News brief

Sweden: the young increasingly question unions’ all-might in determining wages
d political parties debated the worrying unemployment rate of young people during the traditional “Almedalen week” in Gotland on June 28-July 4, 2009, a study reveals that young...
Austria: Austrian Airline’s works councils accept three savings programs and a 5% wage cut to attract Lufthansa
management of Austrian Airlines (AUA) are ready to do just about anything so that Lufthansa, their German big sister, will buy their company, in very bad shape. From the beginning of 2009 until...
Italy: Fincantieri backs out and sings new company agreement with unions
on mobilization organized by the Fiom-CGIL to protest against the separate company agreement the management and the two other unions, Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil signed in April, Fincantieri, world...
Spain: professional experience will be validated
cil of Ministers approved several royal decrees initiating the recognition of professional knowledge as early as this year. They are aimed at making up for Spain’s delay in terms of...
Colgate-Palmolive: renewal of the agreement establishing the EWC in the wake of the new directive
ement of the American Colgate-Palmolive signed with the representatives of the European Forum (EWC) and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF) the renewal of the...
Germany: DGB calls for a renewal of the High Federal Antidiscrimination Authority
enforcement of the General Equal Treatment Act, the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) drew up, on July 16, 2009, a tough report of the activities of the High Federal Antidiscrimination...
Germany: important wave of layoffs in the fall in several key economic sectors taking shape
short-time working measures, to the early consequences of anticrisis programs and to the will of the social partners to maintain employment for as long as possible, Germany hasn’t yet...
Fiat: global union network under the aegis of the International Metalworkers’ Federation
was launched during the meeting organized in June in Turin by the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF). “Intervention network” for current restructuring programs, it...
Netherlands: The Hague introduces more restrictive anticrisis short-time working
usinesses to reduce their employees’ working time was renewed. However, the new provisions set less generous provisions. The new system enters into force today, July 20. (Ref. 090744) The...
EU: new Committee on Employment and Social Affairs at the European Parliament
Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament be the same as the previous one: rather ready to criticize the European Commission’s inactivity and cause difficulties to the Council...
Germany: wage increases for 2009 will reach an average of 3% for 12 million employees
he Institute of Economic and Social Studies (WSI) of the Hans-Böckler foundation announced that collective agreements negotiated in 2009 will lead to average wage increases of 3%. Given the...
Company: Eurofound’s report on international and European framework agreements
framework agreements on industrial relations ? A report published on June 5, 2009 by the European foundation for the improvement of like and working conditions (Dublin) draws up the balance sheet...
Germany: businesses do not help their employees reconcile work and family life
, close to unions, and the German Youth Institute (Deutsches Jugendinstitut – DJI) published, on July 13, 2009, a study entitled “Unlimited Work – Unlimited Family” on work...
United States: greatness and decline of American unionism
American unions have been declining, their total size going from 35 to 12.4%. This can be explained by several external factors (political will to decrease their influence, industrial decline)...
France: MPs want to make progress on the definition of French-style flexicurity
Parliamentary mission in charge of clarifying the notion of French-style flexicurity, headed by UMP MP Pierre Morange, accelerated social partners’ hearings to render conclusions by the...
Denmark: seniors stay at work in spite of the crisis
niors stay at work in spite of the crisis. In the first quarter of 2009, the number of voluntary early retirements dropped of 6,900 units compared with the first quarter of 2008, whereas the...
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
EU: Omnibus Directive clears key milestone in European Parliament
On 13 October, the European Parliament’s position on the Omnibus Directive was approved by its Committee on Legal Affairs by 17 votes to six. Regarding due diligence rules, the report...
13 October 2025
2
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...
3
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
4
Italy: European pay transparency directive, a major step forward for businesses
Italy’s labour market continues to suffer from limited pay transparency and a persistent gender pay gap. The forthcoming implementation of the EU pay transparency directive — still awaiting...
5
Germany: EU pay transparency directive to force companies to ‘get tough’
Germany introduced a pay transparency law in 2017, meaning companies are already somewhat familiar with the issue. However, the broader scope and stricter requirements of the EU directive, the...
24 October 2025
6
Germany: ‘active retirement’ law adopted to encourage seniors to remain in the workforce
On 15 October, Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on ‘active retirement‘, which is expected to pass swiftly through Parliament. The bill would allow people who continue...