News

Germany: accused of wage dumping, the Schlecker hardware stores have to backpedal
Re-hired with wages cut by 50%. Since early 2009, the Ver.di services’ union has been accusing the hardware store chain of closing over 1,000 small shops throughout Germany and replacing them with...
Portugal: new leader for the manufacturing employers’ organization
Election. Antonio Saraiva was elected head of the CIP on January 7. The only candidate for this position, he follows Francisco Van Zeller who led the confederation for nearly eight years. Since...
Great Britain: new strike subject to a vote by British Airways’ cabin crew
Unite is determined to make employees’ voice heard. The vote for a possible strike will last for a month, and the said strike could start on March 1, 2010. in spite of negotiations between Unite...
Spain: the head of the employers’ organization is being questioned within the CEOE because of managing difficulties in his businesses
The difficulties of the Air Comet airline, owned by Mr. Diaz Ferran, led to its bankruptcy and to aircraft grounding on December 22 at the request of a British judge. According to Mr. Diaz Ferran...
Switzerland: report on working conditions in parcel post after the liberalization
Carried out after PostReg, the Swiss postal regulation authority, requested it, the “Report on usual minimum requirements in the package sector,” published yesterday, January 11, gives a positive...
EU: European Summit on Economy and Employment for February 11
Signals in the red. Last week, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, convened a European summit on economy and employment. During this meeting, to be held on February 11, the heads...
Sweden: working conditions and the reinsertion of sick employees, new claims for 2010
Reinsertion of sick employees. The theme of the reinsertion of employees after a sick leave as present in most unions’ claims for 2010 because most are afraid that businesses will lay their...
Great Britain: tougher stand against temporary work agencies that fail to apply minimum wage
Complex cases of abuses. The new team, called “Dynamic Response Team,” was created in January 2010 from within “Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs” – HMRC. It is going to work on the most...
Italy: provisions of the 2010 Finance Act affecting the labor world
Enforced on January 1, 2010, the Finance Act, approved by the Senate in December, is the last act of this kind in Italy. Starting next year, it will be replaced by a “stability act” centered on...
Netherlands: TNT competitors win the legal battle against the ordinance on fair competition between operators
On January 5, the Hague Tribunal ruled that Frank Heemskerk, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, wasn’t competent to force these private postal groups to recruit their workforce with a labor...
France: the withdrawal of the Medef’s food processors’ federation causes debate on employers’ structuring
Ania is the eighth Medef member federation with regards the contributions paid. It represents 21 professional federations and over 10,000 businesses, mostly small and medium-sized, as well as...
Austria: new law to “reconnect” social welfare with the labor market
Like other countries before, Austria decided to improve the fight against poverty by improving systems bring back the 270,000 beneficiaries of minimum insurance on the labor market. On December...
Belgium: enforcement of the program of “massive” youth and senior employment
Last fall, this case led to controversy between the Flemish and Walloon governments. Even though it is of federal competency, the measures contained in a Royal Decree of November 2009 were highly...
China: government to improve the protection of agency workers
Abusive practices. At the end of the 1990s, the affluent workforce on the labor market gave birth to employment agencies. Employment agencies – paiqian songsi – recruit workers – pianqian gong –...
Suspension of the information thread during Christmas break
The Planet Labor team presents you their best wishes for this holiday season and is looking forward to treating with you again next year.
24 December 2009
Italy: Fiat presents industrial program to government and unions
“We have an ambitious plan for Fiat, especially in Italy” announced Sergio Marchionne, Fiat managing director, when presenting, on December 22, Fiat’s industrial plan for Italy in 2010-11 to 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
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
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...
4
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
5
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
6
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