Labour relations

Putting an end to their rivalry in the industrial services sector (including logistics, maintenance, development), Germany’s two big unions, IG Metall (metals and electronics) and Verdi (services)...

12 January 2016

EWCs : two recent EWCs for Ferrero and Avril put online

Just before the end of 2015 both the Italian and French agri-food groups (Ferrero and Avril respectively) renewed their European works council (EWC) agreements. Both agreements were negotiated...

12 January 2016

Brazil: rising discord between the government and unions

Relations continue to break down between the government and the social actors during a time when the main central unions, currently opposing Dilma Rousseff’s government’s economic policy, are...

12 January 2016

Great Britain: North Sea oil workers accept changes to working time organization in the face of lower oil prices

The long running industrial dispute between unionised North Sea oil workers and their employers over changes to shift working has ended. In response to a down turn in the price of oil, the members...

11 January 2016

Denmark : the association of IT Professionals, PROSA, is making great strides

Contrary to the general situation in Denmark of youth disaffection for trade unions, PROSA, the IT Professional labor organization, has seen its membership rise by 30% in the past five years. This...

8 January 2016

Mexico: the Maquiladoras industry in Ciudad Juárez is undergoing a hiring crisis as workers mobilize against the low wages that characterize this free trade zone

At the start of 2016, factories in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico’s major jobs generator, still have 22,000 positions to fill. For the very first time the low pay on offer is discouraging people from...

7 January 2016

Happy New Year

The team at Planet Labor wishes you a happy and healthy 2016 and looks forward to sharing stimulating European and International social affairs information.

6 January 2016

Germany: a year after its introduction, the first assessments of the minimum wage are emerging

On the first anniversary of the introduction of Germany’s minimum wage, Andrea Nahles, SPD Minister for Social Affairs and Employment, trade unions, and research institutes have arrived at a...

6 January 2016

Belgium: agreement signed regarding night work in e-commerce

On December 21, trade unions and employers signed an agreement on night work in the e-commerce industry. The government had asked social partners to engage in negotiations on the issue, without...

23 December 2015

Portugal: substantial increase to minimum wage

The minimum wage in Portugal (SMN) will go up from 505 to 530 euros gross per month, in January 2016. The decision was made by the socialist government, despite there being no agreement between...

22 December 2015

Great Britain: Sports Direct, when poor practices ruin a reputation

Sports Direct are still making the headlines. Following a new investigation, the daily newspaper The Guardian has accused the company of paying its temporary workers less than the minimum wage...

22 December 2015

Germany: collective agreement signed at Primark and new strikes at Amazon

For the Verdi trade union, 2015 draws to a close with mixed results. On 17 December in Essen, after a month of negotiations, the German trade union active in the service sector managed to sign a...

22 December 2015

Romania: minimum wage will not be increased, despite promises of previous government

Approved by the Romanian Parliament last week, the 2016 budget plans to freeze the gross minimum wage, currently 235 euros. An increase of 34 euros had been promised, however, by the previous...

21 December 2015

Italy: a second day of mobilization is set for tomorrow (19 December) as the retail sector pushes to unlock negotiations for a national collective agreement

The strike on 07 November by the retail unions was not enough to unblock currently quagmired negotiations with the sector’s employers’ bodies. So a second round is in store with a national...

18 December 2015

Netherlands: preliminary assessments over collective bargaining outcomes for 2015

In the spring of 2015 observers noted serious delays in the conclusion of collective agreements. Recent evidence has changed the picture somewhat. Negotiations in certain sectors such as the large...

18 December 2015

Germany: the Hans Böckler union foundation assess 2015’s crop of collective agreements

According to the Hans Böckler Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) the first conclusions to be drawn from the collective agreements struck in 2015 is that on the whole they were more or...

17 December 2015

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mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators

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31 October 2025

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20 October 2025

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15 October 2025

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Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”

On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...

3 December 2025

Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle

In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...

2 December 2025

Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining

On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...

2 December 2025

EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI

On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...

18 December 2025

Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement

Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...

12 December 2025

Italy: new collective agreement for mechanical engineering and metalworking sectors focuses on defending purchasing power

The deal struck on 22 November between Italy’s social partners in the mechanical engineering and metalworking sector brings an end to a long and contentious bargaining process. The agreement –...

25 November 2025