News

Portugal : commentary of the draft law reforming labor code
Provisions concerning individual employment relations. Portugal has assumed European compromises concerning flexicurity and has attempted to develop its own model of flexicurity. The regulation of...
Siemens: organization of a European demonstration against job cuts
This coordination meeting, organized by the European Metal Workers Federation (FEM) brought together 30 union representatives and European works council members of the Siemens group from across...
Germany : the government coalition parties after much arm wrestling finally agree on a minimum wage rate
Hitherto, only the building and industrial cleaning sectors as well as postal services have a minimum wage often negotiated after a hard battle between political parties and between employers and...
EU: protection against discrimination also applies to parents of disabled children
In a judgment rendered on July 17, 2008, the Court of Justice of the European Communities extends the protection against discrimination provided for in Directive 2000/78 to the parents of...
Italy: the Berlusconi government’s emergency social measures
Through decree-law No. 112/2008 (measure used for emergencies), which will be transposed into a law in two months, the Berlusconi government, in anticipation of the Finance Act 2009, has recently...
Netherlands: stronger measures to favor the unemployed’s return to work
After one year, the unemployed will have to accept any job. This measure was adopted on July 1, immediately applicable, without a debate in Parliament and in spite of unions' opposition. The...
Germany: the Council of Ministers adopts an “action program” to appeal to skilled workers
Following the joint proposition made by Wolfgang Schaüble - Home Secretary - and Olaf Scholz - Employment Minister - the Federal Council of Ministers adopted, on July 16, 2008, a series of...
Germany : the increase in “atypical” working hours reflects on the health of the staff concerned by demographic ageing
A study carried out by the Hans-Böckler union foundation shows that working time outside of "normal" working hours, that is to say shift or night work and work during the weekends, keeps...
Great Britain: agency workers employed for less than three months are now entitled to sick leaves
From October 27, 2008 onwards, all agency workers will be entitled to sick pay, whatever the length of their contract and their type of recruitment (direct or indirect). Since 2002, this category...
Netherlands: ING pays for its new recruits’ union dues
Since January 1, 2008, the Dutch financial group Internationale Nederlandse Groep (ING) pays for the union dues of its new employees – up to €180 a year. Therefore, the Christian union CNV saw the...
Germany: the IG Metall demands more than a 6.5% wage increase for 3.4 million employees
The collective agreement negotiated in 2007 for the 3.4 million employees in the electrotechnical metallurgy and automotive sectors will be over on October 30, 2008. The IG Metall is already...
EU: the European social partners expressed their point of view concerning the ongoing files
On Thursday, July 10, on the periphery of the informal meeting of the European labor ministers – the first social meeting organized by the French presidency of the EU – the European social...
Germany: last minute collective agreement for trade employees after 18 months of conflict
For a year and a half, Verdi, the services' union, has been bargaining with the trade federations of several German Lander to reach a collective agreement affecting 2.7 million employees. The...
Sweden: new anti-discrimination law
The Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) adopted, on July 4, 2008, a new anti-discrimination law which will come into force on January 1, 2009. It is an update and an overhaul of of the current...
Italy: Fiat to temporarily lay off thousands of employees in its Italian factories from August onwards
The car manufacturer Fiat sent to unions, on July 7, 2008, its decision to appeal to "social shock absorbers" in most of its Italian factories to compensate the 4-6 weeks of temporary cessation of...
EU: the CJEC states there can be direct discrimination in the absence of a victim
The Court of Justice of the European Communities gave a judgement on July 10, in a case where an employer said in a public statement that he would not recruit immigrants. According to the Court...
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
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...