News

Smithfield: towards a European works council after the takeover of Sara Lee Food Europe
Further to the approval given by the European Commission, July 28th, 2006, on the plan of buyout of Sara Lee Foods Europe (SLFE) by the common firm created by Smithfield Foods and an investment...
Latvia: minimum wage will increase significantly
The minimum wage should amount to 50% of the average gross salary by 2010, compared to 38 % today. The government's aim is to boost economic growth and development, and to limit the emigration...
Malta: threatened by legal action at CJEC, the government must conform to the directive on fixed-term contracts in the public sector
The European Commission asked some explanations to the Maltese government concerning the non implementation of the fixed-term contracts directive, which forbids to use successive fixed-term...
Poland: employers and labour unions reluctant to apply new law on works councils
In Poland, the law of April 7th, 2006 on workers' information and consultation (also called new law on works councils, see our article n°06556) has a lot of trouble to impose itself. Before...
Great Britain: November 7th is national day against harassment at work
The Andrea Adam foundation, which is the first charitable organization in the world (non-profit) to struggle against moral harassment at work (bullying), is renewing –for the fourth time- its...
Great Britain: collective complaints and conflicts involving working time soar
Despite the implementation two years ago of out-of-court procedures to decongest employment courts, the statistics of this jurisdiction for the period 2005-2006 show an increase of 31 % in...
Allianz: agreement signed on employee representation at Allianz EC
In the future, employees will be represented at the European level within two authorities:  
Arkema: negotiations on the creation of a European work’s council
After an agreement, in May, 2006, on a group work's council and a group union coordination, management of the chemical group Arkema set up a special group of negotiation to create a European works...
Nestlé : part of the chocolate production due to move to other European countries
Nestlé, the world's largest food and drink company, announced, last September 20th, the shedding of 645 jobs in the York plant. Chocolates will now be produced in Germany, Spain and the Czech...
UE : the European Commission intends to take action against member states failing to respect the directives on work time
Hence, the Commission is determined to initiate proceedings in order to impose sanctions on member states failing to reach agreement on the revision of the work time directive. At the last EU...
Austria : the European Court of Justice judges certain procedures relative to the expatriation of workers contrary to Community law
Practices contrary to Community law. The Court observed that the certificate delivered by the Austrian authorities pursued the legitimate purpose of avoiding  the abusive exploitation of workers...
Finland: employment measures in the 2007 budget
e-europnews September 25, 2006, n°06933 - www.eeuropnews.com
Italy : working conditions at call centres under debate in Italy
The Ministry has confirmed the validity of the circular: “ the circular is compulsory for all current and future inspections and the result of the inspection at Atesia takes account  of...
Germany : a wage agreement found for 85,000 iron and steel workers
IG Metall and the Employers' Federation (Stahl) reached agreement in the night of September 20-21 on a wage increase of 3.8% and a 1250 euros bonus for 85,000 employees. An innovation is the...
Netherlands : unions demand a 2.5 % increase in 2007
The Dutch unions federation (FNV) issued on September 19 a claim for a 2.5% wage increase in 2007 coinciding with the presentation of the 2007 budget by Gerrit Zalm, Finance minister, who is...
Great Britain : employers denounce tightening of social legislation
Tony Blair's succession has sparked a battle for influence between employers unions. The CBI, the principal employers' association, is worried about the consequences of the contest over the future...
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
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...