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Germany : trade unions satisfied by temporary assessment of Work’s councils elections
The Confederation of German trade unions (DGB) introduced, on 28 September 2006, a temporary assessment of the electoral results (work's councils) of last spring. Almost 50% of the results are...
PSA: Spanish labour unions incredulous after management announces a revival plan
The staff cuts announced by PSA on September 26th surprised and upset Spanish labour unions UGT and CCOO. (Ref. 06953)
SABMiller Europe: a European work’s council under Hungarian law
SABMiller Europe management and workers' representatives of the special group of negotiation signed, on August 16th, 2006, an agreement on the creation of a European WC governed by Hungarian law...
VWR International: analysis of the agreement on the new European works council
The German company International VWR signed, on June 14th, 2006, an agreement to create a EWC that covers 13 Member States as well as Norway and Switzerland. The EWC will be chaired by management...
Spain: government and professional organizations agree on the status of the self-employed person
The Minister of Employment and Social affairs, Jesus Caldera, and representatives of both professional organizations which represent self-employed workers, UPTA and ATA, signed on September 26th...
Netherlands: Parliament discusses a bill on working time
The final version of the bill on working time (Arbeidstijdwet, ATW) is being discussed at the Parliament. After the debate, Aart Jan de Geus, the minister of Social affairs and employment, agreed...
Axa : debates over the fate of Winterthur’s European WC
After the acquisition of the Swiss insurer Winterthur by Axa, announced on June 14th of this year, and the real takeover which should take place on January 1st 2007, Axa's management and its...
EU: Commission launches consultation on patients’ mobility and cross-border healthcare
The consultation on patients' mobility (see our articles n°06857) was launched by the European Commission. The main parties of the healthcare sector are invited to give their opinion until January...
Great Britain: several important laws come into force on October 1st
The entrance in accordance with law against discriminations based on age is a very waited and important reform. Another text will come to regulate the provisioning of hand of work in agriculture...
Netherlands: strike in Rotterdam’s public transportation system
A 24 hour strike, launched by labour unions, on September 25th, in the public transportation network of Rotterdam, was followed at 100 %. Its objective: to protest against the social consequences...
Netherlands: employers will be obliged to contribute to day nursery expenses
Despite the protests of employers' organizations, employers will have to contribute, from January 1st, 2007, to the child care expenses of their employees. (Ref. 06947)
TUC asks CBI and government to make more efforts for observance of minimum wage
Trade Union Congress wants government to increase pressure and sanctions on employers who violate the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rules. Unions notably demand the introduction of a jail sentence...
Spain: a directory of female company directors to ease the hiring of women in boards of directors
Spanish firms are looking for women to sit in their boards of directors. The aim is to anticipate the future law on gender equality (see our article n ° 06656). A new directory created by the...
Smithfield: towards a European works council after the takeover of Sara Lee Food Europe
Further to the approval given by the European Commission, July 28th, 2006, on the plan of buyout of Sara Lee Foods Europe (SLFE) by the common firm created by Smithfield Foods and an investment...
Latvia: minimum wage will increase significantly
The minimum wage should amount to 50% of the average gross salary by 2010, compared to 38 % today. The government's aim is to boost economic growth and development, and to limit the emigration...
Malta: threatened by legal action at CJEC, the government must conform to the directive on fixed-term contracts in the public sector
The European Commission asked some explanations to the Maltese government concerning the non implementation of the fixed-term contracts directive, which forbids to use successive fixed-term...
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1
Italy: artificial Intelligence on the menu of Barilla’s new company agreement
Prior consultation with trade unions on innovations related to artificial intelligence, strengthened training, and progress on parenthood: these are the main new features of the agreement signed...
2 September 2026
2
Italy: Enel signs agreement to manage the effects of AI on work
An agreement signed at the end of July by the electricity company Enel (31,000 employees) and the unions Filctem-Cgil, Flaei-Cisl, and Uiltec is pioneering in the Italian energy sector. It aims to...
7 September 2026
3
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
4
Germany: a high-tension start to the social and political year
The German government must finalize its major reforms (pension funding, corporate competitiveness, and labor law) while the chancellor’s popularity hits an all-time low and three regional...
5
Sweden: IF Metall union forced to end industrial dispute with Tesla
The news. After three years of conflict, the Swedish union IF Metall announced it would suspend its strike actions against Tesla starting Wednesday, August 19, after the American automaker...
6
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...