News brief

Germany: the IG Metall announces a new bargaining strategy to allow employees to access businesses’ capital
ating, Detlef Wetzel, number 2 at the IG Metall, announced that there would be “no more wage gifts for businesses”. If the managers of ailing businesses want to cut wages, in exchange...
Spain: Seat employees vote wage freeze to save their jobs
Martorell factory, near Barcelona, accepted a wage freeze for 2009 via a referendum. Unilaterally proposed by the UGT union, the initiative was presented as a measure to support the factory, with...
Portugal: debate over measures against the crisis at the UGT’s 11th Congress
union, the General Workers’ Union (UGT) held its 11th Congress on March 20-21 in Lisbon. The watchword was: “Overcoming the crisis, a future under the sign of employment and...
Romania: new parental leave benefits enforced
reform of the parental leave, enforced this month, replaces the all-inclusive benefit of 800 lei (about 250 euro) with a benefit amounting to 85% of the average income limited to 4.000 lei (around...
Netherlands: bonuses to be banned in bailed out banks
Wouter Bos announced a total ban on bonuses for all groups bailed out by the State. This decision comes after ING decided to grant a welcome bonus to its new financial manager, Patrick Flynn. The...
Netherlands: bill on severance pay to be reviewed
ament asked Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Piet Hein Donner to review his paper. Indeed, MPs and the State Council – which only gives consultative opinions – rejected his bill...
EU: the temporary sector wants to join the think tank on adjusting professional skills to the future labor market
deration representing temporary work agencies, Eurociett, published its contribution to the European Commission’s initiative: “New Skills for New Jobs”. Launched in December...
EU: the European social partners join think tank on how to fight the crisis
summit on March 19, the Twenty-Seven launched consultation of the European social partners so they become more involved in the work of the European Council – which gathers heads of States...
Great Britain: 219 billions pounds of deficit in private pension funds
ed benefit pension schemes in the private sector doubled in less than a year, reaching 219 billion pounds (232 billion euro) – the largest deficit since 2004. However, no need to panic, said...
Germany: 5.5%-8.6% wage increases at Deutsche Telekom
m and the Ver.di union accepted the propositions made by the mediator called in to settle the block in the negotiations which started in early 2009. The agreement is valid for 24 months and mostly...
Czech Republic: subsidies for employers to train workforce when activity is decreased
just released details of an extraordinary training subsidy program allocating CZK 3.3 billion (over 120 million euro) to bear the training costs of employees of businesses willing to keep their...
Poland: bill amends appointment of works council members
rt invalidated some provisions of the law on the information and consultation of workers which gave unions priority in appointing works council members (see our dispatch No. 080555), the Ministry...
Italy: first attempt to bring union unity back
he CGIL, Cisl and Uil unions met on March 16 – at the request of Gugliemo Epifani, CGIL leader – to launch a unitary approach on representation and union democracy. Notwithstanding a...
United States: Senate takes time looking at the equal pay bill
ollowed the enactment of the “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act” (see our dispatch No. 090135) by President Obama, the “Paycheck Fairness Act” should be adopted by the Senate...
Great Britain: annual paid leave for offshore employees included in resting time ashore
h 9, the Employment Appeal Tribunal of Edinburgh declared that the annual paid leaves of offshore employees have to be included in the resting periods ashore to which they are entitled. This is...
Netherlands: “Invest into minorities to overcome workforce shortages” – interview with Mustapha Laboui
the largest trade union confederation in the Netherlands – the Federation of Dutch Unions (FNV) – is responsible for diversity. He tells Planet Labor about the main characteristics of...
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
Italy: decree-law adopted to increase workplace safety
On 28 October, the Italian cabinet adopted a decree-law on health and safety at work, aimed at preventing and reducing accidents. The text addresses both the powers and actions of supervisory...
4 November 2025
2
Romania: parents of children with disabilities granted up to eight days of remote work per month
On 9 October, the Romanian parliament adopted a bill aiming to bolster support for parents of children with disabilities up to the age of 18. The legislation, which came into force on 12 October...
3
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
4
Spain: already well on the way to pay transparency?
Spain is preparing for the implementation of its national law transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which will take effect on 7 June 2026. The legislation marks another step forward in...
5 November 2025
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
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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