News

Luxembourg: soon, shops will be able to close at 7 pm on Saturday and holidays
No agreement.  The Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg is currently working on the bill introduced by the government to allow retail stores to close at 7 instead of 6 pm on Saturdays and holidays. ...
Netherlands: work permit no longer needed for non-European temporary workers in large businesses
The transition government decided, on June 29, to add flexibility to the regulations facilitating the recruitment of non-European temporary workers in large "knowledge" firms with sales above EUR...
Denmark: government and conservatives sign two agreements quickening tentative social reforms
At the end of June, the government and conservative opposition signed a fiscal reform agreement reducing taxes on labor to create 15,800 new jobs. Another agreement was signed on June 30...
Slovenia: government to send the outline of its labour market reform to the social partner
The Labour Reform Document ("Izhodišča za reform trga dela") contains the following ten starting points of the future major labour market reforms:
Spain: unions reject flexible hours demanded by superstores
Employers launched consultation period.  A few days ago, the national court issued a ruling giving unions satisfaction and forcing superstores to recognize the right to weekly rest, at the rate of...
Norway: new pay system for cargo carriers
On June 11, NHO Transport (Norwegian transport firms) and Norges Lastebileier-Forbund (the Norwegian Haulers' Association) on the one hand and the Transportarbeiderforbund (Transport Workers) and...
Spain: labor reform permanently adopted
The Parliament permanently adopted the new “Emergency Act for the Reform of the Labor Market,” with the support of the people’s party and of the Catalonian (CiU) and Basque (PNV) nationalist...
Great Britain: Unison and GMB unions get closer before merger
Combining the membership of the second and third biggest unions will easily outstrip that of Unite which is currently the biggest union with 1,414,000 members. The new alliance between Unison and...
United States: Americans keep new health care law
Obamacare, the nickname given to the health insurance system voted in the US in 2010 (see our dispatch No. 100249), passed the Supreme Court test. The judges in charge of the case at the request...
Italy: permanent adoption of the labor market reform
Prime Minister Mario Monti did it.  On June 28, he went to the European summit with the labor market reform approved (see our dispatch No.  120227).  Meanwhile, Labor Minister Elsa Fornero gave an...
Germany: IG-Metall union sends anti-stress draft regulation to government
With soaring sick leaves with mental causes, the IG-Metall metalworkers' union once again called on Ursula von der Leyen, CDU Minister of Employment, to adapt the legal framework to new labor...
27 June 2012
France: CSR criteria in the new 2012-2014 profit-sharing agreement at La Poste
Quality of life.  Like the previous agreement, this agreement will apply to all Post workers regardless of their function, “thus giving full meaning to the concept of fair distribution and...
27 June 2012
Germany: Siemens gives up to EUR 500 a month to come back to work after childbirth
A typically German issue.  For several months, a political/cultural trial of strength has been dividing the German government and the two parties to the conservative union – Merkel’s...
Great Britain: Unite creates GBP25m strike fund
While this is a significant development for the future, it was also disclosed that Unite under new general secretary, Len McCluskey, had spent between £3m-£5m on industrial disputes in the last...
Netherlands: the DNV (former FNV) announces social turmoil in September
The former FNV, renamed De Nieuwe Vakbeweging (DNV, new federation) on June 23, is getting ready for social unrest in September. With the legislative elections approaching (September 12), it has...
United States: new contract between machinists’ union and Lockheed Martin
After over two months on strikes, the association of machinists at Lockheed Martin accepted a two-tier pension system in Forth Worth, Texas. The management of Lockheed Martin and the...
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
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
2
France: Ministry of Labour unveils plan to accelerate the rollout of AI
On 22 September, the French Ministry of Labour presented a plan named Impulsion IA 2027 aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI by companies and employees. It contains 12 measures applicable from...
3
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
4
Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
5
Denmark: introduction of a professional ID card for construction site workers
The news. On 3 September, the Danish Parliament adopted a bill introducing a mandatory professional ID card for people working on large construction sites. The card will include, among other...
6
UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...