Netherlands: bill seeks to allow use of partial unemployment during times of crisis National legislation The Polish parliament passed a bill on the employment of foreigners on 20 March. The text has two objectives: on the one hand, it aims to combat the fraudulent obtaining of work permits and, on the other, it seeks to “protect Polish employees so that they do not have to fear losing their jobs and suffering from unfair competition”,…
EU: MEPs want to tackle the gender pay gap European legislation In 2023, women in the EU still earned on average 12% less per hour than men. In a report presented to the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee on 29 September,…
Réglementaire Poland: parliament gives final approval to bill on professional seniority National legislation “On 26 September, Polish MPs gave final approval to a bill that allows specific activities to count towards professional seniority,…
Réglementaire Belgium: government fast-tracks measures to foster return to work from incapacity National legislation On 26 September, Belgium’s cabinet gave second-reading approval to a package of measures designed to "better manage incapacity for work". The new system seeks to "empower" employees on sick leave, their employers and doctors, with the goal of reducing both the number and length of absences.
China: consequences of rape can constitute an ‘accident at work’ under the law National legislation A landmark trial began in China on 23 September. Two years after being sexually assaulted by her employer, an employee is suing the company in the labour court over a "workplace accident related to sexual assault". Both an arbitration panel and a people’s court have already upheld this classification.
Norway: law proposed to facilitate union membership during parental or sick leave National legislation On 25 September, Norway’s government put forward draft legislation to help employees maintain union membership while on maternity,…
France: La Samaritaine (LVMH) fined for disproportionate employee surveillance National legislation The operator of the La Samaritaine department store has been fined €100,000 for breaching the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. France’s data watchdog, CNIL, found it had improperly used hidden cameras, failing to safeguard employees’ privacy.
Belgium: Royal Decree sets average pay rises for companies at 0% for 2025-2026 National legislation As the social partners were unable to agree on the maximum margin of the wage cost evolution for the years 2025-2026, the Belgian government has set the so-called ‘wage norm’…
mind RH analysis – Extending working lives becomes a priority across Europe Legal developments Rising life expectancy and ageing populations are prompting more European countries to increase the retirement age in order to safeguard pension systems. Analysis by mind RH found that a third of the 31 countries surveyed have opted to link the retirement age to life expectancy, allowing regular adjustments as working lives lengthen. Between 2020 and 2024, the employment rate among 55- to 64-year-olds in the EU rose from 59%to more than 65% on average.
Réglementaire EU: Parliament calls for tougher regulation of traineeships European legislation Members of the European Parliament are seeking to strengthen the regulatory framework for professional traineeships — those not tied to university courses — beyond what the European Commission proposed in 2024.…
