News

Germany: Deutsche Bahn proposes switch to 35-hour week with an ‘options-based’ model
After two months of failed collective bargaining and "surprise" strikes, the train drivers' union GDL and Deutsche Bahn have reached an innovative agreement on a 35-hour working week with no...
27 March 2024
Czech Republic: government approves a draft reform of the minimum wage
The Czech government has passed a draft amendment setting out new rules for calculating the minimum wage. From now on, the wage level will no longer be decided by the executive, but will be...
25 March 2024
China: steps towards more paid leave and a right to disconnect
Every year in March, the two main assemblies of the People's Republic of China hold their plenary sessions. Once again this year, from 4 to 11 March, this important event gave the Chinese...
22 March 2024
Safran steps up commitment to the professional integration of young people with renewal of European agreement
Safran and the trade union federation IndustriAll Europe have renewed for the second time the European agreement on the professional integration of young people, which has bound the two parties...
France: agreement struck in digital, engineering and consultancy sectors to combat sexual harassment
On 15 March, the social partners in France's so-called 'Betic' branch, comprising technical consultancies, engineering consultancies and consultancy firms (1.2 million employees), signed an...
21 March 2024
EU: Commission proposes a new regulatory framework for traineeships
On 20 March, the European Commission presented two texts aimed at strengthening the framework for traineeships in the workplace. The aim is to combat unpaid traineeships, however,  placements that...
20 March 2024
EU: member states adopt watered-down due diligence directive at the last minute
After the texts on non-financial reporting (CSRD) and forced labour, the EU will complete its regulatory framework on CSR with a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence. The text...
15 March 2024
Netherlands: public consultation launched on proposed reform of non-competition clauses
The Dutch government has adopted a plan to tighten the rules on non-competition clauses. The bill would require employers to justify the use of non-competition clauses regardless of the type of...
14 March 2024
France: employees will be able to apply retroactively for paid leave for non-occupational illnesses
In a consultative opinion issued on 13 March with a view to a government amendment, the Conseil d'État, France's highest administrative court, ruled that employees can benefit retroactively from...
13 March 2024
EU: platform workers directive gets green light
The Council of the EU has adopted the directive on platform workers, despite the lack of backing from France and Germany, marking the end of a long legislative soap opera. The text, which is yet...
12 March 2024
Ireland: bill adopted to help older people stay in work until the statutory retirement age
On 6 March, the Irish cabinet approved an employment bill designed to prevent employers from setting a mandatory retirement age below 66, without the consent of employees. The aim is to enable...
11 March 2024
Casino group Cirsa signs global agreement with UNI Global Union and commits to due diligence measures
On 1 March, the Spanish casino group (14,000 employees) signed an agreement on workers' rights and corporate responsibility with the global services trade union federation UNI Global Union, for an...
5 March 2024
United Kingdom: processing of biometric data must be “necessary and proportionate”, says ICO
In an enforcement notice issued on 23 February, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK body responsible for data protection and information rights, sets out the conditions for using...
4 March 2024
Croatia: draft law unveiled to attract highly qualified foreign workers
On 28 February, the government and social partners presented a number of proposals to amend the law on foreigners, with the aim of facilitating the immigration of labour. The aim is to make the...
EU: sustainability due diligence directive blocked by few member states
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive has failed to win support from the qualified majority of member states needed to reach the final vote in the European Parliament. The...
28 February 2024
France: RATP seeks to improve attractiveness with QWL innovations
RATP, the urban transport operator employing 65,000 people, is experimenting with new measures, including the four-day week, new working rhythms and the deployment of exoskeletons in maintenance...
27 February 2024
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
France: Yves Rocher convicted of breach of duty of vigilance for infringement of freedom of association
The specialised chamber of the Paris Judicial Court convicted Yves Rocher on 12 March for breaching its duty of vigilance. The group was sued by Turkish employees dismissed in 2018 by a subsidiary...
12 March 2026
2
2026 TRENDS – CSR: A strategic asset for European companies?
mind HR is looking ahead at the trends set to shape 2026. Sustainability policy remains in flux after a year of CSR rollbacks across Europe. Companies are calling for greater predictability and...
26 February 2026
3
EU: Council approves omnibus directive on sustainability
On 24 February, two months after the European Parliament, the Council of the EU adopted the omnibus package amending the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate...
24 February 2026
4
Germany: a corporate group supports local political engagement via its “Democracy Charter”
Large corporations in the Hesse region, surrounding Frankfurt, are defending local democracy by enabling employees to volunteer in local public life through an initiative dubbed the "Democracy...
11 March 2026
5
United States: Coca-Cola subsidiary sued by the administration over women-only event
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on 18 February that it is launching federal proceedings against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast for “sex-based...
6 March 2026
6
EU: Council adopts position on simplifying AI rules
The Council of the EU approved its position on 13 March regarding the “omnibus regulation” proposal, published last November by the Commission to simplify the AI Act. Confirming the...
20 March 2026