Labour relations

Acea, the energy and water supply company based in Rome, has created a stir in the sphere of industrial relations in Italy, after it signed a company agreement with three trade unions -...

12 February 2018

United Kingdom: the rise of self-employment, the reality for more than 15% of workers

The number of self-employed workers in the UK has increased significantly between 2001 and 2016, rising from 3.3 million to 4.8 million people, according to a study conducted by the Office for...

12 February 2018

Germany: new coalition government seeks to tighten framework on fixed term employment contracts and to facilitate election to WCs

While trade unions appear more or less satisfied with the coalition governments draft joint agreement that was presented on 07 February, employers’ bodies remain nonetheless unimpressed. Business...

8 February 2018

Great Britain: sick and holiday pay for vulnerable workers form part of the government’s Good Work’ plan

On 07 February 2018 the UK government unveiled its official response the independent Taylor review that was published in July 2017. A whole raft of measures were announced to boost both the...

7 February 2018

Poland: towards a new social dialogue

On 31 January 2018, Poland’s President presented parliament with a draft reform of the tripartite Council for national social dialogue and other social dialogue organizations. The draft reform is...

7 February 2018

Argentina: mobilization efforts recommence after summer lull

As the January summer parliamentary truce came to a close Argentina’s social relations restarted where they had left off, namely within a climate of tension and conflict. With December’s pension...

7 February 2018

Germany: metal sector agreement includes a 4.3% salary increase and a landmark provision to make working time more flexible

Late into the evening of 05/06 February the metal sector’s social partners, IG Metall and the employers’ body struck a new collective agreement that is set to run for 27 months and covers the...

6 February 2018

Germany: Deliveroo’s first works council to be elected in Cologne

Riders working for the food delivery platform Deliveroo in Cologne have decided to follow the example of their colleagues at Foodora by setting up a works council, which will be elected on 16...

5 February 2018

Germany: metals sector negotiations reaching breaking point

Despite certain somewhat alarming reports, metals sector collective negotiations between the IG Metall union and the employers Gesammtmetall body still continue under what can be called a...

1 February 2018

Sweden: towards limiting the right to strike?

This question has come up since repeated strike action at the port of Gothenburg during 2016 and 2017, and which, according to the labor Minister Ylva Johansson, demonstrates that the Swedish...

1 February 2018

Italy: banking sector social partners sign an agreement strengthening the sector’s Employment Fund

On 29 January 2018, Italy’s Banking Association L’Associazione Bancaria Italiana (ABI) together with the trade unions, FABI, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, UGL Credito, Uilca, and Unità Sindacale Falcri...

1 February 2018

Great Britain: “Apprenticeships have always been stigmatized” – an interview with an expert from the CIPD

Last week and following a spectacular and near 60% plunge in the number of people registering for apprenticeships between May-July 2017 in England as compared with a year earlier, the UK...

31 January 2018

Spain: pay moderation agreement at Opel Figueruelas

Management and unions at the Spanish Opel plant have announced a pre-agreement on salaries which includes a 2018 pay freeze in exchange for new projects securing the site’s future.

30 January 2018

Norway fresh strike action protesting temporary employment agencies is set for March

Following last November’s strike action, four unions from the electronics, construction, and plumbing sectors together with the LO Confederation have decided to organize fresh strike action for 15...

30 January 2018

Portugal: following a sit-in workers at the former Triumph underwear and lingerie workplace secure collective dismissal for economic reasons

Following a three-week sit-in at the facility, 463 former Triumph workers secured a company insolvency decision. The Tribunal ruling now unlocks the right to collective dismissal compensation, and...

30 January 2018

Germany: IG Metall union agrees to last-ditch negotiation push in the metal sector and issues ultimatum

Following a crisis meeting held on 26 January, the leadership of the IG Metall union announced that it would continue negotiations with the employer organisation in Baden-Württemberg, the most...

25 January 2018

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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

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...

20 October 2025

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...

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

Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing

In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...

24 November 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