News

Spain: the government goes easy on the minimum wage increase
Pedro Solbes, Minister for Economic Affairs, announced that minimum interprofessional wages (SMI) would "increase slower than anticipated with different economic circumstances". The trade unions...
EU: Dublin Foundation report on working time
In 2007, average collectively agreed weekly working time in the European Union was 38.6 hours. This is the outcome of the annual survey published by the European Foundation for the improvement of...
Great Britain: job evaluation guide
How to avoid going to court for wage discrimination ? By establishing job and pay evaluation schemes, answers the ACAS - the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service - in a guide published...
China: Shenzhen adopts two regulations to favor social dialogue in companies
The law on the employment contract and the law on the "establishment and development of harmonious working relationships", adopted by the authorities of the special Shenzhen economic zone, which...
11 September 2008
EU: European managers propose amendments to the EWC “recast” directive
After the letter the ETUC, BusinessEurope, the CEEP and the UEAPME (see our dispatch No. 080643) sent to Xavier Bertrand - French Minister of Labor and current President of the EU Employment and...
Companies: benefits and disadvantages of EWCs
After analyzing the direct and indirect costs of a EWC (see our dispatch No. 080674), the study carried out by the GHK Consulting Firm at the request of the European Commission as part of the...
Spain: staff cuts and lower chain activity in the car industry
Several car manufacturers announced job cuts in Spain while others use the flexibility allowed by the collective agreements. However, even larger job cuts are to be expected. Unions are on the...
Germany : IG-Metall about to publish a list of « black sheep » among temp agencies
Confronted with the upsurge of temp employees paid less than the permanent workforce, the Frankfurt section of IG-Metall (which covers four Länder- Hesse, Rheinland-Palatinate, Sarre and...
Companies : actual costs of EWCs
Is it possible to give an accurate evaluation of the costs of a European Works Council ? The European Commission asked the GHK Consulting Firm to carry out a study on this topic in view of the...
Germany : IG-Metall calls VW workers to a mass demonstration for the maintenance of the « Volkswagen law »
By organizing such an impressing assembly the IG-Metall union intends to send “warning signal to all those wishing to abolish the Volkswagen law”. “The repeated attacks by  the European Union, by...
Netherlands: contentious agreement on the limit to unemployment allowances
On September 9, 2008, the government, the Confederation of Dutch Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) and the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) announced a surprise agreement on unemployment...
Spain: target 1.000 euros a month
The Spanish unions set as their objective, during the pending collective negotiations, that all employees receive 1.000 euros a month minimum. (Ref. 080673)
HP: European trade unions demand re-skilling as an alternative to redundancies
Gathered on September 8 by the Union Network International (UNI) and by the European Metalworkers' federation (EMF), the trade unions of HewlettPackard (HP) expressed concern about the social...
Italy: Alitalia’s unions reject the draft company agreement of the new CAI airline
Tough take off for the Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI,) supposed to take over Alitalia's assets (see our dispatch No. 080647.) The rescue plan which was presented to the company's unions plans the...
Netherlands: incentive to work from home two days a week
An agreement reached between the Social Partners and presented on September 8, 2008, encourages employees to work from home to reduce traffic jams. Besides, this agreement exempts companies from...
Great Britain: the government launches a consultation on improving and extending the right to flexible work
Last May, the government announced that it intended to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children under the age of 16. It is now time for the consultation : how to inform...
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
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
2
France: Ministry of Labour unveils plan to accelerate the rollout of AI
On 22 September, the French Ministry of Labour presented a plan named Impulsion IA 2027 aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI by companies and employees. It contains 12 measures applicable from...
3
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
4
Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
5
Denmark: introduction of a professional ID card for construction site workers
The news. On 3 September, the Danish Parliament adopted a bill introducing a mandatory professional ID card for people working on large construction sites. The card will include, among other...
6
UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...