Netherlands : twice more fines for hiring clandestine workers in 2005
The number of fines given by factory inspectorates for the employment of foreign clandestine workers has doubled in 2005, according to the ministry for Labour and Social affairs. (Ref. 06509)
Hungary: much less strikes than elsewhere in the EU
Public opinion and the media rarely support strikers. Last year, only 14 strikes took place in Hungary, compared to hundreds in many other EU countries. (Ref. 06508)
Germany: agreement in the public sector after more than three months of strikes
After more than three months of conflict, Länder and the trade union Verdi came to a compromise on 19 May over the working hours of 780 000 civil servants. (Ref. 06505)
ING : the Dutch financial group announces relocation of 800 jobs
The financial group ING, that employs 114 000 people in 50 countries, announced, on May 18th, the decentralization of 800 jobs of data bank documents processing from the Netherlands and Belgium to...
Spain : proposals to modernize the Public sector
The Minister of public administration, Jordi Sevilla, said he was in favour of flexible retirements, extension of telecommuting and salary linked to merit for civil servants. A negotiation on new...
Great Britain: the TUC calls for a law making it easier to exercise the right to strike
A century after the first parliamentary text on labour disputes, the TUC, the main trade union confederation, is calling for the adoption of a law on trade union freedom (Trade Union Freedom...
Transnational negotiation: discussion with Bart Samyn, deputy secretary-general of the European Metalworkers Federation
Whereas the European social partners met on 17 May in order to discuss of a Community initiative as regards transnational negotiation, Bart Samyn, deputy secretary General of the European...
General Motors : 900 job cuts in Great Britain
General Motors, the world's number one car manufacturer, announced on 17 May 2006 the shedding of 900 jobs in its factory of Ellesmere Port, close to Liverpool, which manufactures Opel Astra under...
The European Commission invites Slovenia and Lithuania to be careful on the evolution of wages
The European Commission gave its opinion, on 16 May 2006, on the capacity of Slovenia and Lithuania to join the euro zone as of 1 January 2007. Slovenia is doing well, but Lithuania must be...
EADS: the European work’s council discusses the closing of a subsidiary company
Following EADS's announcement, last 12 May, that it planned to close the site of Sogerma in Bordeaux Mérignac (France), the European work's council of the group published an official statement...
General Motors evokes the closing of three European production sites
According to the trade magazine Automotive News Europe, the American manufacturer General Motors could close three of its nine European production sites within two to five years. (Réf. 06479)
Austria: metalworkers and food trade unions merge
The Austrian trade union of textile and metal industries (GMT) and that of agriculture, food and restaurants merged, last 9 May. This new organization, called Gewerkschaft Metall-Textil-Nahrung...
Netherlands: more accountability for managers’ salaries
A law of 26 April 2006 will force companies of more than employees to inform; starting 1st August, their work's councils of managers' salaries. Up to now, only the companies which were listed had...
The German trade union confederation launches an offensive to attract new members
Between 1991 and 2005, the number of members in the eight DGB trade unions, which represents 80% of German trade unionists, has fallen from 12 to 6.8 million. Last week, Michael Sommer, the DGB...
Germany: the debate over “combined wages” continues
The debate on the introduction of new devices to fight unemployment continues in Germany. The German right wing presented, at the beginning of week, a model of combined wages aimed at...
Germany: according to a survey, labor costs and regulations limit investments in Germany
According to a survey published Thursday May 11 by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), 41 % of companies envisage to invest abroad in 2006, that is to say 1 % more than in 2005...
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
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
2
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
3
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 2026
4
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...
5
France: social partner talks extend far beyond contractual terminations
After a false start on 3 December, French social partners resumed talks on 7 January 2026 on potential changes to the unemployment insurance agreement, including the rules governing compensation...
12 January 2026
6
EU: banking sector social partners commit to combating violence and harassment
On 15 January, the trade union federation UNI Europa Finance and three employers’ associations in the banking sector signed a joint statement on preventing violence and harassment in the...