News

Poland: Google starts brain-hunting
The first recruitments are starting, between 20 and 30 engineers. Thereafter, nearly 200 extra appointments will take place. Researchers will be able to devote 20% of their working time to their...
EU : the CJEC due to decide on equal pay between permanent and temporary workers
In his conclusions given on the occasion of a Spanish case relating to directive 99/70 on fixed-term contracts, general Advocate Poiares Maduro proposes to the CJEC to affirm that the principle of...
EU : CJEC releases a ruling favorable to private sector recruitment agencies
The Court of Justice of the European Communities (CJEC) has condemned the German legislation which subordinated the remuneration of a recruitment agency to its helping the job seeker find a job...
Renault-Spain: trade unions ask authorities to help the subcontractors affected by the crisis of the manufacturer
Whereas management of Renault-Spain is negotiating with trade unions a job-cutting plan in the factories of Palencia and Valladolid (see stories n° 061152 and 061221), the metalworkers federations...
Spain: 1352 deaths by work accidents in 2006
According to the latest figures on work accidents, Spain remains well above the European average. Authorities announced that they were going to increase efforts to impel a culture of prevention of...
Great Britain: the government wants to increase paid-leaves
The government will lengthen the number of paid days off, from 20 to 28 by October 2008, announced the Minister for Work and Pensions Jim Fitzpatrick. (Ref. 070027)
Germany: wage negotiations begin in chemical industry at the regional level
The chemical sector, which employs some 560 000 people, has inaugurated a round of important tariff negotiations, which will take place this year in Germany (see story nº 70002). The first...
Luxembourg: a law to anticipate restructurings
In order for "companies to discuss the anticipated management of their personnel with the social partners well before having to take measures due to economic difficulties", underlines the Minister...
Estonia : interview with Harri Taliga, President of the EAKL union
First there are historical reasons.  Under the Soviet Union, Estonians had to be members of unions which were just a sham. In 1991, the switch to the market economy and capitalism consequently...
Volkswagen: summary of the information and consultation procedure during the restructuring at Forest factory
By announcing on November 21st 2006, the shedding of 4000 jobs in its Belgian factory of Forest because of the transfer of production of the Golf to two German sites, the automobile group...
12 January 2007
Germany: the difference between employees’ income and companies’ income increased in 2006
According to the federal Office of statistics, Germany reported in 2006 its strongest growth (+2,5%) since 2000. But in spite of the recovery, the pay of employees has increased only slightly last...
France Telecom : worldwide agreement on social rights ; interview with Laurent Zylberberg
It should be acknowledged that it was not easy to negotiate such an agreement inasmuch as personnel representation differs considerably from one group entity to another. In fact, we have...
Italy : call centres leader Almaviva secures jobs of 6 300 employees
Historic agreement. The agreement was applauded by the unions. “It’s a great victory for the unions, especially for the CGIL” considered the telecommunications section of CGIL, the most...
Austria : new coalition government increases labour market flexibility
The "economics and employment" chapter of the "government program" signed on January 10th 2007 by the social-democrats (SPÖ) and the conservatives (ÖVP) is an ÖVP trademark and reinforces the...
Netherlands : agreement on social plan at Hewlett Packard
An agreement of principle has been found, on 19 December 2006, on the new social plan at Hewlett Packard (HP). The American multinational company, which employs 2500 people in the Netherlands, has...
Germany: Berlin announces an important effort for training and wants to finish the labour market reforms by June 2007
Angela Merkel and Franz Müntefering, her Social Affairs and Employment Minister, revealed, on Wednesday January 10th, 2007, the calendar of reforms for low-paid employees. Meanwhile, Annette...
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
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...
6
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