All articles

Sanofi-Aventis: the EMCEF still rejects the agreement on the European negotiation body
After refusing to sign the draft agreement creating a European negotiation body in the French pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis (see our dispatch No. 080067), the European trade union federation...
Netherlands: De Unie, the executives’ union, plays the e-card to allure young people
De Internet Vakbond, the internet antenna launched by De Unie, the executives' union, in 2006, started, on February 13, 2008, a wide movement aimed at young people: free access to a database to...
Czech Republic : the new law on sickness benefits declared unconstitutional
On 23 April, 2008 the Constitutional Court cancelled, with effect from 30 June, 2008, the provisions of the law on Sickness Insurance of Employees, under which sickness benefits are paid starting...
Czech Republic: green card to facilitate the employment of foreign workforce under preparation
The Chamber of Deputies is examining the government's proposal for the amendment to the Act on Foreigners' Stay and Residence. It introduces a "green card", a new long-term residence permit paired...
Germany: Berlin to strengthen the protection of employees who denounce illegal practices in their company
Scandals of rotten meat delivered or Bribery at Siemens pushed the Grand Coalition to strengthen the protection offered to employees who denounce illegal practices in their company. At the end of...
Great Britain: agreement on agency workers’ rights, at last
Agency workers will be given the same rights as permanent workers once they have been employed for 12 weeks, the government declared on May 20, 2008, after an agreement between unions and...
Netherlands: the liberalization of the postal market postponed again while the social conflict at TNT is getting worse
On May 16, the government has once again postponed the liberalization of the postal market, first planned for January 1, 2008, and then to July 1, 2008. Now, Frank Heemskerk, Secretary of State...
Austria: 3.4% wage increase with options in the electro-technical and electronics industries
Although rekindled inflation and indicators of a slowdown in economic activity throughout the EU clearly exerted an influence on negotiations, the social partners reached, on May 14, an agreement...
European social agenda from May 22 to December 31, 2008
We offer an agenda of the main events concerning social Europe and institutional meetings. You can send your scheduled events to the following address: planetlabor@planetlabor.com (Ref. 080415)
Italy: basic unions offer an alternative to the CGIL, CISL and UIL confederations
Get out of the minority and go past division. These are the goals of the first national unitary assembly of the basic unions (CUB, Cobas and SDL), gathered in Milan on May 17. Offering an...
Poland: the Labor Inspectorate evaluates the prevention of risks linked to asbestos
The national Labor Inspectorate presented to the National Assembly, at the end of April, an evaluation on the prevention of risks concerning asbestos at work. This evaluation sheds light on the...
Great Britain: database to register dishonest employees
Action Against Business Crime is about to launch a database where employers can register information about dishonest workers. This initiative is kicking up a stir. (Ref. 080427)
Great Britain: bill to toughen fines for health and safety at work offenses
Introduced by labor MP Keith Hill, the bill on the toughening of sanctions in terms of offenses to the law on occupational health and safety of 1974 is going on a third reading at the House of...
EU: France welcomes the first visit of the European “Mission for Flexicurity”
On Monday, May 19, the European mission for flexicurity started, in France, a Euro trip which should lead, at the end of 2008, to the publication of a report for the establishment of flexicurity...
Gaz de France: agreement on social responsibility
Whereas the merger of the French groups Gaz de France and Suez should be final in June, Gaz de France's management and union organizations are currently bargaining for an agreement on social...
Germany: the leader of the first rail union becomes staff manager at the Deutsche Bahn AG
At the beginning of May, Norbert Hansen, president of Transnet, the DB's main union, resigned from his position to become staff manager at the DB AG. This unexpected "transfer" was criticized from...
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
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
2
Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
3
Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining
On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...
2 December 2025
4
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
5
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
6
France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval
The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...