News

Spain: unions and management at Renault postpone the shedding of 1300 jobs until end January 2007 to allow time for negotiation
Discussions on job cuts and on the industrial project for the plants. Both majority unions, the worker commissions and UGT, have agreed to a negotiation, as demanded by management, dealing jointly...
Germany: employers do not rule out a wage increase in 2007 in the Metal industry
After the latest negotiations in this sector, Gesamtmetall and IG-Metall had agreed on April 22 to a 3% wage increase effective June 1, 2006 (see story n° 06400). This was the first time that the...
EU: flexicurity, decent jobs and portability of pension rights on the agenda of the last Council of employment ministers
The last Council of Social Affairs ministers of the Finnish Presidency, which took place on November 30th and December 1st, supported the initiative of the European Commission to promote decent...
Netherlands: extension of the volunteer departure program at Nedcar
At Nedcar, the only plant of motorized assemblage in the Netherlands, the volunteer departure program set up last July to avoid forced dismissals has been so successful that it was extended for...
Italy : government wants to toughen regulation on fixed-term employment contracts
Italy is going to reform its legislation on fixed-term contracts, in order to make their use more restrictive. This is the latest plan of Employment Minister Cesare Damiano (DS, Left-wing...
Spain: trade unions want to enrich the collective negotiation for 2007
Before the renegotiation of a framework agreement on collective negotiation (which notably sets the foundations of negotiations for salaries), the majority confederations UGT and CC.OO announced...
EU: European Globalization Adjustment Fund (EGF) should come into force in January 2007
The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission seem to have found an agreement on the draft regulation concerning a new fund aimed at helping workers sacked due to major industrial...
Ireland : the Labour court recommends a minimum wage increase
In the framework of the national pact for growth and employment (Towards 2016), adopted by the government and the social partners on September 5 (see dispatch n°06855), the trade unions...
Spain: Ministry of Employment point out the negligence of employers in work accidents
The Ministry of Employment has just introduced to employers and trade unions a report which analyses in depth the reasons of 509 deadly work accidents which took place between 2003 and 2004...
MAN Diesel SE: the agreement on workers’ representation in the European company broadly designed on the German co-management model
MAN Diesel, a world leader in diesel engines, chose to maintain the existing dual structure. The firm’s head office remains in Augsburg. The directorate is supervised by a board of directors...
Great Britain : bill for pensions overhaul is finally ready
The government published yesterday the draft law on retirement pensions, which was under preparation for three years. The text contains few novelties compared to the proposals of the Turner...
Germany: Council of Ministers approves retirement at 67 years old
The Council of Ministers adopted, on Wednesday November 29th, the gradual raise of the retirement age from 65 to 67 years old, combined with an increase of contributions to the pensions system...
Capio: first European WC in the health care sector
The Swedish company Capio is the first group of the health sector to have concluded an agreement on the setting up of a European WC, according to the European trade union confederation EPSU. Capio...
Poland: dismissal of local trade union creator reopens debate on union rights
The dismissal of the local Solidarnosc union creator, at Media Markt triggered a large mobilization of trade unions and underlined the difficulties related to the creation of trade unions in some...
Great Britain : government wants to reduce red tape and checks in companies
Finance Minister Gordon Brown wants to reduce paper exchanges and inspections in companies which have a socially responsible behaviour. Checks would be reoriented towards companies which are known...
Austria: Confederation of Austrian trade unions introduces the outlines of its reform
After a big opinion poll which attracted only 60000 of the 1.3 million followers of the Confederation of Austrian trade unions (ÖGB), the latter has just introduced the first outlines of its...
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
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
2
France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement
Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...
3
United Kingdom: launch of consultation on protection against detriment for industrial action
The British government launched a public consultation on 26 February regarding new protections for workers against "detriment" related to industrial action, scheduled to take effect in October...
12 March 2026
4
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
5
Germany: controversial collective bargaining compliance act adopted
On 26 February, the Bundestag approved the Tariftreuegesetz (collective bargaining compliance act), aimed at strengthening collective agreements and tackling social dumping by tying certain public...
26 February 2026
6
Germany: a wave of redundancy plans in the automotive sector
The latest financial results presented in early 2026 by major German car manufacturers show sharp declines. This collapse in profits has triggered the announcement or confirmation of massive job...
16 March 2026