News brief

Sweden: the failure of negotiations on a new national collective agreement is a missed opportunity for reforming the industrial relations system
loyers’ association Svenskt Naringsliv announced its decision to interrupt negotiations on the renewal of the industrial relations system founded in 1938. The social partners had vastly...
Italy: “short week” spreading South to face the crisis
tors (textile, agency…), solidarity contracts (CdS) are relatively rare in the metallurgy sector, which the Cassa Integrazione (CIG, see our dispatch No. 080932) is the preferred method to...
Lennox Europe: establishment of a European works council
ope (1.750 employees) and the special negotiating body, composed of French (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC, CGT, FO) and Spanish (CCOO, UGT) union organizations signed, on January 20, 2009, an agreement...
Spain: one of employers’ main think tanks proposes structural reforms
Empresarios presented a document entitled “New Solutions to Create Jobs”. The text, developed by one of employers’ most influential think tanks, analyzes current shortcomings of...
Philips: small impact of the EWC on restructurings
) met at the end of last week. The management announced that the company is in a difficult situation, without giving any details as to the number of jobs threatened in Europe. The Forum’s 23...
Great Britain: bill to increase redundancy compensation
ose its reputation of country where laying off isn’t expensive? A majority of Labor MPs and unions support a bill which would increase maximum layoff pay. The government is thinking and...
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...
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
Greece fifth country to finalise transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The info. On 6 July, Greece finalised the transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive with the enactment of the law and its publication in the Official Gazette. Most of its provisions...
2
EU: the Commission launches the second phase of consultation on quality jobs
Eight months after the first phase, the European Commission finally launched the second stage of consultation with social partners on 20 July for an initiative on quality jobs expected by the end...
21 July 2026
3
Belgium: Government Proposes Annualised Working Time
The news. On 18 July, the Belgian Council of Ministers approved a preliminary draft bill introducing annualised working time, allowing hours to be averaged over a full year rather than on a weekly...
4
France : PwC strengthens its diversity policy despite the shadow of Trump
The info. Questioned by mind HR on the HR strategy of the audit and advisory firm PwC regarding AI (7,000 employees), the HR Director of its France and Maghreb subsidiary Sophie Mouhieddine also...
5
Poland: decree sets maximum workplace temperatures
The news. On 9 July, Poland’s Minister of Labour, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, signed a decree introducing new obligations for employers during heatwaves. The regulation establishes...
6
Belgium: toward an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child
The news. On 18 July, the Belgian federal government approved a draft bill introducing an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child. This entitlement would be added to existing...