News

Luxembourg: adoption of a preliminary draft regulation on protection of workers against the exposure to asbestos
The Council of government of July 7 adopted a preliminary draft regulation modifying the ruling of July 15, 1988 on the protection of workers against the risks related to an exposure to asbestos...
Socialist European deputies propose a framework directive for services of general economic interest
The Party of European Socialists (PES) in the European Parliament presented, on June 28, its proposal for a framework directive on services of general economic interest (SGEI). This initiative...
EU: unemployment and enlargement worry Europeans
The European Commission published, on July 6, the result of a public opinion poll cconducted twice a year before 29000 Europeans (questioned in April). Unemployment remains their first concern...
The European Parliament presses the Commission to deal with the issue of restructurings
During a debate at the European Parliament on General Motors’ decision to close its Portuguese factory of Azambuja, European deputies adopted, on July 6, a resolution asking the European...
Portugal: civil servants oppose the government’s reforms
On July 6, the three main trade-union federations of the Public sector called for a strike to protest against a government plan to shed 75000 jobs between now and the end of 2009. (Réf. 06699)
Great-Britain : publication of the bill on disability and incapacity pensions’ reform
This plan of action is today to 2.7 million people’s advantage, victims of industrial accidents, disabled, or suffering from mental illnesses (among which are depression, anxiety and stress, more...
Volkswagen: Spanish trade union denies a transfer of production of the Polo model to Belgium
The trade union CC.OO demented the information published in Der Spiegel (3-07) and affirmed that Volkswagen will not transfer the production of its Polo model from Landaben to Brussels. (Réf...
Netherlands: Océ relocates its production in Malaysia
Océ, the Dutch manufacturer of printers and photocopiers, announced on July 5 its intention to relocate 80% of its production in Malaysia, between now and the end of 2008. For now, the management...
Denmark: temporary work agencies hire workers in Poland
Training courses for Poles. Danish temporary work agencies are the first to benefit from this easing. Thus, Adecco, the largest temporary work company in Denmark, created training courses in...
Spain: draft law on gender equality triggers controversy
Trade union representatives and employers are arguing over the bill on gender equality, approved on June 23 by the Council of Ministers (see our article n° 06656) which should also prove very...
The Court of Justice accepts the suspension of an incapacity allowance for a disabled person who leaves the Netherlands
Two young Dutch woman benefiting from an allowance for young handicapped people decided to settle in another Member State. Dutch authorities suspended the payment of the allowance which they...
ThyssenKrupp Steel : an agreement with IG Metall guarantees the taking on of the 18,000 workers
 (*) The function of « Arbeitsdirektor » is fixed by joint managment laws in the iron and steel branch (Montanbstimmungen). Appointed by the supervisory board with the riquired agreement of the...
6 July 2006
Scor: the reinsurance group is transformed into three European Companies
Scor announced, on July 4, the purchasing of the German reinsurer Revios for more than 650 million euros and its transformation into three European companies. Scor is the first French listed...
Great Britain: plan to ease law on Sunday shop openings is abandoned
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, announced, on July 3, that the government had given up its plan to end the limitation of Sunday openings. This comes after a consultation...
Italy: transposition of the “noise” directive
The "noise" directive, which protects employees against the noisy environments of work which are harmful to their health, was transposed in Italian law. This text is very close to the directive...
Ford Genk: the Commission approves part of the assistance package for training granted to the Belgian factory
The European Commission validated, on July 4, a first State aid of 6.24 million Euros that the Flemish government plans to grant the Ford-Werke factory, located in Ghent, Belgium ("Ford Genk")...
5 July 2006
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
Italy: Enel signs agreement to manage the effects of AI on work
An agreement signed at the end of July by the electricity company Enel (31,000 employees) and the unions Filctem-Cgil, Flaei-Cisl, and Uiltec is pioneering in the Italian energy sector. It aims to...
7 September 2026
2
France: Bayer puts female health and inclusive parenthood at the centre of its equality policy
In a new agreement on gender equality highlighted by mind RH, Bayer commits to strengthening its parenthood policy. Furthermore, the company is anticipating pay transparency and introducing...
25 September 2026
3
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
4
Germany: Volkswagen cancels almost all collective bargaining agreements signed with IG Metall
The Volkswagen brand announced on 30 September that it is terminating 10 of its 13 internal collective bargaining agreements, effective 31 December 2026. The announcement, which the carmaker...
1 October 2026
5
Germany: working time dispute between Mercedes and the IG Metall Union
The news. At the beginning of September, Mercedes-Benz asked employee representatives and the IG Metall union to agree to an increase in the weekly working time from 35 to 40 hours, without any...
16 September 2026
6
Germany: major day of union action in the automotive industry ahead of collective bargaining
A few weeks before the start of collective bargaining in the German metalworking sector, the IG Metall trade union mobilised nearly 175,000 workers across more than 200 industrial sites on 21...
22 September 2026