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The consumer goods giant Unilever has signed up to the Halo Code, the UK’s first black hair code, which aims to protect people with afros and other black hairstyles so they can go to work or...

11 December 2020

Belgium: initial results from the social elections

On 09 December, Belgium’s Employment Ministry presented provisional results (here in French) from the elections for employee representatives on the Committees for Prevention and Protection...

9 December 2020

EU: CJEU dismisses appeals by Hungary and Poland to annul the directive strengthening posted workers’ rights

Hungary and Poland have failed in their attempt to derail Directive (EU) 2018/957, which amends and strengthens Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the...

8 December 2020

Spain: debate over four-day week reignited

Following comments from Spain’s deputy prime minister Pablo Iglesias, who announced that the possibility of reducing working time was already “being discussed with social...

7 December 2020

EU: Council ministers call on the Commission to adopt a regulation on human rights related corporate due diligence obligations

In the conclusions of its 01 December meeting devoted to decent work, the Council of European Labor Ministers gave their respective Member State’s support to initiatives announced by the EU...

2 December 2020

Unilever 4-day working week trial in New Zealand

From 07 December and for a one-year trail period, 81 employees working in sales, distribution and marketing roles at the Unilever food giant in New Zealand will be working in the office for 4 days...

2 December 2020

France: definitive adoption of the 28-day paternity leave

On 30 November, France’s National Assembly definitively adopted the Social Security Financing Law, which is applicable for children born from July 1, 2021, and extends paternity leave from...

1 December 2020

Germany: tax deduction for remote work being prepared

The parties in Germany’s governing coalition have agreed to introduce a tax deduction for employees that are working remotely, the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Monday...

30 November 2020

Malta: preparations being made for legislation on the ‘right to disconnect’

Malta is in line to be the next European country that legally recognises an employee’s ‘right to disconnect’. On 23 November, at a meeting with representatives of the General...

25 November 2020

Spain: court recognises right of single-parent families to combine maternity leave and second parent leave

The High Court of the Basque Country has allowed a single mother to take the periods of parental leave permitted by law – 16 weeks of maternity leave and 8 weeks of leave for the second...

24 November 2020

Poland: government proposes talks over a “social pact” with social partners

In its efforts to address the economic and social repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Polish government proposed on 20 November to negotiate a package of measures with social partners in...

23 November 2020

Ireland: bill tabled to establish right to disconnect and protect employees working remotely

Six deputies from the Irish Labour Party have tabled a bill that would introduce a right to disconnect – or “switch off” – for those working remotely. As the members point...

20 November 2020

Italy: main national banking union FABI, attacks UniCredit’s remote working agreement with the EWC

According to Lando Maria Sileoni, Secretary General of FABI (autonomous federation of Italian bank workers) “UniCredit should share the guidelines on work for Italy with the Italian trade...

19 November 2020

Ireland: towards the introduction of a statutory paid sick leave entitlement in 2021

On 16 November, the Irish government launched a consultation process with the social partners with a view to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme by the end of 2021, where employers would be...

17 November 2020

United Kingdom: taskforce launched to create 2 million green jobs by 2030

With the United Kingdom, like many other countries, having set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, its Green Jobs Taskforce met for the first time on 12 November, the government has...

13 November 2020

Germany: 2021 collective bargaining calendar

As it does every year, the Hans Böckler Trade Union Foundation has published Germany’s annual collective bargaining calendar, for the year ahead. In total, 2021 will see the...

12 November 2020

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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