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Spain: work schedules come under fire
The president of the national commission on rationalization of Spanish work schedules, Ignacio Buqueras, considers that the excessive duration of the working day does not improve the productivity...
Netherlands : twice more fines for hiring clandestine workers in 2005
The number of fines given by factory inspectorates for the employment of foreign clandestine workers has doubled in 2005, according to the ministry for Labour and Social affairs. (Ref. 06509)
Hungary: much less strikes than elsewhere in the EU
Public opinion and the media rarely support strikers. Last year, only 14 strikes took place in Hungary, compared to hundreds in many other EU countries. (Ref. 06508)
Italy: ideas to fight job precariousness
"Ending the dualism of the labour market" is the leitmotiv which symbolized the national congress of the CGIL (second Italian trade union) of last March, and Romano Prodi's new government is...
State of negotiations on the draft Directive relating to the portability of supplementary pension rights
The negotiations on the draft Directive relating to the portability of supplementary pension rights started within the EU Council of Ministers. The discussions are due to be difficult because a...
Germany: agreement in the public sector after more than three months of strikes
After more than three months of conflict, Länder and the trade union Verdi came to a compromise on 19 May over the working hours of 780 000 civil servants. (Ref. 06505)
Netherlands : government decides to organize a special summit on the qualified staff shortage
On May 18th, the government decided that a special summit would be organized in Fall, on the qualified staff shortage. In 2010, about 75 000 jobs will not be filled because too many young people...
Spain : appointment of a magistrate dedicated to workers’ safety
A coordinating prosecutor post, specialist in accidents at work, was just created in Spain. He is in charge of the fights' coordination against infringing the workers' safety and of boosting the...
ING : the Dutch financial group announces relocation of 800 jobs
The financial group ING, that employs 114 000 people in 50 countries, announced, on May 18th, the decentralization of 800 jobs of data bank documents processing from the Netherlands and Belgium to...
Italy : two ex-unionists enter the Prodi goverment
The new Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, presented, on May 17th, the composition of a pro-european government including besides six party leaders, two former unionists. The former president...
Germany: controversy over long-term unemployment benefits
The debate over a toughening of compensation conditions for the long-term unemployed is going on. After CDU-CSU representatives, large charity organizations are also asking for a reduction of...
Migrant workers : definition of partial unemployment
A decision of the Administrative Commission of the European Communities on social security for migrant workers relating to the definition of “partial unemployment” is published in the Official...
Spain : proposals to modernize the Public sector
The Minister of public administration, Jordi Sevilla, said he was in favour of flexible retirements, extension of telecommuting and salary linked to merit for civil servants. A negotiation on new...
Netherlands : more freedom for the implementation of health and safety standards
As of 1 January 2007, employers and employees will have more freedom in the development of health and safety policies in their companies, according to a bill submitted on 9 May to the Parliament...
Netherlands : reinforcement of factory inspectorate checking in hospitals
The factory inspectorate announced, May 15, a reinforcement of checking measures in 102 hospitals throughout the country, to check the improvement of working conditions envisaged by the agreements...
Transnational negotiation: the European Commission opens the debate with European social partners
The European Commission brought together the European social partners and Member State representatives at a working seminar on 17th May, in order to initiate discussions on transnational...
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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...
2
EU: Commission issues first recommendation on human capital as part of European Semester
In parallel with the European Semester adopted on 25 November, which proposes guidelines to member states on economic policies for the coming year, the European Commission has adopted an...
3
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...
4
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...