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Spain: labour inspectorate increases checks on the firms which employ the most temporary workers
The campaign conducted by the labour inspectorate to fight against the abuse of temporary employment contracts has intensified. A labour market reform is also under way. It aims at reducing the...
Germany: 22 000 engineers’ positions remain vacant
The national Confederation of German engineers (VDI) has just issued a cry of distress facing the growing problems of German firms to hire engineers. With 39 400 new diplomas last year, Germany is...
Strabag SE : difficult beginning for the agreement on workers’ representation in the SE
Registered as a European company, on October 12th, 2004, Strabag, the Austrian and European construction firm, finally concluded an agreement on workers' representation in May 2006. Broadly...
EU : the European Qualifications Framework should be effective in 2010
In a statement adopted last December 5th, the European ministers in charge of education and the national social partners have promised to act in order to make operational, within 2010, the tools...
Germany: the commission for the reform of co-determination proposes to install European workers’ representatives in German companies
On Wednesday December 19th, the Commission for the reform of the co-determination, chaired by Kurt Biedenkopf, made its final report to Angela Merkel. Besides some measures in favour of a...
EU: the era of geographical mobility has not come yet
In a few days, the European Year of Workers' Mobility will come to an end. Meanwhile, a report from the Dublin foundation shows that only 4% of EU citizens have ever left their country for another...
Great Britain : trade unions develop initiatives for disabled workers’ rights
The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) publishes a guide for negotiators, branches and local union representatives, aimed at promoting disabled workers' rights in the workplace. A few days...
Bouygues: group adopts an ethical code and a mechanism of alert
The French group Bouygues has just adopted its first ethical code which notably sets up a mechanism of ethical alert regarding corruption and irregular accounting. This mechanism does not concern...
7 December 2006
Spain: PSA plant in Madrid gets involved for the professional reintegration of ill-treated women
The PSA site in Villaverde, in the periphery of Madrid, signed on November 23rd an agreement with the Council for women and employment of the Madrid region, to promote equal opportunities between...
7 December 2006
Belgium: trade unions point out wage gap between men and women
According to a survey based on 20000 workers, the gender gap in terms of salaries is 24 % on a yearly basis and 12 % on an hourly basis. The presence of trade unions in the firm has a tendency to...
Great Britain: education system needs a complete overhaul to correct the lack of competences in the country
Ordered by the government, the Leitch report on training sounds the alarm on the deficiencies of the British training system. And Gordon Brown, the Minister of Finance, draws the conclusions by...
EU : European Public Services Union (EPSU) holds fifth annual collective bargaining conference
Participants from 24 countries discuss trade union rights, young workers' specific problems, older workers, work-life balance and workers' migration. (Ref. 061231)
Areva: agreement on equal opportunities, interview of Maureen Kearney
Maureen Kearney, secretary of the European work's council of Areva (CFDT), Irish, analyzes the agreement on equal opportunities signed within the Areva group (see story n° 061207). We also publish...
Belgium: restructuring at Volkswagen Forest will have less impact than envisaged for the outside contractors
The first estimates mentioned 10 000 dismissals within the outside contractors of Volkswagen's Forest plant following the announcement of the site's restructuring decided by the German car...
Poland: government wants to fight fake self-employment
The government gives a clear definition of employment and self-employment. The reform aims at reducing fiscal advantages for people who are officially self-employed but who are in fact...
Finland: trade union of electricians blockades Polish company accused of social dumping
This new case of social dumping, very mediatised, involves trade unions that blocked the activities of a Polish company which failed to observe the conventional minimum wage. This is yet another...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
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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
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...
6
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