News brief

Belgium: companies with at least 50 employees to be required to appoint confidential counsellor to prevent psychosocial risks
On 26 October, Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives adopted a bill containing various provisions relating to employment, including making it compulsory for companies with 50 or more...
2 November 2023
Colombia: financial incentives to create permanent jobs extended
On 26 October, the government announced the extension of incentives granted to companies for the creation and maintenance of new formal jobs, until 2026. Employers who increase their wage bill...
Sweden: Klarna employees go on strike as collective agreement talks fail
After eight months of fruitless negotiations with Klarna management, the Swedish trade unions  –  Unionen and Engineers of Sweden – at the specialist in the...
30 October 2023
Brazil: exemption from social security contributions extended for 17 economic sectors
On 25 October, the Senate approved a bill extending the exemption from social security contributions for the 17 sectors of the economy that employ the most people in Brazil. Originally due to...
Croatia: minimum wage to rise by 20% on 1 January 2024
The Croatian government and social partners in the country have reached agreement on an increase in the minimum wage for 2024. The wage level will rise from €700 to €840 gross per month...
25 October 2023
Mexico: Covid-19 among additions to table of occupational diseases
Following on from Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies last April, on 24 October the Senate unanimously approved an update to the table of occupational diseases. It includes 88 new work-related...
25 October 2023
Czech Republic: higher quotas for skilled foreign workers
On 18 October, Czech industry and trade minister Jozef Síkela announced a number of measures designed to increase the number of skilled foreign workers, to address the labour shortage...
France: Icade renews agreement for disabled employees
On 27 September, the French property developer (1,200 employees) signed a new agreement with its trade unions (SNUHAB-CFE-CGC, CGT, FO-FEC and Unsa) for the professional integration and continued...
20 October 2023
Slovenia: right to disconnect and caregiver leave allowance introduced
After a year of stormy negotiations with social partners, the Slovenian government finally approved amendments to the Employment Relations Act on 19 October. The changes are based, in particular...
20 October 2023
EU: CSRD directive definitively approved
On Wednesday 17 October, MEPs removed the final obstacle to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into force at the beginning of 2024, as they rejected a motion...
19 October 2023
EU: Commission adopts work programme for 2024
On 17 October, the European Commission adopted its work programme, listing the most important initiatives for 2024. In particular, the work programme sets out additional proposals to reduce red...
18 October 2023
Ireland: Ikea to pay living wage of €14.80 an hour from 1 January 2024
In a press release on 9 October, the interior design giant – part of the Ingka Group – announced that it will pay its employees in Ireland a living wage of €14.80 an hour from...
18 October 2023
EU: MEPs vote to ban imports of products made with forced labour
On Monday 16 October, MEPs in the Internal Market and International Trade committees voted in favour of the draft regulation presented by the European Commission in September 2022, having called...
17 October 2023
Estonia: minimum wage to rise by 13% in 2024
Trade unions and employer organisations have reached an agreement on the minimum wage, which will rise by €95 to €820 on 1 January 2024. The Bank of Estonia estimates that this figure...
16 October 2023
Bulgaria: minimum wage to rise on 1 January 2024
On 11 October, Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers decided to increase the minimum wage in the country from 1 January 2024. The figure will rise from 780 Lev (€398) to 933 Lev (€477)...
16 October 2023
Barilla offers 12 weeks’ paid parental leave
On 10 October, the food group announced the launch of a new global company parental policy taking effect from 1 January 2024. The change, applicable to the company’s 8,7000 employees, will...
16 October 2023
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
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
2
Greece: hospitality sector signs first collective agreement aligned with National Social Pact
The hospitality sector (125,000 employees), one of Greece’s largest industries after retail, signed a new two-year collective agreement on 17 March. The text, effective from 1 April 2026...
3
France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement
Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...
4
France: Club Med includes “multiculturalism” in its professional equality agreement
In December 2025, Club Med and the CFTC, Unsa, and FO trade unions signed an agreement on professional equality and working conditions. It introduces measures addressing AI, pay transparency, and...
23 March 2026
5
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
6
Germany: a wave of redundancy plans in the automotive sector
The latest financial results presented in early 2026 by major German car manufacturers show sharp declines. This collapse in profits has triggered the announcement or confirmation of massive job...
16 March 2026