News

Spain: agreement on a plan to support the textile and clothing industries
The government, trade unions and employers' organization of textile concluded, last 26 May, an agreement on a plan to support the textile and clothing industries, which will be granted 870 million...
Germany: lower than unexpected unemployment, but tense situation on the apprenticeship market
During a press conference on 31 May 2006 in Berlin, Michael Glos, German Minister for Economy, was pleased with the retreat of unemployment in May, announced the same morning by the national...
Italy: the labour market remains very traditional
The Italian labour market, described in the annual report of the statistical institute Istat, made public on May 24, remains far from the Lisbon objectives. "The Italian employment model is still...
Daihatsu could locate a new factory in the Czech Republic or in Slovakia
The Japanese car producer wants to build small cars in Eastern Europe. (Ref. 06547)
Netherlands: a large campaign for the hiring of disabled people
A vast publicity campaign was launched on May 29 by the ministry for Social Affairs and Employment, in favor of disabled or partially invalid people (more than 35 %). (Ref. 06544)
Spain: network of illegal labor is dismantled in the construction industry
A network of illegal labour trafficking has just been dismantled on the Spanish coast. Hundreds of immigrants worked without papers on the construction site of the tourist complex Marina d'Or, in...
France : the employee that usually executes his work in another Member State cannot submit a case to the Labour Court of his own place of residence
The regulation 44/2001 of December 22nd 2000 concerning the judicial competence, the regognition and exectution of orders for civil and commercial matter grants the employee with an advantage in...
A scenario of crisis’ end for the working hours directive
The Austrian presidency of the EU hopes to break the deadlock in the directive bill about working hours that revises a directive of 1993, during the Council of the Social Services Ministers that...
The Twenty-five agree on the draft “services” directive
On 29 May, the Finance Ministers of the EU 25 finally reached an agreement on the "services" directive. According to the Council, the text presented by the Austrian presidency respects the...
Publication of the joint position on the recasting of the equal treatment directives
The joint position for the adoption of the directive relative "to the implementation of the equal treatment principle and that of equal opportunities between men and women at work (recasting)...
Spain: the broad outline of the coming pensions reform
The Spanish government should conclude this week the negotiations with employers and the trade unions on the reform of the retirement pensions system. The agreement should be signed before next 9...
Germany : the federal employment Agency launches the « apprenticeship day » to fight against the shortage of apprentices’ jobs
While a new controversy broke out in Germany about the recurring shortage of apprenticeship jobs, the federal employment Agency (BA) repeated, on May 29th, its « apprenticeship day », aiming at...
Netherlands: trade unions opposed to partial opening of the labour market to new EU workers
The Federation of Dutch trade unions (FNV), the largest federation of the country (1,2 million members), said it was opposed to the opening of borders to workers of the new EU Member States. (Réf...
The EU is still far from the Lisbon objectives in the fields of education and training
The progress done since 2000 by the Europeans systems of education and training towards the objectives laid down in the Lisbon strategy is insufficient, notes an annual report of the European...
Germany: for the DGB, the fight against decreasing memberships is an absolute priority
The congress of the federation of German trade unions (DGB) gave a progress report on its initiative launched in 2005, to fight against decreasing membership. Six projects were introduced, aimed...
Germany: trade unions want to revive the debate over the EU Constitution
During his keynote speech, the president of the federation of German trade unions (DGB), Michael Sommer, proposed a revival of the debate over the European Constitution and demanded a harmonized...
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
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
2
Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
3
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
4
Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining
On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...
2 December 2025
5
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...
6
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025