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Air France-KLM : a new European works council set up
Last February 13, the Airlines company management agreed, with the 22 members of the special negociation body, a Protocole about the new ECW, necessary after the merger of Air France and KLM...
Slovenia : trade unions fiercely opposed to a uniform tax rate
The Trade Union Confederation (ZSSS) says a "flat tax" would be disastrous for the country's population and would deeply harm the economy. (Ref. 06147)
Czech Republic: Workers’ information and consultation will be improved
An amendment to the Labor Code will allow the Czech Republic to comply with Community regulations. Even though a brand new Labor Code is going through a legislative process, the Lower House of...
Hungary : government adopted programmes to boost employment
Government approved Start Plus and Start Extra, two programmes to offer preferential terms for employing parents returning to work from maternity or childcare leave, and to unemployed or long-term...
Great Britain: Parliament passes law banning smoking in all workplaces
The British trade-union confederation (TUC) welcomed yesterday’ adoption at the Parliament of the bill that prohibits smoking in all closed public spaces and workplaces, thus including pubs and...
Directive on protection of workers from optical radiations is adopted
The European Parliament adopted, February 14, 2006, the draft Directive on minimal safety and health requirements for workers exposed to physical agents (optical radiations). (Réf. 06139)
Germany: wage negotiations postponed in Bade-Wurtemberg’s metal industry
Started on February 14, 2006 in Böblingen, wage negotiations in Bade-Wurtemberg’s metal industry, which employs nearly 800 000 people, were postponed to March 17 after only three hours of...
Consultation of the European social partners on social inclusion
The European Commission, launched, last February 8, a consultation on "an action at the EU level to promote the active inclusion of the people being the most distant from the labour market". (Réf...
Estonia : employers can not end an employment relationship for age related reasons anymore
On 8 February 2006 the parlament passed an Act that repeals norms which were considered sharply inconsistent with the principle of equality and the aims of employment policy. (Ref. 06133)
Lithuania: gender-based discrimination in labour market has increased
Almost two thirds of the population claims that gender equality in Lithuania's labour market doesn't exist and that women's discrimination has recently increased. (Ref. 06132)
13 February 2006
Slovakia: government breaks up, causing early elections in June
A disagreement on a law involving religion and work caused the centre-right coalition to break up. The Prime Minister has decided to organize early elections, which are likely to be won by the...
13 February 2006
Czech Republic: a law to protect employees from employer’s insolvency.
Employees'wage claims will be dealt with sooner and faster. Employers will have more obligations. (Ref. 06144)
Germany: Volkswagen could return to the 35 hours work-week
According to the German press of this weekend (Focus, Spiegel and Bildzeitung),Volkswagen's management intends to negotiate with its work's council a return to the 35 hours work-week (up from 28,8...
Great-Britain : consultation on the Sunday trading restrictions
The Department of Trade and Industry l wants to make the Sunday trading restrictions more flexible. (Ref. 06131)
Germany: press review -February 6 to 10, 2006
Last week was marked by the beginning of wage negotiations in the metal industry which will for sure be difficult. IG Metall is demanding a 5% rise in wages. This same week, the Minister for...
Finland : end of the labour market restrictrions to workers from enlargement Member States
Finlande will remove the labour market restrictions to the workers coming from enlargment Member States from 1 May, 2006 on. The Finnish government is preparing a draft law which aims at...
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1
Germany: legal battle at Tesla ahead of works council election
The Frankfurt/Oder labour court has postponed a mid-November hearing in the case between the IG Metall union and Michaela Schmitz, employee representative and head of the works council at the...
2
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
3
France: austerity measures proposed in social security financing bill for 2026
Limits on sick leave, the end of social security exemptions for apprentices, and the introduction of additional birth leave: the 2026 social security financing bill, presented to parliament on 14...
16 October 2025
4
Carrefour and UNI Global Union renew global agreement on promoting social dialogue and diversity
On 17 October, Carrefour, one of the world’s largest retailers, with nearly 500,000 employees worldwide, and global union federation UNI Global Union renewed their global agreement on...
5
France: Auchan Retail job protection plan ruled invalid due to lack of consultation with trade unions
As Auchan Retail moves ahead with plans to cut its store floor space by 25%, the Lille Administrative Court on 23 September annulled its job protection plan (PSE). The retailer, whose...
6
France: insurance sector becomes first to sign agreement on employment of older workers
On 25 June 2025, France Assureurs – the employers’ association for the insurance industry – and five representative trade unions signed the sector’s first three-year agreement aimed at promoting...