Germany: women’s average salary is 22.5 % lower than that of men
A study of the Institute of socioeconomic researches (WSI) of the Hans-Böckler Stiftung (a foundation linked to German trade unions) conducted by surveying 60 000 salaried workers, shows that the...
Germany: first warning strikes in the steel industry
The renegotiation of collective agreements in the steel industry (104 000 workers) is making no progress. It started at the end of August in three Western Länder and in former East Germany. IG...
Italy: One third of salaried employees earn less than 1000 euros a month
More than one third of Italian employees must live with less than 1000 euros (take home) per month, according to a study of the Institute of economic and social research (Ires) and the Italian...
Netherlands: wage increases are surprisingly high
Wages are increasing faster than expected this year, according to the annual index of Mercer Human Resource Consulting, published on September 5th. The average increase is 3.8 %, nearly double the...
Total: European negotiations on support of employees’ entrepreneurship and safety at work
Total's management is going to start a negotiation, at the end of the month, on swarming and company solidarity. It also agreed on a future negotiation dealing with safety at work. (Ref 06858)
Intel to cut 10 500 jobs by the middle of 2007
The world's number 1 chipmaker said on Tuesday the 5th, that it would cut its total workforce by 10% in order to increase efficiency and cut costs. 7 500 jobs will disappear by the end of the...
Belgium: the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions demands the transposition of the « information-consultation» directive
« Today, the government is exactly 532 days late for the implementation of the European directive which gives workers a right to information and consultation », reports the Confederation of...
Germany: few firms have a profit sharing system
According to a study introduced on September 5th, 2006 by the Research institute on the job market and trades (IAB), 9 % of German firms provide their employees with a profit-sharing system and 2...
Volkswagen: IG Metall okays the continuation of negotiations
On September 11th, 2006, IG Metall's tariff commission approved the opening of negotiations with VW management. Last Friday, in Hanover, management had submitted a concrete plan to guarantee...
Ireland: until 2016, employment rights will be a priority
The new edition of a national social partnership pact, accepted by the government and social partners, was officially adopted on September 5th. Called « Towards 2016 », it focuses on the...
Irish and Hungarian trade unions sign co-operation agreement
SIPTU, the biggest Irish trade union (200 000 members) and the Democratic Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Hungary, signed at the beginning of the month a co-operation agreement having for...
Luxembourg: a new collective agreement for the building trade
After a long negotiation, a new collective agreement regulating the work and wage conditions of about 13 000 employees of the building trade was signed on August 30th. (Ref 06861)
Lithuania : companies tend to search for workforce abroad
e-europnews September 5, 2006, n°06849 – www.eeuropnews.com
Volkswagen: decisive negotiations on the restructuring of the group
On Friday, September 8th, 2006, negotiations between VW management and labour unions over the restructuring of the group will resume. IG Metall is ready to accept more working hours without wage...
Czech Republic: 1 180 voluntary departures at Mittal Steel Ostrava
The indo-Dutch giant of the metallurgical industry started a vast restructuring operation at its plant in the Czech Republic. The firm supports voluntary departures. (Ref 06845)
Germany: the future of the long-term unemployed and joint management trigger a debate
Press review of August 26th to September 1st, 2006. German newspapers talked a lot about the debate triggered last weekend by the idea of Wolfgang Tiefensee, federal minister of Transport, to have...
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
France: Bayer puts female health and inclusive parenthood at the centre of its equality policy
In a new agreement on gender equality highlighted by mind RH, Bayer commits to strengthening its parenthood policy. Furthermore, the company is anticipating pay transparency and introducing...
25 September 2026
2
Germany: Volkswagen cancels almost all collective bargaining agreements signed with IG Metall
The Volkswagen brand announced on 30 September that it is terminating 10 of its 13 internal collective bargaining agreements, effective 31 December 2026. The announcement, which the carmaker...
1 October 2026
3
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
4
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...
5
Germany: working time dispute between Mercedes and the IG Metall Union
The news. At the beginning of September, Mercedes-Benz asked employee representatives and the IG Metall union to agree to an increase in the weekly working time from 35 to 40 hours, without any...
16 September 2026
6
Germany: major day of union action in the automotive industry ahead of collective bargaining
A few weeks before the start of collective bargaining in the German metalworking sector, the IG Metall trade union mobilised nearly 175,000 workers across more than 200 industrial sites on 21...
22 September 2026