News

Germany: Bayer Schering Pharma’s management and its works council are burying their disagreement
Not even a week after announcing the cut of 6,100 jobs throughout the world, 950 of which at the company's headquarters in Berlin, Bayer Schering Pharma's management and the works council reached...
Sweden: difficult negotiations to renew collective agreements
Swedish social partners are about to renew the collective conventions concerning one third of the kingdom's 9 million inhabitants, in a defiance atmosphere which is likely to lead to a conflict...
Spain: 10% of civil servants will be able to work from home in 2008
The minister of public administrations submitted to the Economic and Social Council (ESC) a royal decree-law which will enable to extend telework to all central administration. The Minister Jordi...
Luxembourg: towards the implementation of the directive on truck drivers’ working time
The "Labour issues" parliamentary Commission from the Deputies Chamber adopted the bill transposing the EU Directive 2002/15 (March 12, 2002) concerning the working time of people performing...
Luxembourg: unions are worried about the deterioration of social dialogue within Arcelor Mittal
Contrary to Belgian unions - notably in Wallonia where they are hoping that Arcelor-Mittal's management will come back on its decision to close Liege's blast furnaces (see our story n° 070194)...
EU: the European Commission wants to promote gender equality in its development policy
The European Commission adopted, on March 8, a European strategy to promote equality between genders in its cooperation policy. It contains measures in five key fields: governance, employment...
Germany: the government is transposing the “noise” and “vibrations” directives
The German government adopted, on February 27, 2007, a decree enabling to transpose into internal law the EU directives on the protection of workers against noise and vibrations. (Ref. 070225)
Netherlands: opening the borders to workers from Eastern European countries was postponed again
Supposedly, in effect since March 1, the opening of Dutch borders to citizens from the EU's new member States will not happen until May 1. At least, this is what the immigration's services (IND)...
Spain: the government is consulting social partners on the decree-law on working time in the road transport sector
Transport social partners are consulted on the draft bill which transposes into Spanish law the 2002/15 EU on the organization of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport...
Germany: the Bundestag adopted retirement at 67
Despite strong protests from unions and the left wing of the social-democrat party (SPD) deputies in the Bundestag voted, on March 9, with a large majority, the bill gradually raising between 2012...
Germany: a pilot agreement was concluded in the chemistry department
The chemistry union - IG BCE - and the chemistry managerial organization (BAVC) signed, on March 8, a wage settlement, which should play a key role in the numerous wage negotiations which will...
Great Britain: TGWU and Amicus militants said yes to the creation of a mega-union
TGWU and Amicus militants said yes to the fusion of their unions, cofirming the rapprochment already approved by both organizations' managements (see our story n° 061182.) this fusion will become...
Arcelor-Mittal: the group is federating around health and security at work values
Arcelor Mittal organized, on March 6, its international day devoted to health and security at work. Identified by Arcelor and Mittal as a common value, this question appeared as a good gathering...
9 March 2007
BASF: the group is getting ready to adopt the “European company” status
The chemistry world leader announced, at the end of February, that it was going to launch the procedure to transform BASF AG into BASF EC. On March 16, shareholders will be informed and invited to...
9 March 2007
EU: the European commission wants to promote women’s careers in ICTs
On the occasion of the women's day, the European commission decided to launch a large study on women in the information and communication technology sector (ITC). The proportion of women graduates...
International: the Dutch FNV is worried about the social situation in China
Henk van der Kolk, chairman of the federation of Dutch unions (FNV), the main confederation of trade unions in the Netherlands, announced, on March 5, that direct contacts were taken with the...
8 March 2007
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
Italy: new collective agreement for mechanical engineering and metalworking sectors focuses on defending purchasing power
The deal struck on 22 November between Italy’s social partners in the mechanical engineering and metalworking sector brings an end to a long and contentious bargaining process. The agreement –...
25 November 2025