News

Luxembourg maintains restrictions on free movement of Eastern European workers
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg announced, on 27 April, the renewal of the restrictions on free movement of workers from the new Member States of the European Union...
CJEC: a transsexual can retire at the age set for women
The Court of Justice of the European Communities has just ruled that the refusal to grant a pension at the women's retirement age to a male who became a female constitutes a discrimination...
Netherlands : decentralization causes decrease of the support income’s beneficiaries number
Decentralization on a social matter in Netherlands bears fruit. Since the managment of support income's allowance has been tranferred to towns in 2004, the number of beneficiaries has dropped of...
Volkswagen: part of the production due to be moved from Spain to Eastern Europe
Volkswagen's management announced that it had started to take the necessary measures to transfer part of the Polo production from its factory of Landaben, near Pampelune (Navarre) towards other...
Total: preparation of a transnational negotiation on swarming and the support for SME
The three European trade-union federations (FECCIA, FECER, EMCEF) gathered a working group, last 26 April, to prepare a possible transnational collective negotiation within the French oil group...
Entry into force of the directive on the protection of workers against optical radiations
After adoption by the European Parliament (see article. n° 06139) and the Council, the directive on the minimal health and safety regulations relating to the exposure of workers to the risks due...
The specificity of social services of general interest is recognized at the European level
The European Commission has adopted, last 26 April, a communication on social services of general interest. This document launches a consultation on the criteria that could qualify them. It also...
Poland: the second wave of Polish immigration envisaged after 1 May 2006 threatens the labour market
The opening of labour markets of certain EU Member States could cause a second wave of immigration of Polish workers. According to the Rzeczpospolita daily newspaper, which refers to experts'...
Netherlands: a project to lengthen the schooling of young people without diplomas
In the aim to fight young people's unemployment and criminality, a bill in preparation envisages to make school compulsory until 18 years old, vs 16 today, for young people without diplomas who...
European social partners sign multi-sectoral agreement on breathable crystalline silica
Agreement is first of its kind on this issue. It will apply from 1 November 2006. Over 2 million employees are involved by the risk of silicosis, a disease which can lead to cancer. The European...
European Deputies disagree with the Commission on workers’ posting
The Parliament’s Commission for social affairs proceeded to its last hearing, last 20 April, on the application of the directive on workers’ posting. The cases pending before the CJEC which...
Netherlands : full opening of labor market to new EU workers is delayed
The Netherlands had envisaged to lift, as from 1 May 2006, all the restrictions for Eastern and Central European workers. But the government has stepped back after trade unions and Parliament's...
Germany: main measures of the agreement concluded in the engineering industry
Already copied by four regions (Bade-Wurtemberg, Hesse, Osnabrück/Emsland and Thüringe), the agreement adopted 22 April 2006 by IG-Metall and the employers' organization Metall NRW in Düsseldorf...
Lithuania : lack of qualified workers
As a consequence of the constant emigration, Lithuania lacks of qualified workers, specialists, people in services and trade. Lithuania is even more concerned by this challenge than its Baltes...
Poland: a first judgement on the existence of an employment contract for a “self-employed” person
The Labour Court of Rzeszow, on first hearing, has decided in favour of a “sales representative” of the alcohol manufacturer Polmos, who was registered as a self-employed person. The court...
Great-Britain : certain pension funds of former state-owned companies are to be paid by the State
A recent revelation, by the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, has refuelled the debate on company pension funds. Several former State monopolies negotiated a Crown Guarantee at the time of their...
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: CDC Habitat defines a framework and means for social dialogue on AI
In an agreement signed on 23 February with trade unions, the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et consignations) Habitat (10,800 employees) guarantees that AI solutions will only...
2
France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement
Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...
3
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
4
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
5
United Kingdom: launch of consultation on protection against detriment for industrial action
The British government launched a public consultation on 26 February regarding new protections for workers against "detriment" related to industrial action, scheduled to take effect in October...
12 March 2026
6
Germany: controversial collective bargaining compliance act adopted
On 26 February, the Bundestag approved the Tariftreuegesetz (collective bargaining compliance act), aimed at strengthening collective agreements and tackling social dumping by tying certain public...
26 February 2026