News

Germany: Volkswagen creates new structures to accelerate job cuts
With at least 20,000 early departures already confirmed, Volkswagen's plan to reduce its German workforce appears to be on schedule. However, the extensive restructuring at Europe's leading car...
10 June 2025
Spain: metrics incoming for determining early retirement in arduous and hazardous occupations
On 27 May 2025, the Spanish government published a decree-law in the country's official state gazette (BOE) facilitating access to early retirement. The law establishes clear criteria for people...
6 June 2025
Spain: gradual return-to-work scheme post-sick leave being considered
The Spanish government is proposing to social partners a gradual return-to-work scheme with the option of a 30-day part-time adjustment period for employees returning from long-term sick leave...
5 June 2025
Germany: IG Metall shelves four-day week demand
As the new government's stance in favour of greater flexibility and longer working hours for German workers fuels a growing debate, the IG Metall trade union has announced that it is shelving its...
28 May 2025
Germany: debate over working time reform gains momentum
The coalition agreement signed by Germany's conservative CDU/CSU and social democratic SPD parties provides for the abolition of the eight-hour working day in favour of a maximum weekly working...
26 May 2025
Argentina: government restricts right to strike
A decree published on 21 May by the Argentine government classifies a range activities as essential. As a result, they will have to provide a 75% minimum service in the event of a strike. The CGT...
26 May 2025
Italy: collective agreement for gas and water sector launches new joint initiatives
On 8 May, employer and trade union organisations in Italy's gas and water sector penned a deal to renew the sector's collective agreement, which covers around 50,000 employees in nearly 600...
EU: trilogue agreement struck on revision of European Works Council Directive
European co-legislators have reached an agreement on the proposal to revise the European Works Council Directive, which aims to strengthen workers' rights to consultation. The compromise text will...
21 May 2025
Italy: law allows workers to participate in company management and capital
The Italian law on worker participation, which was finally approved on 14 May, allows employee representatives to sit on company supervisory boards or boards of directors. It also establishes tax...
21 May 2025
EU: Emmanuel Macron takes aim at due diligence directive
After initially supporting it, the French president is now attacking the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and calling for its abolition, arguing that the proposed...
20 May 2025
Italy: energy and oil sector creates new joint structures to manage transformations
On 16 April, the employers' organisation Confindustria Energia and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions signed an agreement renewing the national collective agreement for the...
United Kingdom: employers air concerns over labour law reform
As the UK parliament continues to examine the proposed labour law reform, which aims to improve workers' rights, employers are calling on the government to refine certain measures, due to fears...
16 May 2025
France: agreement on professional equality to attract and retain staff signed at electricity network operator RTE
On 2 April 2025, the management of French company RTE, which has 10,000 employees, and the CFDT, CFE-CGC and FO trade unions signed a fourth agreement on professional equality. It sets targets for...
Germany: labour court hands down ruling on retention of stock option rights after resignation
The German Federal Labour Court (BAG) has decided that employees retain their rights to all options already exercised after resigning, in a ruling handed down on 19 March. Applicable retroactively...
Italy: digital and ecological transition central to chemical and pharmaceutical industry collective agreement
On 15 April, the Federchimica and Farmindustria employers' organisations and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions signed the renewal of the collective agreement for the chemical...
14 May 2025
SAP significantly waters down diversity programme
In response to US President Donald Trump's executive order to abolish diversity policies, the German business software leader has announced that it is scrapping its target of 40% women in its...
13 May 2025
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
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
2
Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
3
Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining
On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...
2 December 2025
4
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
5
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
6
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...