News

EU: social partners of the electricity sector agree their work program for 2006-2007
Social dialogue committee draws partial assessment of 2005-2006 activities and puts many issues on the agenda for the next 12 months. (Ref. 061091)
Belgium : Confederation of Christian trade unions rips back-to-work plan for the unemployed
In October 2004, the national unemployment agency (Onem) launched the first meetings with the unemployed aimed at checking their behaviour as regards job hunting. For the second anniversary of...
EU: social partners of the chemical industry release joint position on REACH
EMCEF and ECEG ask European Parliament to ensure a balanced system, combining safety and workability. European MP's are currently examining the draft REACH regulation in second reading. (Ref...
EU : the European Parliament passes a report on the implementation of the directive on « cross-boarder posting »
Euro-deputies passed on October 6th a report on the implementation of the directive 96/71 on workers' posting. This report stresses the ineffectiveness of this text which is supposed to guarantee...
Italy: a reform should finally make supplementary pensions a reality in Italy
After years of missed takeoffs, supplementary pensions are finally set to take off in Italy. Indeed, starting January 1st 2007, employees of the Peninsula will have six months to decide what to do...
Germany: Christmas bonuses are getting more and more variable
According to a study conducted by the Hans-Böckler foundation, the "Christmas bonus" ( Weihnachtsgeld) or "thirteenth month of salary" which used to be commonplace in Germany, is more and more...
Germany: the decrease in unemployment insurance contributions next year could be stronger than envisaged
More and more politicians of the big alliance want a bigger cut in unemployment insurance contributions than previously envisaged. The contribution rate was supposed to decrease from 6.5 % to 4.5...
Great Britain: the mp3 player allows employees to isolate themselves in open space
A quarter of British workers isolate themselves in the office thanks to an mp3 music player, but the practice is not commonplace yet and has already been forbidden in one third of firms. (Ref...
EU : negotiations on the revision of the working time directive under pressure
The informal meeting on October 26 at which the Spanish, French, British, Polish, Portuguese, German and Italian labour ministers discussed the latest version of the compromise presented by the...
Two major global trade unions (ICFTU and WCL) unite to create the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), gathering 180 million members
The ICFTU and the WCL were dissolved in Vienna on October 31st. They will unite with non-affiliated trade unions, including the French CGT, to create the ITUC. The foundation congress will take...
France: discussions between trade unions and employers over labour market reform begins
Trade unions and employers, at the instigation of the latter, met on October 23rd to discuss the possible opening of negotiations over labor market reform. (Ref 061080)
Spain: Leroy Merlin forced to observe the weekly rest period of 48 successive hours
Leroy Merlin is required to apply the right to a weekly rest of 48 continuous hours for its employees. Other wholesale chains are also being challenged by judges for the same problem. (Ref. 061079)
Poland: trade union training courses to learn economics and finance
Brand new in Poland: during seventeen months, 1800 trade union activists will learn to read a balance sheet or will discover the secrets of management accounting. Starting this week, they will...
Germany : privatization of Deutsche Bahn now seems uncertain
Once more, the parties of the big coalition (CDU and SPD) failed to agree, during an important meeting on October 26th in Berlin, on how to privatize Deutsche Bahn AG. The following day, Transport...
Malta: government wants to change the mode of calculation of trade union enrolments
The Maltese government wants to reform the rules applying to trade unions as regards the determination of their enrolment. This comes after a controversy triggered by a trade union which had not...
Spain: HR directors have less and less influence on companies’ strategic decisions
HR directors are losing power when it comes to firms' management and strategic decisions, according to a study conducted by the ESADE institute in Barcelona. The study found that HR directors do...
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1
Spain: new terms and conditions for in-company training contracts
On 25 November, Spain's Council of Ministers approved a regulation on training contracts. This text defines the terms and conditions for hosting work-study students and interns doing professional...
2
EU: Commission issues first recommendation on human capital as part of European Semester
In parallel with the European Semester adopted on 25 November, which proposes guidelines to member states on economic policies for the coming year, the European Commission has adopted an...
3
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
4
Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...