News

Germany: construction social partners ask a mediator to arbitrate their dispute
Towards a harmonization of wages in the west and in the east. The IG Bau’s second claim is that, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, wages in eastern Germany be brought in line with those...
Biomet Europe: establishment of a European works council
Competence of the EWC on the “territory” only. The agreement specified that the EWC represents employees “insofar as activities are carried out within the Territory.” Besides, “the EWC shall be...
Portugal: draft reform of the code of labor procedure
Adjustment. The new code is going to determine courts’ role within the framework of the new labor code (see our dispatch No. 090227). It introduces the notion of emergency for illegal dismissals...
EU: the Twenty-Seven get a new strategic framework for education and training with employers involved
The cooperation framework is divided up into cycles; the first one goes from 2009 to 2010. Each Member State is free to choose its own priorities. Nevertheless, the Twenty-Seven set figured...
Great Britain: consultation for the implementation of the European directive on agency workers
Agency workers will get new rights in terms of pay, paid leaves and overtime after 12 weeks at work. Measures will be implemented to prevent employers from firing these workers after 11 weeks to...
Italy: metallurgy as a testing ground for union opposition to the reform of the conventional system
No unitary platform for the renewal of the metallurgy CCN. Asking for a law on democratic rules for union representation and the validation of platforms and agreements by workers, the central...
Belgium: three new measures to avoid layoffs
A measure for white-collars only: the suspension of the labor contract. The last measure developed by the government is sort of like economic unemployment for blue-collar workers. "Before, there...
Ireland: wage talks at a standstill
Questioning the national wage agreement in the private sector. On February 21, for the first time since the beginning of social partnership in Ireland, workers in the public and private sector...
Netherlands: Shell’s shareholders revolt against bonuses
The revolt could get to pension funds. A group of shareholders united with the consultant firm RiskMetrics says that it is totally crazy for Shell not to respect its own regulations regarding...
Italy: ThyssenKrupp and Ilva sign two agreements on partial unemployment with unions
Ilva’s agreement. On April 30, Ilva’s management in Taranto (Pouilles region), the largest steel company in Europe, signed with the local units of the Fim, Fiom and Uilm unions an agreement...
Germany: Volkswagen’s staff representatives could be the main winners of the next meeting at VW-Porsche
Fighting to maintain the social model. Indeed, for over a year, they fought for VW to retain control over its destiny and to maintain Volkswagen’s “social model,” where few decisions can be made...
Poland: EDF’s employees demonstrate against restructuring program
Angry unions. However, EDF’s 23 unions unanimously rejected this restructuring program, judging that the 1,400 jobs concerned by it are threatened. Unions point out that 200 jobs have already been...
Finland: the merger of several industry unions member of the SAK confederation postponed of one year
The merger between several unions in the industry sector of the SAK confederation was launched in 2005. The creation of the new union, to be called TEAM, will start on May 10, during the congress...
Italy: Enel signs two protocols on industrial relations
When presenting the industrial plan and investment program 2009-11, Enel, the Italian energy group, signed with the CGIL, Cisl and Uil unions as well as their secotral units two agreements...
Germany: head hunters partially unemployed as well
Multiple reasons. Worried about the crisis, many executives no longer switch businesses and “stick” with their jobs. “Even though their position might be removed, most executives prefer banking on...
Spain : the government and the main associations of independent workers have signed an agreement improving their social rights
Covering broad subjects like taxation and credit, the principal “social” points of the agreement are:  
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