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Czech Republic : new sickness insurance system has been drafted
The sickness insurance system in the Czech Republic should be reformed within one year. The draft bill that was approved by the Lower Chamber of Czech Parliament should replace the current...
Spain: Commission decides to refer Spain to the Court of Justice over two tax provisions
The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the Court of Justice over its taxation of non-residents' employment-related income and over its taxation of non-residents' capital gains...
Italy : metalworkers block the country
Metalworkers organized a blockade of the country’s air and rail traffic routes on Janurary 17th. The three trade unions had organized this day of industrial action. (Ref 0642).
Denmark: debate on open borders for skilled immigrants
While unemployment is falling (4,5 % last November according to Eurostat), conservatives and liberals, currently in power in Denmark, want to open borders to skilled immigrants, in order to face...
France : government introduces two flexible job contracts
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced earlier this week that he was to introduce a bill creating two new job contracts. The most significant, called “first job contract”, will be...
On March 10th, will there be a consensus on the Working time directive?
Austria, which is presiding the EU since January 1st, feels it is Vienna’s responsibility to end the negotiations on the draft Working Time Directive. Austria has indeed made a big move, by taking...
France: highest court’s judgment makes way for easier layoffs
French companies could soon be able to proceed to mass layoffs much more easily. A few days ago, the Cour de Cassation, which is the final Court of Appeal in France, decided that it was legal for...
Belgium : Wallony introduces language training vouchers
In order to develop multilingualism, Wallony has decided of a new measure aimed at stimulating the competitiveness of the region’s companies. (Ref 0637)
Belgium : it will be easier to hire some foreign workers
The government, willing to facilitate the hiring of research and “knowledge” workers, has decided to establish several administrative simplifications. However, the control of abuses will be...
Germany : press review – Saturday January 7th to Friday January 13th 2006 –
For the second consecutive week, the social news in German newspapers was dominated by a controversy over the terms of a measure (Kombilohn) meant to develop low-qualified jobs. (Ref 0634)
Great-Britain : CBI ends maternity leave support
The CBI has withdrawn its support for the government's plan to extend the paid maternity leave from six months to nine. It has made this move because the government withdrew its plan to allow...
Great Britain : law on discrimination against women is 30 years old this year
The Commission for equality of opportunities is celebrating this year the 30th birthday of the law on discrimination against women at work. Despite the readjustment that took place, things have...
16 January 2006
Great Britain: TUC Conference “Discrimination Law in 2006”
The Annual TUC- Discrimination Law Conference will be held on Friday 20th 2006. Leading lawyers review legal developments over the past year and likely trends in the coming year. This conference...
16 January 2006
World company means paradise.
Big companies are workers’ paradise. More a company is big, internationalized, faces competition and is successful, more its employees find the right balance between private life and professional...
16 January 2006
Great Britain : number one for unpaid overtime
According to the TUC trade union, near 5 million British employees work 7 overtime hours per week, the equivalent of a day, without being paid. The TUC takes these numbers from a governmental...
16 January 2006
ETUC sends memorandum to the Austrian presidency of the EU
In its memorandum published on January 11th 2006, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) hopes the Austrian presidency will give a true "social dimension" to the EU. Following is the bulk...
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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...