News

Austria: court ruling on the works council’s resources
On August 20, 2008, in a last instance ruling (9 ObA 89/07i), the Superior Court of Justice gave satisfaction to the complainant, member of the WC of an insurance company, who requested that his...
Spain: the social security draws a list of risky situations for breastfeeding employees
The guidance document, developed in concert with the Spanish pediatrics association, will be used to evaluate working conditions and possible side effects on breastfeeding and the child's health...
EU: MEPs in favor of the revision of the directive on the posting of workers
Worried about the consequences of the Court of Justice of the European Communities' jurisprudence (Laval, Ruffert, Viking), the European Parliament adopted, in a resolution adopted on October 22...
Netherlands: moralization of business in the context of the crisis
Low-profile bonuses awarded at Fortis after the nationalization of the bank on October 4, is causing a scandal in the Netherlands. The existence of these bonuses was revealed on October 21 by the...
23 October 2008
Germany: Ver.di union smoothes its stance in the wage conflict in the banking sector
Because of the financial crisis, the services' union Ver.di said, on October 17, 2008, that it was ready to lower its 8% wage claim in the banking sector. The union also announced it would...
EU: the European Parliament permanently adopts the draft temp work directive
Today, October 22, the European Parliament, adopted the draft directive on temporary work which came out of the Council of Ministers. Temporary workers will get the same rights as the permanent...
Germany: the Employment Minister advocates a quick adoption of the draft revision of the EWC directive
On the occasion of a symposium organized on October 20, 2008 in Berlin on the theme "recast of the EWC directive - experience and expectations", Olaf Scholz, SPD Federal Minister of Employment and...
Argentina: the government announced the termination of the private pension scheme
The Argentinean government announced the dismantlement of the private pension scheme embodied by the network of administrations of pension funds (known as AFJP), severally hit by the crisis. The...
EU: even divided, MEPs are getting ready for the trial of strength with the Council of Ministers on the draft working time directive
MEPs of the European Parliament's Employment Committee decided, on Monday, October 20, to forward to November 5 the vote of the report on a second reading on working time to have more time for the...
Great Britain: practical guide on telework for businesses
Initiated by BT Business, associated with the think tank Center of Future studies for the occasion, this guide based on an expertise on flexitime advises employers on the kind of management to...
Great Britain: the government wants to delay the enforcement of social laws because of the economic crisis
The government wants to postpone the adoption of the extension of the law on flexible work to help companies bear the shock of the economic recession. The plan to extend maternity leave from 39 to...
Germany: new controversy on managers’ earnings after the financial crisis
Since Josef Ackermann, chairman of the Deutsche Bank's board, announced, on October 16, 2008, that he agreed to give up his bonus this year - a few million Euro - because of the financial crisis...
SKF: SKF world union committee concentrates on precarious labor and evaluates its development
Created in 1995, the world committee of the Swedish firm, world leader in mechanical bearings, met in early September on SKF's Austrian site in Steyr. Questioned by Planet Labor, Josef...
Poland: the Diet adopts the law on the modification of the Labor Code
On October 17, Polish MPs adopted, with 393 votes for and only 2 against, the law on the modification of the Labor Code. This text transposes into national law the definitions of indirect...
Belgium: the Social Partners adopt a code of conduct to combat discrimination
While they adopted collective labor agreement (CCT) No. 95, the interprofessional Social Partners also revised the provisions regarding equal treatment in CCT No. 38 to extend it to all steps in...
HP-EDS: the trade union coordination calls for a European Action Day
The union representatives of the two groups HP and EDS as well as the members of the EWCs of the two firms met again in Brussels, on October 15, to discuss the 9,330 lay offs announced in the wake...
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
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
2
Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
3
Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining
On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...
2 December 2025
4
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
5
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
6
France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval
The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...