News

Germany: debate over working time reform gains momentum
The coalition agreement signed by Germany's conservative CDU/CSU and social democratic SPD parties provides for the abolition of the eight-hour working day in favour of a maximum weekly working...
26 May 2025
Argentina: government restricts right to strike
A decree published on 21 May by the Argentine government classifies a range activities as essential. As a result, they will have to provide a 75% minimum service in the event of a strike. The CGT...
26 May 2025
Italy: collective agreement for gas and water sector launches new joint initiatives
On 8 May, employer and trade union organisations in Italy's gas and water sector penned a deal to renew the sector's collective agreement, which covers around 50,000 employees in nearly 600...
EU: trilogue agreement struck on revision of European Works Council Directive
European co-legislators have reached an agreement on the proposal to revise the European Works Council Directive, which aims to strengthen workers' rights to consultation. The compromise text will...
21 May 2025
Italy: law allows workers to participate in company management and capital
The Italian law on worker participation, which was finally approved on 14 May, allows employee representatives to sit on company supervisory boards or boards of directors. It also establishes tax...
21 May 2025
EU: Emmanuel Macron takes aim at due diligence directive
After initially supporting it, the French president is now attacking the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and calling for its abolition, arguing that the proposed...
20 May 2025
Italy: energy and oil sector creates new joint structures to manage transformations
On 16 April, the employers' organisation Confindustria Energia and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions signed an agreement renewing the national collective agreement for the...
United Kingdom: employers air concerns over labour law reform
As the UK parliament continues to examine the proposed labour law reform, which aims to improve workers' rights, employers are calling on the government to refine certain measures, due to fears...
16 May 2025
France: agreement on professional equality to attract and retain staff signed at electricity network operator RTE
On 2 April 2025, the management of French company RTE, which has 10,000 employees, and the CFDT, CFE-CGC and FO trade unions signed a fourth agreement on professional equality. It sets targets for...
Germany: labour court hands down ruling on retention of stock option rights after resignation
The German Federal Labour Court (BAG) has decided that employees retain their rights to all options already exercised after resigning, in a ruling handed down on 19 March. Applicable retroactively...
Italy: digital and ecological transition central to chemical and pharmaceutical industry collective agreement
On 15 April, the Federchimica and Farmindustria employers' organisations and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions signed the renewal of the collective agreement for the chemical...
14 May 2025
SAP significantly waters down diversity programme
In response to US President Donald Trump's executive order to abolish diversity policies, the German business software leader has announced that it is scrapping its target of 40% women in its...
13 May 2025
Portugal: parliamentary elections hinge on labour issues
Ahead of Portugal's early parliamentary elections on 18 May, the third round since 2021, the latest polls indicate that a large majority of votes are split between three parties: the outgoing...
Spain: government approves bill for 37.5-hour working week
On 6 May, Spain's Council of Ministers adopted the bill to reduce weekly working hours. The text, which must now be submitted to parliament, provides for a reduction from 40 to 37.5 hours per week...
7 May 2025
Chile: government and trade unions reach agreement on minimum wage rise
On 30 April, the Chilean government announced that it had struck an agreement with the country's main trade union organisation, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, on an increase in the minimum...
7 May 2025
Italy: Generali harnesses joint committees to adapt to major changes affecting work
The agreement signed on 17 April by insurance giant Generali and the First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca, FNA and SNFIA trade unions establishes joint committees to steer major issues related to the...
5 May 2025
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
mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators
In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...
31 October 2025
2
EU: omnibus bill stalls in parliament
On 22 October, members of the European Parliament narrowly voted against a negotiating mandate that would have opened trilogue talks on the omnibus directive, which seeks to dilute the corporate...
23 October 2025
3
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
4
EU: Omnibus Directive clears key milestone in European Parliament
On 13 October, the European Parliament’s position on the Omnibus Directive was approved by its Committee on Legal Affairs by 17 votes to six. Regarding due diligence rules, the report...
13 October 2025
5
France: generative AI and older workers central to BPCE’s skills management strategy
On 17 July 2025, BPCE and its trade unions signed a second agreement on jobs and career management within the banking group. The text places generative artificial intelligence at the core of its...
6
Belgium: social partners sign agreement on end-of-career schemes
Brought together in the National Labour Council (CNT), the Belgian social partners reached an agreement on 21 October on the end-of-career scheme, putting an end to several months of negotiations...
23 October 2025