Thomas Schnee
Correspondent in GermanyAs a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.
Expertise
As a correspondent in Berlin for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business world and labour market. My areas of interest include co-management, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.
Most read articles by Thomas Schnee
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...
8 October 2026
Is a global wage freeze at Volkswagen possible?
The existence of an option to implement a global wage freeze until 2030 has been confirmed by the management of the German group Volkswagen, which nevertheless provides no details and refers to...
20 October 2026
Germany: a negotiation timetable and the prospect of industrial action at Volkswagen
The news. On 23 October, the German carmaker Volkswagen and the trade union IG Metall announced the opening of negotiations on wages, the new cost-cutting programme and job cuts. They will take...
27 October 2026
Germany: non-EU recruitment remains marginal despite skilled immigration reform
The news. Nearly a year and a half after the entry into force of the “Skilled Immigration Development Act”, only 4% of businesses have recruited at least one employee directly from a...
28 October 2026
Latest articles by Thomas Schnee
Global trade union skills centre launched on due diligence obligations
On 19 March, the global union confederations UNI Global Union (services) and IndustriAll (industry/energy), together with the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and the Friedrich Ebert...
Austria: spring collective bargaining for 155,000 industrial workers kicks off
Social partners in several important sectors of Austrian industry have commenced wage negotiations. Talks are taking place in an uncertain and tense climate, after two years of increases well...
2 April 2025
Austria: educational leave suspended pending overhaul
On 24 March, the Austrian parliament voted to suspend educational leave as of 31 March 2025. Negotiations to redesign the scheme, which the government wants to be cheaper and more efficient, began...
1 April 2025
Germany: complaint filed against Edeka over lack of social and environmental due diligence in Guatemala
Two NGOs filed a complaint at the end of February against Edeka, one of Germany's leading retail chains (approximately 400,000 employees in 11,000 stores), with the country's Federal Office of...
Germany: IG Metall criticises Tesla for withholding pay in event of illness
In a statement published on 14 March, the IG Metall union once again criticised the management of the Tesla factory in Grünheide, this time regarding their practices on sick leave and wage...
19 March 2025
Deutsche Telekom to expand its ‘Growth Hub’ skills management platform globally
German telephone operator Deutsche Telekom is launching the global rollout in 2025 and 2026 of ‘Growth Hub’, its new AI skills and career management platform. For the group, the launch of this new...
10 March 2025
Austria: new government plans labour market adjustments
Austria's new coalition government took office on 3 March, after five months of negotiations. The coalition is made up of the country's conservative (ÖVP), social democratic (SPÖ) and liberal...
4 March 2025
Germany: BAFA sets out instructions for supply chain due diligence law
While a complaint was filed at the end of February by a group of Thai workers against Otto, the German retail giant, the Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) has just...
Germany: social partners autonomy bolstered vis-à-vis the labour courts (ruling)
In a landmark decision published on 19 February, the German Federal Constitutional Court (BVG) confirmed the annulment of two judgements handed down by the Federal Labour Court (BAG), dating from...
24 February 2025
Germany: Henkel, a pioneer of partner parental leave amid a national context that is stagnant
A few months ago, the Henkel group introduced a partner parental leave scheme that benefits employees in the 80 countries in which the company operates. Meanwhile the bill approved in 2023 on the...
14 February 2025
Germany: uncertainty over future of supply chain due diligence act
Under fire from critics for several months, the German supply chain due diligence act (LkSG), passed in 2021, is in the crosshairs of political parties amid the election campaign. Employer...
Germany: court rules that electronic payslips and personal documents are sufficient
The German Federal Labour Court (BAG) has ruled against a supermarket sales assistant from the Edeka group who demanded to continue receiving her payslip on paper, contrary to the provisions of a...
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10 February 2025
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
EU: several social texts promised for 2027
The news. On 4 November, the European Commission presented its work programme for 2027. While the focus is once again on simplification, several social texts have been announced. The European...
4 November 2026
France: a bill by the end of the year to transpose the European directive on platform workers
The qualified experts appointed by the French government in the framework of transposing the Directive on Platform Workers submitted their report on 2 November. It paves the way for a bill by the...
4 November 2026
EU: Council curbs the Commission’s proposed easing of social safeguards in digital legislation
The news. On 21 October 2026, the Council of the EU agreed its negotiating mandate on the Digital Omnibus, proposed by the Commission in November 2025 to ease several provisions in digital...
3 November 2026
Croatia: 7.6% minimum wage increase from 1 January 2027
The news. On 29 October, the Croatian Council of Ministers adopted a decree setting the minimum wage for 2027. This will rise from €1,050 to €1,130 gross per month from 1 January next...
3 November 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
British bank Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs to invest in AI
Banking group Barclays has announced the cutting of 5% of its global workforce by the end of the year. Beyond disappointing quarterly results, Barclays primarily intends to free up the funds...
28 October 2026
2
Germany: non-EU recruitment remains marginal despite skilled immigration reform
The news. Nearly a year and a half after the entry into force of the “Skilled Immigration Development Act”, only 4% of businesses have recruited at least one employee directly from a...
28 October 2026
3
EU: several social texts promised for 2027
The news. On 4 November, the European Commission presented its work programme for 2027. While the focus is once again on simplification, several social texts have been announced. The European...
4 November 2026