News

Germany: the DGB sets out its expectations for labour market reform
Meeting at its congress which began on 22nd May, the federation of German trade unions (DGB) highlighted the plans to reform the labour market, starting with a minimum wage.(Ref. 06526)
Spain: a status for the civil service
The government and the major trade unions representing the civil service, the UGT, Comisiones Obreras and the CSI-CISF, have signed an agreement on the first civil service status in Spain. (Réf...
The Austrian Presidency of the EU could create a surprise regarding the draft working time directive
The draft working time directive is on the agenda for the next EU Council of Ministers responsible for Employment and Social Policies, which will take place on 1st and 2nd June. If the latest...
Dublin Foundation Survey on working time flexibility in companies
The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions has published the results of its large-scale survey (21 000 companies in 21 countries) on the working time flexibility...
Hungary: agreement is finally concluded at Auchan
After several weeks of negotiations, the management of Auchan in Hungary reached an agreement with employees' trade union. (Ref. 06523)
Slovakia : seeking new investors after Draexlmaier’s decision to go back on its projet
Minister of Economy and Investment and Trade Development Agency SARIO are looking for new investment project to fill up the gap after German producer of automotive industry supplies Draexlmaier...
Spain : Braun will close its Catalan factory in 2008
The electrical goods manufacturer Braun, subsidiary of Procter & Gamble since 2005, has announced the gradual closure of its Esplugues Llobregat factory, outside Barcelona. The process should...
Belgium: creation of a data base on all employment subsidies
The Minister for Employment, Peter Vanvelthoven, wishes to gather in a single data base all the federal and regional sources of subsidies available for employment. Employers will be able to...
Belgium: towards an adoption leave for self-employed workers
The Council of Ministers of last 19 May approved a draft royal decree creating an adoption leave and an adoption allowance for self-employed workers. (Réf. 06529)
Belgium: the government and social partners launch the modernisation of the labour market
Based on discussions with the social partners, the government intends to launch 22 initiatives to modernise the labour market. The government's objective is to successfully "sign a balanced...
Germany: the minimum wage under debate at the German trade union congress
During the visit of Angela Merkel (CDU) to the congress of the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) in session since Monday 22nd May, the minimum wage came under debate. (Ref. 06519)
Czech Republic : the Assembly overturned President’s veto on new Labour code
The assembly of Czech Parliament overturned President's veto and approved the new Labour Code. The new legislation will take effect on January 1, 2007. (Ref. 06518)
Great Britain : thousands of illegal inquiries on job applicants
Over the past years, the British government conducted thousands of illegal inquiry procedures to check the criminal records of job applicants. Some of them were wrongly identified as criminals...
Poland : a trade union project on early retirements
The Polish Alliance of trade unions (Ogolnopolskie Porozumienie Zwiazkow Zawodowych, OPZZ) has submitted to the Parliament a draft law on early retirement. It woulf concern around 800 000 people...
Belgium : administrative simplifications for personnel management
The Council of Ministers meeting on 19th May approved a series of measures aimed at simplifying human resources management to promote a “paperless personnel policy”. (Ref. 06521)
Great Britain : government contributes to accelerating the compensation for asbestos
The British Department of Work and Pensions has recently announced its intention to cooperate with insurance companies in order to better indemnify asbestos victims. Asbestos is the first cause of...
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
France: LinkedIn reveals most sought-after HR skills
LinkedIn is revealing the most sought-after HR skills in 2026 in a study to be published on 24 February, which mind RH is previewing. Internal communication, training planning, occupational health...
2
Netherlands: new government seeks to “control” social costs
In his government policy statement to Parliament on 25 February, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced several measures designed to "control" social costs. Notably, he proposed raising the...
3
Germany: accelerated professional integration in sight for asylum seekers
Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to accelerate the professional integration of asylum seekers in Germany. “The best integration is the one that starts...
4
Spain: a bill to regulate internships
On 3 March, the Council of Ministers approved the bill on the “Status for persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies”. The text limits the number of interns a company can...
5
EU: co-legislators aim to pivot European Globalisation Adjustment Fund towards restructuring anticipation
On 25 February, the Council of the EU and the Parliament reached an agreement on the Commission’s proposed regulation to expand the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). Under the...
6
Block to slash workforce by nearly half
The news. In his latest shareholder letter, Jack Dorsey, CEO of payment service provider Block (formerly Square), announced plans to slash the company’s workforce “by nearly half, from...