All articles

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
France: following the post-Covid boom, large companies scale back on remote working
In the post-pandemic context, large French groups multiplied generous remote working agreements before reversing the trend from 2024 onwards. What is the extent of this phenomenon? mind RH...
2
Germany: Employers’ representatives seek to limit the rights of works councils
The Employers' Federation of German Employers' Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände - BDA) published a report at the end of September in which it proposes a...
3
France: Iliad structures its skills management around AI
The news. On 9 April, Iliad (11,600 employees in France), the parent company of telecoms operator Free, concluded an agreement on jobs and career path management with its representative trade...
4
France: National Assembly votes for mandatory bargaining on sexual and gender-based violence
The news. On 8 October, French MPs voted to extend the scope of mandatory annual negotiations to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In practice, in addition to pay, working hours and...
5
France: how CDC Habitat aims to better promote the expertise of its employees
The housing division of the French public group Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, CDC Habitat (10,800 employees), established new measures on skills in July. They are set out in two agreements...
6
France: La Poste strengthens regional management of jobs and skills
La Poste’s 2026-2028 agreement on the management of jobs, professional pathways and gender diversity in occupations puts the emphasis on supporting mobility and career changes, relying on a...