News

Finland: the government asks big firms to increase the number of women in boards of directors
The Finnish government, very implicated in the gender equality policy, is asking economic leaders to increase the number of women within their decision organs by putting forward their competences...
The IMF examines its policy of international collective negotiation
The international Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) will organize a conference, on September 26th and 27th, which will deal with the orientation to give to international framework agreements. (Ref...
Arcelor-Mittal: discussions on the future of the European Work’s council
The merger of both steel groups should soon lead to the constitution of a single European work's council. This will be difficult, because the current European work's councils are very different...
EU: unions to act for a European Constitution with more social guarantees
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) and the Federation of Austrian Trade Unions (OEGB) expressed their concern, in a exchange of letters...
European Parliament adopts a report on the European Social Model
On September 6th 2006, MEP's passed an own-initiative report which outlines the concept of the European Social Model. Members underline the "urgent need for the concept to be reformed" and make...
8 September 2006
Spain: for labour unions and labor inspectors, social dumping is a priority
The labor inspection and union organizations are scrutinizing the working conditions of immigrants. ThyssenKrupp Taragone is one of the companies targeted. It is suspected of laying off Spanish...
CJEC: sanctions in case of successive fixed-term contracts may differ between the private and the public sector
The CJEC considers that directive 99/70 on fixed-term contracts is not violated when a public employer is not obliged to convert an abusive fixed-term contract into a permanent one, whereas a...
CJEC: the employer must let workers exercise their right to rest
According to the CJEC, UK employers are not obliged to ensure that workers are actually able to exercise their right to rest”, so the British government infringes the Community law. The Court also...
Denmark: for parents, family comes before career
In Denmark, parents have a tendency to give more importance to their children than their career, until their children's adolescence. (Ref 06871)
Germany: women’s average salary is 22.5 % lower than that of men
A study of the Institute of socioeconomic researches (WSI) of the Hans-Böckler Stiftung (a foundation linked to German trade unions) conducted by surveying 60 000 salaried workers, shows that the...
Germany: first warning strikes in the steel industry
The renegotiation of collective agreements in the steel industry (104 000 workers) is making no progress. It started at the end of August in three Western Länder and in former East Germany. IG...
Italy: One third of salaried employees earn less than 1000 euros a month
More than one third of Italian employees must live with less than 1000 euros (take home) per month, according to a study of the Institute of economic and social research (Ires) and the Italian...
CJEC specifies the scope of the directive on collective redundancies
Further to a decision of close-down of an undertaking, the Greek jurisdiction thought that the employer did not have to be subjected to the obligations of the directive relating to economic...
Commission to launch public consultation on EU framework for health services
The Commission should shortly adopt a communication, on which will be based a consultation of Member States on the effectiveness of health care and in which the Commission will examine the...
Netherlands: wage increases are surprisingly high
Wages are increasing faster than expected this year, according to the annual index of Mercer Human Resource Consulting, published on September 5th. The average increase is 3.8 %, nearly double the...
Total: European negotiations on support of employees’ entrepreneurship and safety at work
Total's management is going to start a negotiation, at the end of the month, on swarming and company solidarity. It also agreed on a future negotiation dealing with safety at work. (Ref 06858)
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
EU: Omnibus Directive clears key milestone in European Parliament
On 13 October, the European Parliament’s position on the Omnibus Directive was approved by its Committee on Legal Affairs by 17 votes to six. Regarding due diligence rules, the report...
13 October 2025
2
mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators
In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...
3
Italy: European pay transparency directive, a major step forward for businesses
Italy’s labour market continues to suffer from limited pay transparency and a persistent gender pay gap. The forthcoming implementation of the EU pay transparency directive — still awaiting...
4
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
5
Germany: EU pay transparency directive to force companies to ‘get tough’
Germany introduced a pay transparency law in 2017, meaning companies are already somewhat familiar with the issue. However, the broader scope and stricter requirements of the EU directive, the...
24 October 2025
6
Germany: ‘active retirement’ law adopted to encourage seniors to remain in the workforce
On 15 October, Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on ‘active retirement‘, which is expected to pass swiftly through Parliament. The bill would allow people who continue...