News

Finland: Nokia intensifies voluntary leave program before extending it to other countries
After reducing by 20-30% the workforce at Helsinki’s research center and closing the Turku site (south west), the Finnish giant clutched up a gear on February 24, 2009, launching a voluntary leave...
Germany: crisis and decreasing inflation mark the pilot agreement signed in retail trade
The largest judicial settlement since after the war. What accelerated negotiations was the announcement of the judicial settlement (Insolvenz) at Karstadt, a true institution for German retail...
Spain: temporary employment agencies announce a temporary decrease in employment destruction
Key observations of the report. Spain should breathe during a temporary stable phase, thanks to the combined effect of seasonal work and the local employment investment program (Plan E) launched...
Thales: European agreement on anticipation and professional development
Scope of the agreement. This agreement applies to companies that fall within the scope of the Thales' European Works Council,” i.e. Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, the...
Italy: Italtel and unions appeal to solidarity contracts to reduce mass layoffs
Solidarity working time reduction. The management accepted unions’ proposition to appeal to solidarity contracts (see our dispatch No. 090235) to reduce the restructuring’s social impact. 90...
Siemens: German group seeks to recruit more disabled workers
A unique pilot-agreement in Germany. Qualified as a “pilot-agreement” by a Siemens spokesman, the agreement signed contains a series of concrete measures. Thus, among other things, Siemens...
EU: economic crisis in the background of EPSU’s 8th Congress
IPS-Europe/EPSU merger. This meeting, held every five years, officialized the merger of the EPSU and the European unit of the International Public Services union (IPS). This decision brings the...
Netherlands: government explains modalities of retirement at 67
Everyone to work until 67. With a memorandum setting the principle of absolute equality, the government shows its resoluteness. There will be no exceptions, everyone will be affected, even those...
Spain: rail unions to escort the decentralization of the management of Barcelona’s rail system
Social conflict has been avoided in Spanish railways thanks to an agreement signed between the Ministry for Transportation and rail unions (see our dispatch No. 090523). The agreement defines the...
Great Britain: government launches Department for Business and Skills
A department with a wide scope. Mandelson’s job won’t be easy. Of course, he will have to be businesses’ attorney (particularly SMEs), but also consumers’ attorney. He will have to develop...
Mexico: 10.5 million euros to help tourism workers
Direct aids and agreement against layoffs. Unlike previous programs, aimed at supporting businesses in the tourist industry, this one is directly addressed to workers, mostly in the hotel...
EU: maternity leave, social priority of the future Swedish presidency
Objections. The legal basis of the draft directive (art. 141 of the Treaty, which notably includes the objective of work-life balance, and 137 on the protection of health and safety, the basis of...
Netherlands: DAF Trucks requests short-time working for 4,500
Wages 100% maintained. Employees at DAF Truck will keep 100% of their salary (65% paid by the employer and 35% by the unemployment insurance) and their rights to unemployment insurance and pension...
Italy: chemistry unions announce national strike on June 24
National strike on June 24. On may 27, in Rome, the Filcem-CGIL, Femca-Cisl and Uilcem-Uil unions, together with unitary trade union representation bodies (RSUs) of the chemistry and pharmacy...
EU: last Council of Labor Ministers under Czech Presidency focused on employment
Renewal of employment guidelines. Close to the European summit (June 18-19), the 27 Labor Ministers recalled that measures aimed at keeping Europeans at work and creating jobs were important. They...
Denmark: LO union presents strategy to reduce the gender pay gap
“The 20% gender pay gap is proof that we are far from parity in Denmark” said Lizette Risgaard, LO VP, when presenting the union’s strategy to reduce this gap. During the 2007 Congress (see our...
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
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...
3
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...
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