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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...
Poland: employers and labour unions reluctant to apply new law on works councils
In Poland, the law of April 7th, 2006 on workers' information and consultation (also called new law on works councils, see our article n°06556) has a lot of trouble to impose itself. Before...
Great Britain: November 7th is national day against harassment at work
The Andrea Adam foundation, which is the first charitable organization in the world (non-profit) to struggle against moral harassment at work (bullying), is renewing –for the fourth time- its...
Great Britain: collective complaints and conflicts involving working time soar
Despite the implementation two years ago of out-of-court procedures to decongest employment courts, the statistics of this jurisdiction for the period 2005-2006 show an increase of 31 % in...
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1
British bank Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs to invest in AI
Banking group Barclays has announced the cutting of 5% of its global workforce by the end of the year. Beyond disappointing quarterly results, Barclays primarily intends to free up the funds...
2
Germany: non-EU recruitment remains marginal despite skilled immigration reform
The news. Nearly a year and a half after the entry into force of the “Skilled Immigration Development Act”, only 4% of businesses have recruited at least one employee directly from a...