News

Belgium: financial empowerment of businesses in terms of continuous training
The Council of Ministers of December 5, 2008 approved a Royal Decree which "increases businesses' responsibilities in terms of continuous training" said the Minister for Employment, Joelle...
Portugal: the government grants 900 million euro to the automobile sector
The Portuguese government is coming to the rescue of the automotive sector by unfreezing an extraordinary 900 million euro grant. The plan defines four major intervention axes: stimulate...
EU: Parliament and Council reach a compromise on the recast of the EWC directive
Representatives from the European Parliament, the Commission and the French presidency reached an agreement on a compromise on the recast of the EWC directive. The text, which notably settles the...
Denmark: four businesses awarded for improving the workplace
Improving MSDs. In order to resolve the problem of conducting numerous repetitive tasks, the medical devices supplier Coloplast developed a method which can be implemented in factories in Denmark...
Great Britain: HSE publishes draft strategy on health and safety at work
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a three month consultation period with the publication of a document outlining its draft strategy "The Health and Safety of Great Britain - be part...
Slovakia: class action against discrimination introduced by Parliament
Legal antidiscrimination protection. Generally speaking Slovak antidiscrimination law already provided relatively adequate antidiscrimination protection, once the country had implemented EU...
Netherlands: CEOs’ bonuses targeted by the new code of good behavior of listed companies
The Frijns Commission, which advises the government on amendments to make to the Tabaksblat code of good behavior for businesses, is going to announce, on December 10, 2008, new recommendations...
5 December 2008
France: focus on the working time reform
More flexible extra hours. The law of August 20, 2008 brings more flexibility into the overtime system, thus enabling the company (or establishment-level) agreement to define a quota of extra...
EU: the EU27 about to develop a residence and work permit for highly-skilled workers
In early 2009, the 27 EU States intend to finalize the creation of a European blue card for highly-skilled workers. This card, oftentimes compared to the American green card, should help these...
Great Britain: TUC demands additional measures for the respect of minimum wage
The UK's Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Low Pay Commission (LPC) - which is going to issue recommendations to the government in early 2009 - to propose new measures to improve the...
Italy: Michelin and the trade unions sign a framework agreement on the restructuring of the company
The industrial plan provides for the specialization of Michelin Italiana's sites (5.500 employees) for 2009-2013 and around 700 job cuts. The management promised to support the reclassification of...
Germany: the train drivers’ union (GDL) demands a 6.5% wage increase
The three train drivers' unions - Transnet, GDBA and the GDL - presented to the Deutsche Bahn, on December 1, 2008, in Berlin, their official claims before the opening of the renegotiation of the...
EU: the CJEC rules on the liability of the new employer in the case of a change in working conditions which is not due to him
Facts. An employee working in a staff canteen covered by the metallurgy collective agreement was transferred, after a change of employer, to the collective agreement for the accommodation and...
Germany: Ver.di and Deutsche Post end their wage conflict in two German postal subsidiaries
After two warning strikes, the services' union Ver.di and Deutsche Post reached, on December 2, 2008, a wage agreement which ends a conflict which lasted for several months in two subsidiaries of...
Spain: two rulings by the Supreme Court force nine supermarkets to respect the right to 48 hours of weekly rest in a row
Judges gave satisfaction to the trade unions in two similar rulings which concerned Carrefour for one and Makro for the other. The two rulings force these companies to respect their employees'...
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1
Spain: new terms and conditions for in-company training contracts
On 25 November, Spain's Council of Ministers approved a regulation on training contracts. This text defines the terms and conditions for hosting work-study students and interns doing professional...
2
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
3
Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...