News

Italy: harsher sentences for manslaughter at work and prohibition of alcohol at work for certain activities
Two important measures relating to health and safety at work appeared in the Italian Official Journal in March. One toughens the sentences in the event of manslaughter or of serious injuries at...
Germany: the government finally agrees on the bill against discriminations
After months of controversies, the German coalition government succeeded in agreeing, in the night of 1 to 2 May 2006, on a law against discriminations. This text, which will transpose in the...
The freedom of movement of Community citizens is simplified
Directive 2004/38 relating to the right for EU citizens and members of their families to circulate and remain freely on the territory of Member States was due to be transposed on last 30 April...
The ECJ validates the European co-operative society and by doing so secures the statute of the European society
Ina ruling of last 2 May, the ECJ rejected the demand for cancellation made by the European Parliament against the regulation on the European co-operative society (ECS). This validation by the...
Netherlands: cleaning companies under close scrutiny
Following the reinforcement of its checks last year, Dutch factory inspectorates noticed that 1 company out of 5 in the cleaning sector resorted to illegal workers, that is to say 18 % of the...
Casino: the distribution group will set up a European work’s council
The management of the French distribution group Casino and the trade-union federation UNI commerce opened discussions in order to establish the European work's council. (Réf. 06433)
Great Britain : civil servants of the national employment service go on strike
Tens of thousands of Job Centre Plus employees went on strike in the UK on 2 May, to protest against a plan to reduce costs and cut jobs. Up to 30000 employees could be affected. (Ref. 06431)
Germany: the government decides to introduce a parental allowance
To increase the birth rate in Germany, one of the lowest in Europe with 1,34 children per woman, the government of Angela Merkel agreed, in the night of 1 to 2 May 2006, and after weeks of...
Lithuania : one in every 11 of Lithuanian workers regularly work overtime
According to a survey conducted by “Spinter tyrimai”, one in every 11 Lithuanian workers work overtime. (Ref. 06430)
Hungary: patients’ freedom of movement is gradually implemented with neighbooring countries
Thanks to the European Union, borders have disappeared in the health system as well: in theory,  the citizens of any member state can be cured in any other member state’s health institutions...
Spain: the reform of the labour law, the bill on gender equality and the reorganizations at Volkswagen-Landaben were closely followed in newspapers
Press review from 24 to 30 April 2006. The negotiation on the reform of the labour law, the consultation on a preliminary draft law on gender equality and the closing of Volkswagen's Landaben site...
The ECJ to rule on the payment of conventional redundancy payments by the public fund for wages
The advocate general of the ECJ considers that the general principle of equality is opposed to a national regulation which provides that redundancy payments are paid by the national public...
First assessment on the new transitional measures concerning freedom of movement for the workers of the Eastern European countries
The European Commission, published, on April the 28th, the first assessment on the "old " Member States of the EU decisions related to the opening of their labour market. (Ref. 06426)
France : opening of 61 trades to the Eastern workers
The Labour Minister announced, on April 28th, which trades' access will be made easier for workers from the new member states. This list, which has been drawn up « in consultation with the social...
Great Britain : companies take on more and more workers from the Eastern countries
The professional acceptation of new European Union's immigrants is increasing in Great Britain, where twice more companies have taken on citizens of the ten new countries since one yeays...
The ECJ due to give its opinion on the payment of the “asbestos” allowance to an employee having left the French territory.
A French working in Belgium asked for the payment of the French allowance granted to workers exposed to asbestos. The French administration decided to calculate this allowance compared to the...
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: Commission launches consultation with social partners on quality jobs
On 4 December, the European Commission launched the first phase of consultation with social partners with a view to a European directive on jobs, which is scheduled for the end of 2026. It could...
4 December 2025
2
EDF bans alcohol on all its sites
From 1 January 2026, French energy giant EDF (180,000 employees) will prohibit alcohol consumption at all internal and external corporate events, from social gatherings to seminars. The policy...
26 November 2025
3
United Kingdom: government scraps plan to introduce ‘day one’ protection against unfair dismissal
The UK government announced on 27 November, in a statement, that it would not be introducing the right to challenge unfair dismissal (without cause) from the first day of employment in its...
3 December 2025
4
Poland: bill adopted to amend definition of psychological harassment
On 27 November, the Polish cabinet adopted a draft amendment to the labour code aimed at simplifying the definition of psychological harassment at work, or “mobbing” (Article 94 3)...
4 December 2025
5
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
6
Austria: European rules on wage transparency expected to cause a cultural shock
With the gender pay gap in Austria being the second largest in the European Union (18.3%), the Austrian government has promised to introduce a bill next spring to transpose the European directive...
27 November 2025