SABMiller Europe: a European work’s council under Hungarian law
SABMiller Europe management and workers' representatives of the special group of negotiation signed, on August 16th, 2006, an agreement on the creation of a European WC governed by Hungarian law...
VWR International: analysis of the agreement on the new European works council
The German company International VWR signed, on June 14th, 2006, an agreement to create a EWC that covers 13 Member States as well as Norway and Switzerland. The EWC will be chaired by management...
Axa : debates over the fate of Winterthur’s European WC
After the acquisition of the Swiss insurer Winterthur by Axa, announced on June 14th of this year, and the real takeover which should take place on January 1st 2007, Axa's management and its...
Great Britain: several important laws come into force on October 1st
The entrance in accordance with law against discriminations based on age is a very waited and important reform. Another text will come to regulate the provisioning of hand of work in agriculture...
Netherlands: strike in Rotterdam’s public transportation system
A 24 hour strike, launched by labour unions, on September 25th, in the public transportation network of Rotterdam, was followed at 100 %. Its objective: to protest against the social consequences...
TUC asks CBI and government to make more efforts for observance of minimum wage
Trade Union Congress wants government to increase pressure and sanctions on employers who violate the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rules. Unions notably demand the introduction of a jail sentence...
Smithfield: towards a European works council after the takeover of Sara Lee Food Europe
Further to the approval given by the European Commission, July 28th, 2006, on the plan of buyout of Sara Lee Foods Europe (SLFE) by the common firm created by Smithfield Foods and an investment...
Latvia: minimum wage will increase significantly
The minimum wage should amount to 50% of the average gross salary by 2010, compared to 38 % today. The government's aim is to boost economic growth and development, and to limit the emigration...
Poland: employers and labour unions reluctant to apply new law on works councils
In Poland, the law of April 7th, 2006 on workers' information and consultation (also called new law on works councils, see our article n°06556) has a lot of trouble to impose itself. Before...
Allianz: agreement signed on employee representation at Allianz EC
In the future, employees will be represented at the European level within two authorities:  
Arkema: negotiations on the creation of a European work’s council
After an agreement, in May, 2006, on a group work's council and a group union coordination, management of the chemical group Arkema set up a special group of negotiation to create a European works...
Nestlé : part of the chocolate production due to move to other European countries
Nestlé, the world's largest food and drink company, announced, last September 20th, the shedding of 645 jobs in the York plant. Chocolates will now be produced in Germany, Spain and the Czech...
Germany : a wage agreement found for 85,000 iron and steel workers
IG Metall and the Employers' Federation (Stahl) reached agreement in the night of September 20-21 on a wage increase of 3.8% and a 1250 euros bonus for 85,000 employees. An innovation is the...
Netherlands : unions demand a 2.5 % increase in 2007
The Dutch unions federation (FNV) issued on September 19 a claim for a 2.5% wage increase in 2007 coinciding with the presentation of the 2007 budget by Gerrit Zalm, Finance minister, who is...
Great Britain : employers denounce tightening of social legislation
Tony Blair's succession has sparked a battle for influence between employers unions. The CBI, the principal employers' association, is worried about the consequences of the contest over the future...
Baltic region : number one for wage increases
Recent studies stress that the average costs of labour hours in Latvia in the second quarter of 2006, in comparison to the second quarter of 2005, have increased by 22.7%. This is the sharpest...
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
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
2
Germany: legal battle at Tesla ahead of works council election
The Frankfurt/Oder labour court has postponed a mid-November hearing in the case between the IG Metall union and Michaela Schmitz, employee representative and head of the works council at the...
3
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...
4
AI-driven job cuts on the rise in tech sector
As leading tech companies ramp up investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and roll out transformation plans to boost its development, layoffs across the sector are increasing. But are the job...
7 October 2025
5
France: generative AI and older workers central to BPCE’s skills management strategy
On 17 July 2025, BPCE and its trade unions signed a second agreement on jobs and career management within the banking group. The text places generative artificial intelligence at the core of its...
6
France: austerity measures proposed in social security financing bill for 2026
Limits on sick leave, the end of social security exemptions for apprentices, and the introduction of additional birth leave: the 2026 social security financing bill, presented to parliament on 14...
16 October 2025