Labour relations

The news. On 22 July, the German federal government unveiled a national action plan to promote collective bargaining in response to the requirements of the EU minimum wage directive. The directive...

23 July 2026

Germany: at Tesla, the “Optimus” project could further escalate labor tensions

Tesla’s announcement that employees at its German Gigafactory will be used to test the humanoid robot “Optimus” comes amid significant legal uncertainty that could further inflame the conflict...

22 July 2026

Spain: Banco Santander offers early retirement from age 55

The management of Spanish bank Santander and the trade unions reached an agreement on 17 July on an early retirement scheme that will allow employees to leave the company voluntarily from the age...

21 July 2026

Italy: employers’ organisations agree on how to determine the reference collective agreement for each sector

The news. Fourteen employers’ organisations, including the country’s largest business associations—Confindustria (industry), Confcommercio (commerce and services) and ANIA...

17 July 2026

Germany: Volkswagen and Porsche face massive restructuring

Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board met on 9 July to review a sweeping restructuring plan that includes the elimination of up to 120,000 jobs and the closure of factories in Germany. The carmaker’s...

15 July 2026

France: increase in the minimum hourly activity pay for platform delivery riders

The info. On 10 July, the French Employment Platforms Social Relations Authority (ARPE) announced the signing of an amendment to the agreement on the minimum income of independent food delivery...

13 July 2026

France: HSBC signs an agreement on quality of life and working conditions

The news. On 7 May, HSBC Continental Europe (2,806 employees at the end of 2025), the British bank’s French subsidiary, signed a two-year QVCT (quality of life and working conditions)...

8 July 2026

Germany: IG Metall seeks to strengthen its bargaining power in companies

The seven regional districts of the German trade union IG Metall have launched a broad reflection on the organisation’s positions, methods and objectives in a period marked by multiple crises and...

1 July 2026

France: pharmaceutical companies strengthen their disability policy with the signing of a new agreement

The news. Leem, one of the professional organizations representing pharmaceutical companies operating in France (more than 100,000 employees), and the CFE-CGC, FO, and CFTC trade unions signed an...

1 July 2026

France: how Schneider Electric is developing social dialogue tailored to AI and the green transition

In an agreement unanimously signed by trade unions on 22 May, Schneider Electric France is strengthening the resources for social dialogue on AI and the green transition. The text creates...

25 June 2026

United States: the House of Representatives votes on a bill aimed at accelerating collective bargaining

The news. On 9 June 2026, the House of Representatives passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act by 230 votes to 192, which aims to speed up collective bargaining within companies in the United...

19 June 2026

France: Schneider Electric signs its first agreement specifically dedicated to older employees

On June 17, 2026, Schneider Electric France's management (15,000 employees) and all representative trade unions signed a first-ever four-year agreement on the employment of experienced workers...

18 June 2026

Luxembourg: 2026 Tripartite Agreement Focuses on Purchasing Power

The news. On 8 June, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and representatives of employers’ and trade union organizations signed the 2026 Tripartite Resilience Package...

10 June 2026

France: Michelin plans workforce adjustment with no forced layoffs

On 28 May, the Michelin group announced "a necessary adjustment" to its workforce in France (17,000 employees). The tyre giant plans to cut 1,500 jobs over three years, primarily in white-collar...

2 June 2026

Workers’ rights degraded globally by the crackdown on union action (ITUC)

The news. On 31 May, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) published its annual report on the state of workers’ rights worldwide. The 2026 edition reveals a global degradation...

1 June 2026

Italy: the new insurance collective agreement bets on artificial intelligence and quality of life at work

On 13 May, the social partners of the Italian insurance sector concluded a new national collective agreement. It strengthens purchasing power, inclusion initiatives and working hour flexibility...

28 May 2026

The right to strike considered as a fundamental right by the International Court of Justice

The news. Referred to by the ILO in 2023, the International Court of Justice delivered an advisory opinion on 21 May on the scope of Convention No. 87 of the tripartite institution dedicated to...

27 May 2026

France: Maif pledges to preserve jobs and reinvest AI productivity gains

On May 11, the French insurance group Maif and its trade unions signed an agreement to initiate a social dialogue process regarding AI. One year after publishing an action plan on 2025 use cases...

13 May 2026

France: Veolia’s agreement on older workers introduces an enforceable right to part-time work from the age of 55

On 27 March, the public services group Veolia (44,000 employees in France) and all the trade unions signed a framework agreement on experienced workers. This agreement, which focuses primarily on...

5 May 2026

Portugal: The government gives unions until May 7 to present a “constructive” proposal on labor reform

The News. After nine months of negotiations, the Portuguese government and the General Workers’ Union (UGT) have still not reached an agreement on the draft labour reform. On 23 April, the...

24 April 2026

Germany: slight rise of the far-right in automotive works council elections

The renewal of German works councils, which takes place every four years, is currently underway across 9,500 companies from 1 March to 31 May 2026. Early partial results from the automotive sector...

15 April 2026

United Kingdom: second wave of trade union rights reform comes into force

New measures to restore trade union influence came into effect on 6 April 2026. Introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025, the flagship reform of the British Labour government, this second...

3 April 2026

12 3…403

Our mind news

See all

France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement

Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...

5 March 2026

France: Crédit Agricole to tighten remote work rules

Crédit Agricole is to adopt stricter rules on remote work from mid-March onwards. The rules will be tightened for employees, but the maximum number of days working remotely will remain unchanged.

29 January 2026

France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval

The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...

8 December 2025

mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators

In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...

31 October 2025

Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR

What readers clicked on the most last month.

In the category

What readers clicked on the most last month.

Germany: a national action plan to strengthen collective bargaining

The news. On 22 July, the German federal government unveiled a national action plan to promote collective bargaining in response to the requirements of the EU minimum wage directive. The directive...

23 July 2026