News brief

EU: companies soon required to provide prior notification for posted workers
The news. On 7 July, the European Parliament definitively adopted the revision of the regulation on the coordination of national social security systems. The text notably clarifies which state is...
France: HSBC signs an agreement on quality of life and working conditions
The news. On 7 May, HSBC Continental Europe (2,806 employees at the end of 2025), the British bank’s French subsidiary, signed a two-year QVCT (quality of life and working conditions)...
8 July 2026
United Kingdom: towards strengthened corporate obligations against forced labour
The info. On 30 June, the government introduced an immigration bill that tightens asylum conditions. The text also amends the Modern Slavery Act introduced in 2015, which requires 22,000 companies...
7 July 2026
EU : the Commission approves drastic reduction in the number of CSRD social and environmental indicators
The news. On 3 July, the European Commission approved the simplification of corporate social and environmental reporting under the CSRD directive. After a two-month period during which the Council...
6 July 2026
United Kingdom: pilot projects launched to strengthen the regulation of sick leave
The news. Since 1 July, new rules governing medical certificates (fit notes) have been piloted in four regions of England: the West Midlands, Cornwall, Lancashire, and South Cumbria. The UK...
6 July 2026
Germany: reform proposals affecting the world of work
Faced with the urgent need for far-reaching reforms to modernize the country and revive its economy, the leaders of Germany's governing coalition unveiled 34 measures in Berlin on July 2, covering...
Chile: Government aims to create 50,000 jobs by October
The news. The Interministerial Employment Committee—bringing together the Ministries of Economy, Women and Gender Equality, Labour and Social Welfare, as well as the Undersecretariat for...
EU: Irish Presidency aims to support quality jobs
The news. Ireland, which takes over from Cyprus as holder of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026, has presented the priorities for its six-month...
Germany: IG Metall seeks to strengthen its bargaining power in companies
The seven regional districts of the German trade union IG Metall have launched a broad reflection on the organisation’s positions, methods and objectives in a period marked by multiple crises and...
France: pharmaceutical companies strengthen their disability policy with the signing of a new agreement
The news. Leem, one of the professional organizations representing pharmaceutical companies operating in France (more than 100,000 employees), and the CFE-CGC, FO, and CFTC trade unions signed an...
1 July 2026
Luxembourg: extension of retail store opening hours
The news. The new legislation extending opening hours for the retail sector entered into force on 19 June 2026. The law, which was introduced by the government in October 2024, allows retail...
29 June 2026
Ireland: AI regulation bill introduced in Parliament
The news. On 17 June, the Irish government introduced a bill aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence. Comprising 139 sections, the legislation is primarily intended to oversee and...
29 June 2026
France: the government in favour of allowing the labour inspectorate to halt work on construction sites during a heatwave
The news. In an interview with the newspaper Le Monde, French Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou stated he is in favour of allowing the labour inspectorate to halt work on construction sites...
26 June 2026
Ireland: employees will be able to refuse retirement before age 66 even if their employment contract provides otherwise
The news. The Employment Act 2025 will come into force on 29 July 2026. The legislation introduces measures allowing employees to continue working beyond the retirement age specified in their...
26 June 2026
EU: Council and Parliament reach agreement on measures to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances
The news. On 23 June, the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the proposal for the sixth revision of the carcinogens...
25 June 2026
Germany: pension reform proposals are not neutral for businesses
The proposals put forward by the German Pension Commission were unveiled on 23 June by their authors in the presence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD). The...
24 June 2026