News brief

Top news brief
Mexico: Senate examines legislation on the right to disconnect
The news. In Mexico, the Senate is examining legislation enshrining the right to disconnect. The text, approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 3 March 2026 and subsequently passed unanimously by...
12 November 2026
Switzerland: Could the referendum on funding a 13th monthly pension payment mark the start of a major pension reform?
On 29 November, Swiss citizens will vote in a referendum on how to finance the 13th monthly payment for pensioners (13th OASI pension), a benefit approved in 2024 that will be paid out from...
12 November 2026
France: 1.6% minimum wage increase from December
The French government announced on 9 November a 1.6% increase in the minimum wage from 1 December 2026. Caught between trade union demands and employers' warnings over labour costs, it is putting...
10 November 2026
France: Kering introduces a “second half of career” HR review for employees aged 50 
The news. Luxury group Kering and the CFDT and CFE-CGC trade unions signed a pioneering agreement on 30 June specifically dedicated to the employment of experienced staff in France, in accordance...
10 November 2026
EU: Commission presents strategy for vocational training
The news. On 5 November, the European Commission published its 2026-2030 strategy for vocational education and training. The text comes six years after a dedicated Council recommendation, but...
Bulgaria: 6.4% increase in the minimum wage from 1 January 2027 
The news. On 3 November, the Bulgarian government published a decree introducing a 6.4% increase in the gross monthly minimum wage, effective from 1 January 2027. It will rise from €620.20 to...
9 November 2026
Spain: introduction of sick leave for menopause-related symptoms
The news. As of 1 December, female employees in Spain suffering from an incapacitating condition associated with menopausal symptoms will be eligible for specific sick leave, paid from the very...
6 November 2026
Germany: Schaeffler cuts 3,460 jobs and requests temporary wage “solidarity contribution”
The news. On 3 November 2026, German automotive supplier Schaeffler announced a new “earnings improvement programme”, entailing the net reduction of 3,460 jobs in Europe by 2028 (2,660...
6 November 2026
UK: government promises human rights due diligence bill
The news. On 4 November, the government promised, through Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds before the House of Lords, the statutory introduction of human rights due diligence in the UK. It...
5 November 2026
UK: new protection measures against “fire and rehire” postponed to March 2027 
On 22 October, the UK government announced the postponement of the coming into force of measures aimed at restricting "fire and rehire" and "redundancy and re-employment", provided for under the...
5 November 2026
EU: several social texts promised for 2027
The news. On 4 November, the European Commission presented its work programme for 2027. While the focus is once again on simplification, several social texts have been announced. The European...
France: a bill by the end of the year to transpose the European directive on platform workers
The qualified experts appointed by the French government in the framework of transposing the Directive on Platform Workers submitted their report on 2 November. It paves the way for a bill by the...
4 November 2026
EU: Council curbs the Commission’s proposed easing of social safeguards in digital legislation
The news. On 21 October 2026, the Council of the EU agreed its negotiating mandate on the Digital Omnibus, proposed by the Commission in November 2025 to ease several provisions in digital...
3 November 2026
Croatia: 7.6% minimum wage increase from 1 January 2027
The news. On 29 October, the Croatian Council of Ministers adopted a decree setting the minimum wage for 2027. This will rise from €1,050 to €1,130 gross per month from 1 January next...
3 November 2026
UK: trade unions now have a statutory right of access to workplaces 
The news. Since 30 October, British trade unions (certified as independent) have been able to gain physical access to the premises of businesses with more than 21 employees in order to meet staff...
2 November 2026
Spain: metal industry employers cut sick pay top-ups
To curb absenteeism, Spanish social partners in the metal sector are introducing new clauses into regional collective agreements to reduce the top-up payments made by employers during sick leave...
2 November 2026
Spain: new rules on working time reduction for caring responsibilities
The news. On 21 October, the Spanish government published a Royal Decree-Law, which came into force on 23 October, facilitating working time adjustments for employees who need to care for a...
29 October 2026
British bank Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs to invest in AI
Banking group Barclays has announced the cutting of 5% of its global workforce by the end of the year. Beyond disappointing quarterly results, Barclays primarily intends to free up the funds...
Germany: non-EU recruitment remains marginal despite skilled immigration reform
The news. Nearly a year and a half after the entry into force of the “Skilled Immigration Development Act”, only 4% of businesses have recruited at least one employee directly from a...
France: Orano aims to safeguard the critical skills of its older workers 
The news. On 5 October, French energy and nuclear fuel multinational Orano (15,800 employees in France) and trade union organisations CFDT, CFE-CGC, CGT and FO entered into an agreement intended...
27 October 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
Ireland: minimum wage increase of 5,6% from 1 January 2027
The info. The Irish government has included a minimum wage increase of 79 cents in its Budget 2027, in line with recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. The rate will rise from €14.15...
2
Portugal: parental leave of up to six months paid at 100% from 2027 
The news. On 19 October, the Portuguese Parliament adopted a bill extending the duration of parental leave and the period for which benefits are paid. From 1 January 2027, leave will increase from...
3
China: draft bill to strengthen platform workers’ rights
On 8 October, the Chinese government published a draft bill open for consultation aimed at providing minimum guarantees to non-employee platform workers in terms of pay and working conditions. The...
23 October 2026
4
Is a global wage freeze at Volkswagen possible?
The existence of an option to implement a global wage freeze until 2030 has been confirmed by the management of the German group Volkswagen, which nevertheless provides no details and refers to...
20 October 2026
5
Spain: metal industry employers cut sick pay top-ups
To curb absenteeism, Spanish social partners in the metal sector are introducing new clauses into regional collective agreements to reduce the top-up payments made by employers during sick leave...
2 November 2026
6
Croatia: 7.6% minimum wage increase from 1 January 2027
The news. On 29 October, the Croatian Council of Ministers adopted a decree setting the minimum wage for 2027. This will rise from €1,050 to €1,130 gross per month from 1 January next...