News

Italy: first difficulties for the government in its fight against the abuse of flexible contracts
One of the main Italian call-centre companies, Atesia, which had been asked at the end of August by the labour inspectorate to permanently hire 3 200 precarious workers, has just won the first...
EU: the social program of the German presidency of the European Union
Germany will chair the European Union from January 1st, 2007, succeeding to Finland. It has just exposed its agenda, opened its website, chosen a logo and a slogan: « together, we shall achieve...
Poland : Spain experiments « backwards » immigration
In Poland, some call it « backwards immigration ». It is based on the following idea : Polish workers go to work in Spain, for several months, in Spanish companies. They follow a "high-level...
EU: adoption of REACH regulation is likely before the end of the year
European Parliament and Council reach a compromise on the regulation aimed at setting a registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals policy. The text is now likely to be adopted before...
PSA Peugeot-Citroën : international agreement on social responsibility is ratified
Management of the French automobile constructor PSA has informed that the international framework agreement (IFA) on the group's social responsibility is now ratified. It has entered into force in...
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...
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
Import bans on forced labor products are multiplying
Under pressure from new US tariffs, many countries have presented texts in recent weeks to ban the import of products made with forced labor. A real breakthrough for workers' rights or a mere...
9 September 2026
2
France: EDF served formal notice for failure to comply with its sustainability due diligence obligations
The news. On 23 September, Greenpeace France announced that it had served EDF with a formal notice for failure to comply with its sustainability due diligence obligations due to the risks of harm...
24 September 2026
3
Slovakia: a bill to “clarify” personal data protection measures
The news. The Slovak government approved a bill on personal data protection on August 26, 2026. This text aims to clarify existing regulations regarding employees’ rights and...
7 September 2026