News

Belgium: the Christian union confederation CSC wins social elections
The Federal Minister of Employment, Labor and Social Consultation published, on May 22, 2008, the partial results (89%) of the social elections held between May 5 and May 18 allowing employees to...
EU: analysis of the preliminary draft revision of the EWC directive
The preliminary draft revision of the EWC directive is currently in inter-services consultation at the European Commission. This document, of which Planet Labor managed to get a copy, is in line...
Sanofi-Aventis: the EMCEF still rejects the agreement on the European negotiation body
After refusing to sign the draft agreement creating a European negotiation body in the French pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis (see our dispatch No. 080067), the European trade union federation...
Netherlands: De Unie, the executives’ union, plays the e-card to allure young people
De Internet Vakbond, the internet antenna launched by De Unie, the executives' union, in 2006, started, on February 13, 2008, a wide movement aimed at young people: free access to a database to...
Czech Republic : the new law on sickness benefits declared unconstitutional
On 23 April, 2008 the Constitutional Court cancelled, with effect from 30 June, 2008, the provisions of the law on Sickness Insurance of Employees, under which sickness benefits are paid starting...
Czech Republic: green card to facilitate the employment of foreign workforce under preparation
The Chamber of Deputies is examining the government's proposal for the amendment to the Act on Foreigners' Stay and Residence. It introduces a "green card", a new long-term residence permit paired...
Germany: Berlin to strengthen the protection of employees who denounce illegal practices in their company
Scandals of rotten meat delivered or Bribery at Siemens pushed the Grand Coalition to strengthen the protection offered to employees who denounce illegal practices in their company. At the end of...
Great Britain: agreement on agency workers’ rights, at last
Agency workers will be given the same rights as permanent workers once they have been employed for 12 weeks, the government declared on May 20, 2008, after an agreement between unions and...
Netherlands: the liberalization of the postal market postponed again while the social conflict at TNT is getting worse
On May 16, the government has once again postponed the liberalization of the postal market, first planned for January 1, 2008, and then to July 1, 2008. Now, Frank Heemskerk, Secretary of State...
Austria: 3.4% wage increase with options in the electro-technical and electronics industries
Although rekindled inflation and indicators of a slowdown in economic activity throughout the EU clearly exerted an influence on negotiations, the social partners reached, on May 14, an agreement...
European social agenda from May 22 to December 31, 2008
We offer an agenda of the main events concerning social Europe and institutional meetings. You can send your scheduled events to the following address: planetlabor@planetlabor.com (Ref. 080415)
Italy: basic unions offer an alternative to the CGIL, CISL and UIL confederations
Get out of the minority and go past division. These are the goals of the first national unitary assembly of the basic unions (CUB, Cobas and SDL), gathered in Milan on May 17. Offering an...
Poland: the Labor Inspectorate evaluates the prevention of risks linked to asbestos
The national Labor Inspectorate presented to the National Assembly, at the end of April, an evaluation on the prevention of risks concerning asbestos at work. This evaluation sheds light on the...
Great Britain: database to register dishonest employees
Action Against Business Crime is about to launch a database where employers can register information about dishonest workers. This initiative is kicking up a stir. (Ref. 080427)
Great Britain: bill to toughen fines for health and safety at work offenses
Introduced by labor MP Keith Hill, the bill on the toughening of sanctions in terms of offenses to the law on occupational health and safety of 1974 is going on a third reading at the House of...
EU: France welcomes the first visit of the European “Mission for Flexicurity”
On Monday, May 19, the European mission for flexicurity started, in France, a Euro trip which should lead, at the end of 2008, to the publication of a report for the establishment of flexicurity...
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
France: Yves Rocher convicted of breach of duty of vigilance for infringement of freedom of association
The specialised chamber of the Paris Judicial Court convicted Yves Rocher on 12 March for breaching its duty of vigilance. The group was sued by Turkish employees dismissed in 2018 by a subsidiary...
12 March 2026
2
Spain: business support package to tackle the economic impact of the Middle East conflict
The Spanish government approved a series of measures on 20 March to support companies facing rising energy prices. In return, these businesses are prohibited from making redundancies for economic...
23 March 2026
3
EU: Council adopts position on simplifying AI rules
The Council of the EU approved its position on 13 March regarding the “omnibus regulation” proposal, published last November by the Commission to simplify the AI Act. Confirming the...
20 March 2026
4
Germany: a corporate group supports local political engagement via its “Democracy Charter”
Large corporations in the Hesse region, surrounding Frankfurt, are defending local democracy by enabling employees to volunteer in local public life through an initiative dubbed the "Democracy...
11 March 2026
5
United States: Coca-Cola subsidiary sued by the administration over women-only event
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on 18 February that it is launching federal proceedings against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast for “sex-based...
6 March 2026