News brief

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...
EU: the conciliation meeting between Council and Parliament on working time failed in spite of propositions on both sides
e revision of the working time directive met on the evening of March 17, without success. Since they cannot agree on the opt-out, the Council and the Parliament couldn’t reach a general...
Great Britain: employers call on the government to postpone “tax on jobs”
lacement agencies will no longer enjoy reduced VAT, which enabled them to be taxed on commission only, on the condition that the organization employing the agency workers pays them directly. The...
France Telecom: final step for the creation of France Telecom’s global works council
on of a global works council (CGM) within France Telecom entered its final phase. A draft agreement could be presented for signature in the spring. (Ref. 090291) Additional information level. This...
Italy: Council of Ministers approves new measures against the crisis
arious workers, faster award of social dampers, possibility for jobseekers receiving compensation to accept odd jobs without losing their benefits. These are the new “anticrisis”...
Germany: new wave of partial unemployment announced
tober 2008, German businesses have applied for partial unemployment measures for about 1.5 million employees – almost 410.000 in February alone. In sectors were the crisis is worst felt...
Italy: the impact of European aids on the European auto market lead to new labor organization at Fiat
collars on partial unemployment in southern Italy to other regions to face the increase in production caused by the increased demand for certain models, the carmaker extended Cassa Integrazione...
Great Britain: Toyota to cut UK wages and production by 10% to protect jobs
duction via a collective agreement. The need to reduce costs and avoid dismissals led staff representatives to accept this rescue plan, while other automotive businesses are sacrificing staff...
Great Britain: government to provide better information to businesses to help them respect labor law
on helpline on labor law and health and safety issues is one of the key measures announced on March 5, 2009 by the Minister for Enterprise. The objective is to help businesses comply with the law...
Poland: unions and employers develop an “anticrisis action package”
ipartite Committee on March 13, unions and employers’ organizations presented an “anticrisis action package”, jointly developed. This document, divided in 13 points, proposes...
Belgium: Council of Ministers approves “eco-checks”
l of Ministers approved a draft royal decree introducing “eco-checks”. This system was included in the 2009-10 interprofessional agreement and in the recovery program. It is aimed at...
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...