News brief

Netherlands: KPN employees can decide when to take holiday
As of 1 January 2025, the 10,000 employees of the Dutch telecommunications company KPN have the option of deciding for themselves how long their holidays will be. The measure was introduced in the...
26 March 2025
EU: heads of state and government press co-legislators on omnibus package
The conclusions of the last European Council, dated March 20, indicate support from the heads of state and government for the competitiveness-focused initiatives launched by the Commission. They...
25 March 2025
Portugal: creation of legal leave for endometriosis
On 14 March, Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (Conservative) enacted a law that grants up to three consecutive days of paid leave per month to female employees who suffer from...
24 March 2025
Poland: law passed to limit employment of foreign workers
The Polish parliament passed a bill on the employment of foreigners on 20 March. The text has two objectives: on the one hand, it aims to combat the fraudulent obtaining of work permits and, on...
Germany: IG Metall criticises Tesla for withholding pay in event of illness
In a statement published on 14 March, the IG Metall union once again criticised the management of the Tesla factory in Grünheide, this time regarding their practices on sick leave and wage...
19 March 2025
France: Carrefour taken to court for possible breach of due diligence requirements
The NGOs Bloom and Foodwatch, specialising in fishing and food respectively, announced on 17 March that they were taking the food retail group Carrefour to court, denouncing “ineffective...
18 March 2025
Netherlands: new collective agreement in personal care sector rewards flexibility
The social partners in the personal care sector (retirement homes, nursing homes and home care) have signed a new 20-month collective agreement. It will apply from 1 January 2025 to 1 September...
17 March 2025
United States: official review of DEI practices at law firm Perkins Coie
On 06 March, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order ordering a review of law firm Perkins Coie’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. ‘My...
11 March 2025
EU: construction industry social partners sign a joint declaration addressing labour shortage
On 05 March, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), published a joint declaration on the construction...
Slovenia: bill adopted to introduce partial unemployment scheme
On 6 March, the Slovenian government approved a bill introducing a partial unemployment scheme. This scheme aims to preserve jobs when a company is temporarily unable to provide sufficient work...
7 March 2025
EU: Pact for Social Dialogue signed
On 5 March, the main European trade union and employers’ organisations (ETUC, BusinessEurope, SMEUnited and SGI Europe) signed a Pact for Social Dialogue with the European Commission, in...
6 March 2025
Netherlands: Facebook promotes gender inequality according to the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights ruled on 18 February that Meta, the owner of Facebook, reinforces gender stereotypes through its algorithm for promoting job offers. This decision was...
4 March 2025
EU: Commission presents its skills agenda
*As part of the presentation of the Clean Industrial Deal on 26 February, a legislative pact to fund green industry with €100 billion of investment, the European Commission announced a series...
3 March 2025
Ireland: several employment bills on parliament’s agenda
On 18 February, the Irish government published the legislative programme for the spring 2025 session. Of the 21 bills listed as priorities, for which pre-legislative scrutiny was completed last...
27 February 2025
Cyprus: government relaxes regulations on employment of foreign workers
On 19 February 2025, Cyprus’ Council of Ministers approved a framework for the employment of foreign workers, the aim of which is to “create the conditions for full employment and meet...
Greece: social security contributions for overtime and night work reduced
The Greek labour ministry announced on 20 February a reduction in social security contributions for overtime, night work, Sunday work and work on public holidays. From March, these contributions...
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
Import bans on forced labor products are multiplying
Under pressure from new US tariffs, many countries have presented texts in recent weeks to ban the import of products made with forced labor. A real breakthrough for workers' rights or a mere...
9 September 2026
2
Germany: a “simplification” proposal for the Corporate Governance Code
In early August, the Government Commission presented proposals to reform the Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex (DCGK), Germany’s Corporate Governance Code. The proposals are primarily aimed at...
31 August 2026
3
France: EDF served formal notice for failure to comply with its sustainability due diligence obligations
The news. On 23 September, Greenpeace France announced that it had served EDF with a formal notice for failure to comply with its sustainability due diligence obligations due to the risks of harm...
24 September 2026
4
Slovakia: a bill to “clarify” personal data protection measures
The news. The Slovak government approved a bill on personal data protection on August 26, 2026. This text aims to clarify existing regulations regarding employees’ rights and...
7 September 2026