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Top news brief
Germany: crisis and transformation wage agreement in the chemical sector
Following a two-day marathon negotiation in Bad Breisig (Western Germany), the social partners of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industries—the IG BCE trade union and the BAVC employers'...
27 March 2026
Malta: a draft amendment to better protect against workplace harassment
The news. On 23 February 2026, the Maltese government introduced a draft amendment to the Employment and Industrial Relations Act, seeking to expand the scope of protection against workplace...
27 March 2026
Italy: parental leave extended until the child’s 14th birthday
The 2026 Italian Finance Act has extended optional parental leave, which can now be taken until the child is 14 years old, up from 12 previously. This leave has a maximum duration of 10 or 11...
26 March 2026
France: Decathlon’s jobs and career management agreement aims to bolster employee experience
The news. Sport retailer Decathlon and the trade unions (CFTC and Unsa) signed a jobs and career management agreement (GEPP – Gestion des emplois et parcours professionnels) on 24 February...
25 March 2026
Spain: employers and unions pave the way for the textile retail sector’s first collective agreement
The Spanish employers' association for major textile companies (ARTE) and two of the unions involved in negotiations (CCOO and Fetico) signed a preliminary agreement on 23 March for the sector's...
25 March 2026
Romania: collective bargaining stalled in the banking sector
The news. In a joint statement published on 9 March, the European trade union UNI Europa and its Romanian affiliates (FSAB and FSIF) called on Société Générale (BRD)...
24 March 2026
France: Club Med includes “multiculturalism” in its professional equality agreement
In December 2025, Club Med and the CFTC, Unsa, and FO trade unions signed an agreement on professional equality and working conditions. It introduces measures addressing AI, pay transparency, and...
23 March 2026
Spain: business support package to tackle the economic impact of the Middle East conflict
The Spanish government approved a series of measures on 20 March to support companies facing rising energy prices. In return, these businesses are prohibited from making redundancies for economic...
23 March 2026
EU: Council adopts position on simplifying AI rules
The Council of the EU approved its position on 13 March regarding the “omnibus regulation” proposal, published last November by the Commission to simplify the AI Act. Confirming the...
20 March 2026
Greece: hospitality sector signs first collective agreement aligned with National Social Pact
The hospitality sector (125,000 employees), one of Greece’s largest industries after retail, signed a new two-year collective agreement on 17 March. The text, effective from 1 April 2026...
19 March 2026
EU: presentation of EU Inc, a new European legal framework for start-ups
The Commission presented on 18 March the regulation establishing “EU Inc”, a new legal regime for limited liability companies designed to encourage them to remain within the EU by...
18 March 2026
United Kingdom: national minimum wage to rise by 4% from 1 April
From April, the British national minimum wage will increase by 4.1%, following recommendations issued by the Low Pay Commission last November. The rate will rise from £12.21 to £12.71...
18 March 2026
France: Generali’s new disability agreement focuses on workplace adjustments
Generali France (9,300 employees) and trade unions have concluded an agreement to promote the employment of disabled workers for the 2026-2028 period. The text emphasises coordination between...
17 March 2026
Sweden: new law to facilitate phased return to work after sick leave
On 28 January, the Swedish Parliament adopted a law allowing employees on sick leave to test their capacity to return to work without losing their sickness benefits. The legislation, which came...
17 March 2026
Sweden: government delays transposition of Pay Transparency Directive
On 11 March, the Swedish government announced it is postponing the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive. Having originally targeted an entry into force on 1 July 2026, it has conceded a...
16 March 2026
Germany: a wave of redundancy plans in the automotive sector
The latest financial results presented in early 2026 by major German car manufacturers show sharp declines. This collapse in profits has triggered the announcement or confirmation of massive job...
16 March 2026
Spain: a bill to regulate internships
On 3 March, the Council of Ministers approved the bill on the “Status for persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies”. The text limits the number of interns a company can...
France: Yves Rocher convicted of breach of duty of vigilance for infringement of freedom of association
The specialised chamber of the Paris Judicial Court convicted Yves Rocher on 12 March for breaching its duty of vigilance. The group was sued by Turkish employees dismissed in 2018 by a subsidiary...
12 March 2026
Belgium: bill facilitating voluntary overtime submitted to Parliament
On 10 February, the government submitted a bill to Parliament aimed at increasing the number of voluntary overtime hours from 120 to 360. These may be performed without specific justification or...
12 March 2026
United Kingdom: launch of consultation on protection against detriment for industrial action
The British government launched a public consultation on 26 February regarding new protections for workers against "detriment" related to industrial action, scheduled to take effect in October...
12 March 2026
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
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
2
France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement
Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...
3
Greece: hospitality sector signs first collective agreement aligned with National Social Pact
The hospitality sector (125,000 employees), one of Greece’s largest industries after retail, signed a new two-year collective agreement on 17 March. The text, effective from 1 April 2026...
4
France: Club Med includes “multiculturalism” in its professional equality agreement
In December 2025, Club Med and the CFTC, Unsa, and FO trade unions signed an agreement on professional equality and working conditions. It introduces measures addressing AI, pay transparency, and...
23 March 2026
5
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
6
Germany: a wave of redundancy plans in the automotive sector
The latest financial results presented in early 2026 by major German car manufacturers show sharp declines. This collapse in profits has triggered the announcement or confirmation of massive job...
16 March 2026