News

Italy: the national assembly of the Basic Unitary Confederation (Cub) allows the transformation of the union
Seventeen years after its foundation, the Cub, the largest independent union in Italy (over 706,000 members) started its metamorphosis. The 400 delegates of the National Assembly, held in Riccone...
Netherlands: crisis strengthens the polder system
Introduction of partial unemployment. The quick introduction of a temporary working time reduction system (ATV, see our dispatch No. 081049) to deal with the most urgent matters, gave the social...
EU: the Twenty-Seven adopt two directives on legal and illegal immigration
Criteria to obtain the blue card. Introduced in late 2007, countries such as Germany, Austria and some eastern European countries (where workers are still bound to restrictions to enter the labor...
Germany: chemistry union appoints future chair
Call in favor of industrial SMEs. Hubertus Schmoldt, who is still the chair, used the appointment to criticize, in an unusually strong way, the Federal Government’s support to industrial SMEs as...
EU: European Central Bank to experience its first strike
Consultation yes, co management no. The IPSO’s decision was motivated by a decision of the board which, because of the economic crisis and of the need to save money, decided to reduce, as of June...
Germany: 4.6% wage increase in construction
Planet Labor, May 26, 2009, No. 090566 – www.planetlabor.com
Netherlands: crisis digs a hole in union coffers
Planet Labor, May 26, 2009, No. 090565 – www.planetlabor.com
Sweden: controversial draft bill on the protection of private life
Ban on gathering some personal information. The current law provides that employers may have access to the criminal records of applicants under certain circumstances. They can also get information...
EU: Brussels thinks about after 2010
Go on with structural reforms and more. Structural reforms are more topical than ever. The lack of credits is going to push businesses to look for flexibility elsewhere explained European...
Germany: big bosses fight for their remuneration
A bill which “assaults” the economy. Discussed since February 2009, the bill on managers’ income in Germany is about to go into Parliament. Because of the economic crisis and coming elections...
Italy: 16th Cisl Congress under the sign of workers participation
Worker participation. The Cisl advocates a new labor humanism based on “responsible ethics” and “participative union relations” for a “new and balanced relation between capital and labor, calling...
Great Britain: new wave of strikes to defend national/local preference for recruitment
This story is quite similar to the strike at the Lindsey refinery in February (see our dispatch No. 090140).
Chile: Parliament adopts the Equal Pay Act
Objective criteria to justify the pay gap. “Employers will have to respect the principle of equal remuneration between men and women performing the same job. Criteria such as aptitude, quality...
Italy: first national assembly of the CGIL’s “labor chambers” and many local initiatives against the crisis
“Second Italy.” After the meeting, it came out that there is a “second Italy” as Gugliemo Epifani, CGIL general secretary, put it. Indeed, unlike the government with national unions, local...
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
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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