy CCN. Asking for a law on democratic rules for union representation and the validation of platforms and agreements by workers, the central...
Belgium: three new measures to avoid layoffs
A measure for white-collars only: the suspension of the labor contract. The last measure developed by the government is sort of like economic unemployment for blue-collar workers. "Before, there...
Ireland: wage talks at a standstill
Questioning the national wage agreement in the private sector. On February 21, for the first time since the beginning of social partnership in Ireland, workers in the public and private sector...
Netherlands: Shell’s shareholders revolt against bonuses
The revolt could get to pension funds. A group of shareholders united with the consultant firm RiskMetrics says that it is totally crazy for Shell not to respect its own regulations regarding...
Italy: ThyssenKrupp and Ilva sign two agreements on partial unemployment with unions
Ilva’s agreement. On April 30, Ilva’s management in Taranto (Pouilles region), the largest steel company in Europe, signed with the local units of the Fim, Fiom and Uilm unions an agreement...
Germany: Volkswagen’s staff representatives could be the main winners of the next meeting at VW-Porsche
Fighting to maintain the social model. Indeed, for over a year, they fought for VW to retain control over its destiny and to maintain Volkswagen’s “social model,” where few decisions can be made...
Poland: EDF’s employees demonstrate against restructuring program
Angry unions. However, EDF’s 23 unions unanimously rejected this restructuring program, judging that the 1,400 jobs concerned by it are threatened. Unions point out that 200 jobs have already been...
Finland: the merger of several industry unions member of the SAK confederation postponed of one year
The merger between several unions in the industry sector of the SAK confederation was launched in 2005. The creation of the new union, to be called TEAM, will start on May 10, during the congress...
Italy: Enel signs two protocols on industrial relations
When presenting the industrial plan and investment program 2009-11, Enel, the Italian energy group, signed with the CGIL, Cisl and Uil unions as well as their secotral units two agreements...
Germany: head hunters partially unemployed as well
Multiple reasons. Worried about the crisis, many executives no longer switch businesses and “stick” with their jobs. “Even though their position might be removed, most executives prefer banking on...
Spain : the government and the main associations of independent workers have signed an agreement improving their social rights
Covering broad subjects like taxation and credit, the principal “social” points of the agreement are:  
General Motors Europe: management terminates European framework agreement on working time reduction signed at Opel
vings program amounting to 1bn euros presented at Opel, GME’s management announced a cut in managers’ wages and terminated a framework agreement which provided, among others, that...
EU: the mini-summit defines ten key actions for employment
10 key actions. Ten actions, addressing both short-term and long-term challenges, are suggested that should be implemented at national and European levels together with the social partners:
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1
Spain: new terms and conditions for in-company training contracts
On 25 November, Spain's Council of Ministers approved a regulation on training contracts. This text defines the terms and conditions for hosting work-study students and interns doing professional...
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France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
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Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...