News

Netherland : The Hague relaxes the rules on working time
The Netherlands is going to greatly simplify the rules on working time currently found in the law. Two-thirds of the current provisions should disappear from the “labour code” and will instead be...
Germany: metal industry avoids strike through a “historic agreement”
The employers' organisation Metall NRW and the union IG-Metall in North Rhineland Westpahlia signed an agreement that has been described as historic by many observers. Apart from the 3% increase...
Great Britain: the immigration from eastern countries is « an elixir » for British economy
According to a survey of Ernst and Young Item Club, published this weekend in the press, the flow or workers from new EU Member States has contribute to reduce inflation, to improve productivity...
Finland: merger planned between 6 trade unions.
Trade union federations of chemistry, paper, wood, building, electricity and of communications are planning a merger in a few months. The future organisation would gather 283 000 members together...
Belgium: regions list the trades open to workers from new member States
The Council of Ministers adopted a royal decree on 21st April which sets out the lists of professions for which there is a shortage of labour and for which work permits will be granted more easily...
France: “contract of professional transition” begins experiment
Tested during one year in seven employment areas, the “contract of professional transition” aims at facilitating the return to work of people fired for economic reasons by companies of less than...
Great Britain: the closing of the PSA factory in Ryton seen by the press
Press review from 17 to 21 April 2006. All British newspapers reacted, Wednesday 19 April, to the announcement the day before of the closing of the PSA factory in Ryton, close to Coventry. The...
24 April 2006
Germany: conflict in the metal industry and Volkswagen’s mass layoffs plans
Press review from 17 to 21 April 2006. The threat of a hard strike in the German metal branch and the comments on the meeting of Volkswagen' board of directors dominated the news in the German...
24 April 2006
Poland: Government measures against unemployment and for seniors’ employment
According to the daily newspaper Gazeta Prawna, the Polish government is preparing a bill on the labour market which aims at fighting unemployment and to stimulate the employment of seniors. Among...
Great Britain : pension funds’ deficit triggers their closure
It is the motors manufacturer Rolls-Royce's turn to consider closing its pension fund to its new salaried workers, a decision that has already been made by more than half (57%) of the british...
Neederlands : Strike at Nedcar’s
The Dutch Unions' Federation (FNV) and the Christians Unions' Federation (CNV) called for a 24-hour strike at the Nedcar's car assembly plant on April, 19th. The social movement will be extended...
Netherlands : unions want a national retraining fund
The biggest group of affiliated trade unions, the FNV, has enterred into a negociation within the Economy and Social issues' Council (SER) in order to bring about some change in the polders. It...
Finland : workers from the new EU Member States will have to register in order to work
After having announced, early March, the complete lift of restrictions for new EU workers who wish to work in Finland (see our article n°06127), the Finnish government is proposing a bill that...
Volkswagen: the restructuring plan remains vague
Contrary to expectations, the meeting of Volkswagen's board of directors did not bring more details on the company's reorganization plan. (Ref. 06391)
Poland: law transposing the “workers’ consultation” directive is adopted
This law, adopted on last 7 April, which transposes the directive on information and consultation of workers, must still be promulgated by the President of the Republic. Awaiting the forthcoming...
Great Britain: many reactions after PSA announces closing of its Ryton factory
Reactions have been flowing since the announcement, last 18 April, of the closing of the PSA factory in Ryton (see our article n°06380). Trade unions are ready to act, but the head of the...
20 April 2006
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: Yves Rocher convicted of breach of duty of vigilance for infringement of freedom of association
The specialised chamber of the Paris Judicial Court convicted Yves Rocher on 12 March for breaching its duty of vigilance. The group was sued by Turkish employees dismissed in 2018 by a subsidiary...
12 March 2026
2
2026 TRENDS – CSR: A strategic asset for European companies?
mind HR is looking ahead at the trends set to shape 2026. Sustainability policy remains in flux after a year of CSR rollbacks across Europe. Companies are calling for greater predictability and...
26 February 2026
3
EU: Council approves omnibus directive on sustainability
On 24 February, two months after the European Parliament, the Council of the EU adopted the omnibus package amending the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate...
24 February 2026
4
Germany: a corporate group supports local political engagement via its “Democracy Charter”
Large corporations in the Hesse region, surrounding Frankfurt, are defending local democracy by enabling employees to volunteer in local public life through an initiative dubbed the "Democracy...
11 March 2026
5
United States: Coca-Cola subsidiary sued by the administration over women-only event
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on 18 February that it is launching federal proceedings against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast for “sex-based...
6 March 2026
6
EU: Council adopts position on simplifying AI rules
The Council of the EU approved its position on 13 March regarding the “omnibus regulation” proposal, published last November by the Commission to simplify the AI Act. Confirming the...
20 March 2026