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
France: LinkedIn reveals most sought-after HR skills
LinkedIn is revealing the most sought-after HR skills in 2026 in a study to be published on 24 February, which mind RH is previewing. Internal communication, training planning, occupational health...
2
Netherlands: new government seeks to “control” social costs
In his government policy statement to Parliament on 25 February, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced several measures designed to "control" social costs. Notably, he proposed raising the...
3
Spain: a bill to regulate internships
On 3 March, the Council of Ministers approved the bill on the “Status for persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies”. The text limits the number of interns a company can...
4
EU: co-legislators aim to pivot European Globalisation Adjustment Fund towards restructuring anticipation
On 25 February, the Council of the EU and the Parliament reached an agreement on the Commission’s proposed regulation to expand the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). Under the...
5
Block to slash workforce by nearly half
The news. In his latest shareholder letter, Jack Dorsey, CEO of payment service provider Block (formerly Square), announced plans to slash the company’s workforce “by nearly half, from...