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Total: preparation of a transnational negotiation on swarming and the support for SME
The three European trade-union federations (FECCIA, FECER, EMCEF) gathered a working group, last 26 April, to prepare a possible transnational collective negotiation within the French oil group...
Entry into force of the directive on the protection of workers against optical radiations
After adoption by the European Parliament (see article. n° 06139) and the Council, the directive on the minimal health and safety regulations relating to the exposure of workers to the risks due...
The specificity of social services of general interest is recognized at the European level
The European Commission has adopted, last 26 April, a communication on social services of general interest. This document launches a consultation on the criteria that could qualify them. It also...
Poland: the second wave of Polish immigration envisaged after 1 May 2006 threatens the labour market
The opening of labour markets of certain EU Member States could cause a second wave of immigration of Polish workers. According to the Rzeczpospolita daily newspaper, which refers to experts'...
Netherlands: a project to lengthen the schooling of young people without diplomas
In the aim to fight young people's unemployment and criminality, a bill in preparation envisages to make school compulsory until 18 years old, vs 16 today, for young people without diplomas who...
European social partners sign multi-sectoral agreement on breathable crystalline silica
Agreement is first of its kind on this issue. It will apply from 1 November 2006. Over 2 million employees are involved by the risk of silicosis, a disease which can lead to cancer. The European...
European Deputies disagree with the Commission on workers’ posting
The Parliament’s Commission for social affairs proceeded to its last hearing, last 20 April, on the application of the directive on workers’ posting. The cases pending before the CJEC which...
Netherlands : full opening of labor market to new EU workers is delayed
The Netherlands had envisaged to lift, as from 1 May 2006, all the restrictions for Eastern and Central European workers. But the government has stepped back after trade unions and Parliament's...
Germany: main measures of the agreement concluded in the engineering industry
Already copied by four regions (Bade-Wurtemberg, Hesse, Osnabrück/Emsland and Thüringe), the agreement adopted 22 April 2006 by IG-Metall and the employers' organization Metall NRW in Düsseldorf...
Lithuania : lack of qualified workers
As a consequence of the constant emigration, Lithuania lacks of qualified workers, specialists, people in services and trade. Lithuania is even more concerned by this challenge than its Baltes...
Poland: a first judgement on the existence of an employment contract for a “self-employed” person
The Labour Court of Rzeszow, on first hearing, has decided in favour of a “sales representative” of the alcohol manufacturer Polmos, who was registered as a self-employed person. The court...
Great-Britain : certain pension funds of former state-owned companies are to be paid by the State
A recent revelation, by the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, has refuelled the debate on company pension funds. Several former State monopolies negotiated a Crown Guarantee at the time of their...
Netherland : The Hague relaxes the rules on working time
The Netherlands is going to greatly simplify the rules on working time currently found in the law. Two-thirds of the current provisions should disappear from the “labour code” and will instead be...
Germany: metal industry avoids strike through a “historic agreement”
The employers' organisation Metall NRW and the union IG-Metall in North Rhineland Westpahlia signed an agreement that has been described as historic by many observers. Apart from the 3% increase...
Great Britain: the immigration from eastern countries is « an elixir » for British economy
According to a survey of Ernst and Young Item Club, published this weekend in the press, the flow or workers from new EU Member States has contribute to reduce inflation, to improve productivity...
Finland: merger planned between 6 trade unions.
Trade union federations of chemistry, paper, wood, building, electricity and of communications are planning a merger in a few months. The future organisation would gather 283 000 members together...
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1
EU: Commission proposes loosening of AI regulations
On 19 November, the European Commission published a proposal for an omnibus regulation aimed at simplifying the AI Act in order to ‘ensure the swift, smooth and proportionate implementation’ of...
24 November 2025
2
EU: list of new CSRD reporting standards finalised
On 4 December, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) presented the revised list of reporting indicators under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which...
5 December 2025
3
EU: co-legislators strike agreement on Omnibus Directive
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached an agreement on the night of 8 December on the weakening of the directives on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate...
9 December 2025
4
EU: Parliament formally adopts omnibus, diluting due diligence rules
On 16 December, the European Parliament formally approved the omnibus package amending the EU corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence directives. Their application has been pushed...
16 December 2025
5
Italy: three executives from luxury goods group Tod’s investigated over worker exploitation
Italian authorities are once again turning their attention to working conditions in the luxury goods supply chain. On 20 November, the Milan public prosecutor charged three senior executives of...
28 November 2025
6
Fashion brands accused of violating trade union freedoms in Asia
On 27 November, Amnesty International released a report denouncing widespread violations of trade union freedoms in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka by both governments and suppliers to...
28 November 2025