News

Germany: retirement contributions will increase as of 1 January 2007
The Minister of social Affairs, Franz Münterfering, presented a report on the evolution of pension funds' accounts and contribution rates. This rate will increase from 19,5% to 19,9% on 1 January...
The Court of Justice specifies its jurisprudence on patients’ freedom of movement
The Watts judgment was very awaited. Its length (25 pages) is linked to the stakes posed for the national systems of health which, such as the British NHS, provide free health care for their...
Spain: a study on the consequences of the massive arrival of immigrant workers
A study conducted by a group of researchers of the universities of Almeria and Barcelona reveals that the arrival of immigrant workers has accelerated the professional evolution of Spanish workers...
EADS: the European work’s council discusses the closing of a subsidiary company
Following EADS's announcement, last 12 May, that it planned to close the site of Sogerma in Bordeaux Mérignac (France), the European work's council of the group published an official statement...
Great Britain : “vacation disease” is falling
British employees' absences have fallen at their lowest level in 20 years, but the culture of absenteeism persists in companies and costs more than 13 billion Pounds a year to the economy (more...
Great Britain : costs and benefits of opening all stores on Sundays
The ministry of Trade and Industry, envisaging to completely liberalize the opening of stores on Sundays and Easter weekends, highlights that such measure could trigger a net income of 20 Billion...
Denmark : social system overhaul triggers angriness
The government introduced, on 4 April 2006, am ambitious plan to reform the country's welfare system, in order to face the challenges of globalization and the cost of this system in the future...
General Motors evokes the closing of three European production sites
According to the trade magazine Automotive News Europe, the American manufacturer General Motors could close three of its nine European production sites within two to five years. (Réf. 06479)
Austria: metalworkers and food trade unions merge
The Austrian trade union of textile and metal industries (GMT) and that of agriculture, food and restaurants merged, last 9 May. This new organization, called Gewerkschaft Metall-Textil-Nahrung...
Publication of a report on the transposition of the information-consultation directive
The European Trade Union Institute for Research, Education and Health and Safety (ETUI-REHS) published a report reviewing the transposition of the directive 2002/14/CE in the 25 member States...
Netherlands: more accountability for managers’ salaries
A law of 26 April 2006 will force companies of more than employees to inform; starting 1st August, their work's councils of managers' salaries. Up to now, only the companies which were listed had...
France: new agreement to coordinate the various players of the public employment service
The major players of the public employment service (State, ANPE, Unedic) signed, on 5 May 2006, an agreement on the coordination of their actions. Two major aims: to simplify formalities for the...
Spain : agreement signed on Labour reform
Social partners and the Government signed last Tuesday an Agreement on labour reform. Its very core, its explicit and overriding aim, is to reduce the high rate of fixed-term employment in Spain...
Netherlands : the number of dismissals decreased by 12 % in 2005
According to figures published on last 12 May by the ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, dismissals fell by 12 % in 2005. On a total of 142000 files trated last year by the Center of work...
The German trade union confederation launches an offensive to attract new members
Between 1991 and 2005, the number of members in the eight DGB trade unions, which represents 80% of German trade unionists, has fallen from 12 to 6.8 million. Last week, Michael Sommer, the DGB...
Belgium: the legislation on harassing at work will change soon
Nearly four years after the promulgation of the law of 11 June 2002, the Belgian government presented a project aimed at amending this device by increasing prevention while reducing the risk 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: Medef puts forward proposals to improve management quality
On 31 August, Medef, French main employers' organisation, published a practical guide to managerial skills, which it considers to be a driver of economic performance for businesses. Concerned by...
2
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
3
France: Ministry of Labour unveils plan to accelerate the rollout of AI
On 22 September, the French Ministry of Labour presented a plan named Impulsion IA 2027 aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI by companies and employees. It contains 12 measures applicable from...
4
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
5
Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
6
UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...