News brief

Updated every year, Austria’s list of professions classed as suffering from labour shortages and for which the Austrian national hiring preference does not apply has increased from 45 to 66...

18 January 2022

United Kingdom: employers required to supply personal protective equipment to “workers”

From 6 April, UK businesses will be required to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to “workers” who are exposed to health or safety risks in the workplace. It should be noted...

17 January 2022

Japan: Panasonic adopts “optional” four-day working week

An increasing number of companies in Japan are offering their staff the option of working a 32-hour week, in keeping with recommendations issued by the country’s government in June last year...

17 January 2022

United States: no vaccine mandate for large companies

The plans of US president Joe Biden’s administration to make vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory at companies with 100 employees or more have been dashed. In a ruling passed on 13...

14 January 2022

Italy: vaccination mandatory for over-50s under stricter workplace rules

Under the decree law issued by the Italian government on 7 January, which contains new measures to slow the surge in Covid-19 infections, those over the age of 50 are required to be vaccinated...

14 January 2022

Germany: the Minister of Labour wants to create a right to telework

As the resurgence of Covid-19 and its Omicron variant makes teleworking once again mandatory in Germany for all employees for whom this form of working is possible, Hubertus Heil, German Minister...

13 January 2022

United States: historic union presence at Starbucks

On 09 December 2021 workers at a Starbucks coffee shop in Buffalo, New York State voted to form a trade union. The vote occurred a few weeks after the Workers United labour union was established...

13 January 2022

Great Britain: companies reduce sick pay for unvaccinated employees who need to isolate

From 10 January, employees of the Wessex Water company who have not received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and who do not have any medical evidence justifying their status will only...

11 January 2022

EU: minimum wage set to be introduced in Cyprus this year

Of the six European Union member states yet to introduce a minimum wage, Cyprus appears set to be the first to do so, in what could be a first impact of the directive presented by the European...

10 January 2022

France: insurer Maif renews agreement on employment of disabled workers

The French mutual insurance group Maif has struck an agreement, valid for three years and signed by all trade unions at the company, that will foster the employment of disabled people. At present...

10 January 2022

China’s new trade union law strengthens Communist Party control

On 24 December 2021, the National People’s Congress adopted a series of amendments to the Trade Union Law of the People’s Republic of China, which will become effective on 01 January...

6 January 2022

Benelux: Publicis Groupe Belgium & Netherlands offers paid distance learning internships to students across the globe

On 13 December 2021, and in order to accelerate ‘the diversity revolution and deliver projects that showcase society,’ Publicis Groupe Belgium & Netherlands announced the launch of...

4 January 2022

News feed to resume on 3 January 2022

The team at Planet Labor will be taking a few days off at the end of an action-packed year of news. We will resume publication on the morning of Monday 3 January 2022. Our news archives will of...

17 December 2021

Portugal: bereavement leave following death of a child extended to 20 days

The parental leave entitlement in Portugal following the death of one’s child has been increased to 20 days, compared to five at present, without any cut in pay. With this change, Portugal...

17 December 2021

Great Britain: a passport that can facilitate graduates with a disability as they transition to employment

On 03 December the UK government unveiled the ‘Access to Work Adjustments Passport’, the aim of which is to facilitate university graduates from a background of disability as they...

16 December 2021

Britain: BT publishes a company-wide Manifesto setting new inclusion targets

On 01 December, the UK telecommunications group unveiled its new plan of attack for ‘accelerating growth through tech that is responsible, inclusive and sustainable’ for the next ten...

14 December 2021

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France: Crédit Agricole to tighten remote work rules

Crédit Agricole is to adopt stricter rules on remote work from mid-March onwards. The rules will be tightened for employees, but the maximum number of days working remotely will remain unchanged.

29 January 2026

France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval

The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...

8 December 2025

mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators

In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...

31 October 2025

Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”

Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...

20 October 2025

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United Kingdom: government urged to legislate against forced labour

After consulting victims, businesses and NGOs, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) has published a report showing that the UK is lagging behind in the fight against forced labour. The...

13 January 2026

EU: European Parliament calls for a directive on just transition

On 20 January, MEPs approved, with 420 votes in favour, an own-initiative report calling for a just transition directive. The text calls for the protection of workers to be guaranteed in the...

20 January 2026