ENGIE: social forum held to renew focus on implementing European agreement to anticipate industry changes and safeguard employability

Back in 2016, the energy group ENGIE signed a European agreement with three union federations – IndustriALL Europe, EPSU (European Public Services Union) and the EFBW (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers) – which sought to allow each employee to build his/her career path in the group “against a backdrop of organisational change” (see article n°9597). The agreement reaffirmed and bolstered the GPEC (forward-looking employment and skills) agreement that was established as part of a previous deal, containing strong and concrete commitments on training and seeking to foster internal mobility to ensure employment opportunities within the group. Three years later, on 16 February 2019, following a request by its European Works Council, the group held a European social forum, which was an opportunity to bring together key actors on the agreement (HR directors, managers, employee representatives) and engage in transparent dialogue on how it has been implemented, as well as to share views on best practices and on areas where efforts need to be stepped up.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

HR function dedicated to anticipating evolutions. Philippe Perret, skills and mobility director for the ENGIE group, says that one of the first concrete results of the agreement was the “creation of a new HR department” which consists of three functions. First of all, ENGIE Skills focuses on anticipating different skill needs, and consists of “strategic workforce planning”. Mr Perret says the mechanism differs from the GPEC approach by using the group’s needs as a starting point, as opposed to

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Italy: new collective agreement for managers in tertiary sector
On 5 November, the ManagerItalia union and the employers’ association Confcommercio renewed the collective agreement for managers in Italy’s tertiary, distribution and services...
EU: Court of Justice largely upholds directive on adequate minimum wages
On 11 November, the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld most of the directive on adequate minimum wages, rejecting Denmark’s claim that it infringed on national sovereignty over wage...
12 November 2025
Seven major companies offer training to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence
L’Oréal, Engie, LVMH, Publicis, Accor and Orange are encouraging their staff to take part in the Safe Spaces training programme on domestic and sexual violence, developed by insurance...
10 November 2025
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
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
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
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
4
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
5
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...
6
Italy: new collective agreement for managers in tertiary sector
On 5 November, the ManagerItalia union and the employers’ association Confcommercio renewed the collective agreement for managers in Italy’s tertiary, distribution and services...