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European Commission proposes to raise the ceiling of State aid
The European Commission is proposing to exempt more small subsidies from the notification obligation under EC Treaty state aid rules. The Commission proposes raising the ceiling of the current “de...
10 March 2006
Netherlands: lower rate of unionization
Whereas the unionization rate throughout the country is stable, one of the three trade-union organizations of the Netherlands, the Federation of the Dutch trade unions (FNV), lost 1,7 % of its...
Germany: Bundestag discusses equal opportunities between men and women at work
Following the international women's day, a debate on this issue took place at the Bundestag. The Green parliamentary group asked for a new law guaranteeing equal opportunities for men and women on...
Germany : a brochure on German social law is published
The Minister for Work published, on 8 March 2006, a brochure of 133 pages which summarizes the German social legislation. The brochure deals with sickness insurance, unemployment insurance...
The first inter-sector European agreement will soon be put into practice
The first inter-sector negotiation between European social partners has succeeded. It relates to crystalline silica, a issue which brought together two trade-union federations and 15 European...
Great Britain: Government introduces selective immigration for non-EU citizens
The Minister of the Interior presented, March 7, 2006, a plan to implement a selective immigration policy, privileging skilled immigrants and creating a points system. Its objective is to restrict...
Germany: Government wants to maintain seniors at work
The German government, on March 8, 2006, adopted its annual report on retirements, and announced a series of measures called "Initiative 50 plus", intended to promote the employment of old...
Poland: three bills to improve maternity leaves
The three bills proposing the extension of the paid maternity leave and the one that envisages to protect women after their paid leave were submitted, March 8, 2006, in first reading to the...
Spain: Volkswagen says no job cuts on Spanish production sites
Since the head office announced a restructuring plan that would affect 20 000 employees, the social climate in the group’s Spanish companies is very bad. Because of the Seat subsidiary company...
Ford Werke : an agreement guarantees employment in exchange for wage moderation
An agreement concluded between the management of Ford Werke, the German subsidiary of General Motors, and the work's council of the car manufacturer, March 6, 2006, envisages to maintain the...
Great Britain: the House of Lords examines a case of discrimination on grounds of age
The Committee of Appeals of the House of Lords, the highest judicial body of the country, is due to examine two complaints of former employees who were fired. This comes at a time when the...
Malte : Legislation on fixed-term contracts could be revised
Malta will have to change its social legislation, because it has failed to correctly transpose the directive on fixed-term contracts of 28 June 1999. Public sector employees have indeed been...
Poland: legislation on temporary work is criticized
Getting hired under a permanent employment contract is becoming rare in Poland. Indeed, one employee out of four is a temporary worker. Poland is the second EU country in terms of temporary...
Green light given to rescue of Italian airline Volare Airlines SpA
The Commission today authorised rescue aid for the Italian airline Volare Airlines SpA. This short-term aid is intended to rescue the firm from bankruptcy and allow it to take steps to continue...
7 March 2006
Great Britain: an HSBC bank executive says he was laid off because of its homosexuality
Peter Lewis, 47, former director of the stock broking department at the HSBC investment bank, filed a complaint against his former employer, saying he was laid off because of his homosexuality...
Transdev group creates a European work’s council
On 20 December 2005, the Transdev transportation group concluded an agreement aimed at creating a European work’s council. The text organizes workers’ consultation in the event of special...
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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
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
6
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...