News

Greece: government adopts bill bringing flexibility to the labor market
First approved by Brussels earlier last week, the bill which notably brings flexibility to the labor market in the private sector was discussed by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, December...
Great Britain: more and more small disputes over pay and pensions
Workers at Heinz’s Wigan food factory have balloted overwhelmingly for strike action and industrial action short of a strike over what they consider to be a poor pay offer while company profits...
Germany: Verdi union calls for a 6.5% wage increase for Deutsche Telekom staff
Improve the pay plan of T-Service employees.  For the renegotiation of the company collective agreements, which expire on December 31, 2010 (see our dispatch No.  090314), Verdi’s collective...
Austria: government removes immigration quotas for a point system with no limitations
A point system for three categories.  “Responsible immigration needs to take account of the interests of the country” declared Minister of Home Affairs Maria Fekter last Thursday in Vienna when...
Great Britain: the private sector is hiring but needs more talent
Recruitment picks up.  For this study, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) interviewed the human resources managers of 1,100 businesses in Europe and in the US.  Recruitment forecasts in 2011 are twice...
Spain: unions present own-initiative bill to amend the labor market reform voted in September
When presenting the text, the union leaders, Candido Mendez (UGT) and Ignacio Fernandez Toxo (CCOO), explained that they were hoping for a chance to revive the debate and give the government the...
EU: focus on the debate around the draft directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals within the framework of an intr-corporate transfer
The dratf directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer was rather positively welcome within the negotiating...
EU: metal social partners place growth, employment and training at the heart of sectoral social dialogue
A strong industry. During this social dialogue meeting, the union and the employers’ organization rejoiced that the industry was back at the top of the European agenda.  In a first statement...
9 December 2010
Germany: Siemens announces the withdrawal of variable pay for board members
Fixed pay, a new trend?  The remuneration of board members (+52% since 2000) hasn’t been left out of the growing debate on the remuneration of corporate managers (+35% since 2000).  In Germany...
8 December 2010
Italy: Senate permanently approves 2011 Finance Act
Social dampers.  One billion euros were allocated to the Social Fund for Employment and Training for 2011.  Before the reform of social dampers, derogatory CIG (Cassa Integrazione) treatments...
8 December 2010
Netherlands: bill on the right to flexible working time
The Christian democrats (members of the coalition in power) and the Groenlinks green party (opposition) presented, on December 3rd, an initiative to achieve a law on flexible working time (Wet...
Pfleiderer: signature of an international social charter
Requirements that also apply to subcontractors.  Based in Neutmark, Bavaria, Pfleider specializes in the wholesale trade of wood and construction materials.  It employs nearly 5,200 people in 22...
Germany: chemistry union claims for up to 7% increase for 550,000 employees
Record claims.  Any other offers?  In September, the first post-crisis wage agreement brought a 3.6% increase and a €150 bonus to steel employees (see our dispatch No.  100688).  In the fall...
Italy: last Censis report shows the country is “flattened” and “without vigor”
A country without laws or desire, sliding under “a wave of unbalanced impulses” which no longer trusts the leading classes, is the image coming from the 44th report published by Censis, the...
8 December 2010
Spain: first meetings between employers and unions on the reform of collective bargaining
It could be difficult to bring both parties’ views together and labor market experts aren’t very optimistic as to the outcome of the negotiations.  While unions and employers are in favor of a...
Romania: amended pension reform passed
New draft.  The Romanian Parliament finally adopted what should be the final draft of the pension reform on Tuesday, December 7th.  A few weeks ago, president Traian Basescu refused to promulgate...
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
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
4
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...
5
Germany: crisis and transformation wage agreement in the chemical sector
Following a two-day marathon negotiation in Bad Breisig (Western Germany), the social partners of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industries—the IG BCE trade union and the BAVC employers'...
27 March 2026
6
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