The Council of Europe issues recommendations on the protection of personal data in the workplace

This non-binding recommendation bears witness to the willingness of the Council’s 47 Member States to progress together towards a common goal. It outlines the main principles that the governments should pass through their own national legislation as relates to the treatment of personal data for both employees and job applicants. The recommendations issue precise guidelines on the monitoring of emails, the use of information systems, biometric data, and health data, etc. and prohibit using these technologies to directly monitor employees and also include safeguards for when such systems are being implemented for other totally legitimate objectives and that as a consequence involve processing employees’ personal data.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

On April 01 the text adopted by the Committee of Ministers to Member States (the Council’s decision-making body) actually revises a recommendation dating back to 1989. The text states that employers should avoid unjustifiable and unreasonable interference with employees´ rights to private life in the workplace. It also includes a number of guarantees over the use of such data to protect employees. The recommendations include guidelines over employers’ collection of their employees personal data

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
Germany: government seeks to facilitate immigration of skilled Indian workers
During a visit to India earlier this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the strategic importance of attracting Indian workers to Germany, signing a series of cooperation agreements...
Italy: new generational renewal agreement penned at UniCredit
The agreement signed on 30 December by UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest banking group, with the Fabi, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca and Unisin trade unions aims to continue generational...
TRENDS IN 2026 — Reducing workplace absence at all costs: a major challenge for Europe
Workplace absence is on the rise across Europe, particularly among women, older employees and, since the Covid-19 pandemic, young people under the age of 30. Faced with this growing problem, some...
14 January 2026
Italy: banking group Intesa Sanpaolo sharpens focus on quality of life at work
Over the Christmas period Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's largest bank, penned with trade unions a deal to renew the first part of the company agreement, covering work-life balance, inclusion, parenthood...
14 January 2026
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: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
2
Germany: government seeks to facilitate immigration of skilled Indian workers
During a visit to India earlier this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the strategic importance of attracting Indian workers to Germany, signing a series of cooperation agreements...