News

Consultation of the European social partners on social inclusion
The European Commission, launched, last February 8, a consultation on "an action at the EU level to promote the active inclusion of the people being the most distant from the labour market". (Réf...
Estonia : employers can not end an employment relationship for age related reasons anymore
On 8 February 2006 the parlament passed an Act that repeals norms which were considered sharply inconsistent with the principle of equality and the aims of employment policy. (Ref. 06133)
Lithuania: gender-based discrimination in labour market has increased
Almost two thirds of the population claims that gender equality in Lithuania's labour market doesn't exist and that women's discrimination has recently increased. (Ref. 06132)
13 February 2006
Slovakia: government breaks up, causing early elections in June
A disagreement on a law involving religion and work caused the centre-right coalition to break up. The Prime Minister has decided to organize early elections, which are likely to be won by the...
13 February 2006
Czech Republic: a law to protect employees from employer’s insolvency.
Employees'wage claims will be dealt with sooner and faster. Employers will have more obligations. (Ref. 06144)
Germany: Volkswagen could return to the 35 hours work-week
According to the German press of this weekend (Focus, Spiegel and Bildzeitung),Volkswagen's management intends to negotiate with its work's council a return to the 35 hours work-week (up from 28,8...
Great-Britain : consultation on the Sunday trading restrictions
The Department of Trade and Industry l wants to make the Sunday trading restrictions more flexible. (Ref. 06131)
Germany: press review -February 6 to 10, 2006
Last week was marked by the beginning of wage negotiations in the metal industry which will for sure be difficult. IG Metall is demanding a 5% rise in wages. This same week, the Minister for...
Finland : end of the labour market restrictrions to workers from enlargement Member States
Finlande will remove the labour market restrictions to the workers coming from enlargment Member States from 1 May, 2006 on. The Finnish government is preparing a draft law which aims at...
The provisions of the optional framework for transnational negotiation should be specified soon
The social Diary for 2005-2010 announced an optional framework for transnational agreements. The European Commission could release, between now and the end of February, a legal study which...
Germany: strike in public sector extended once again
The action which began on Monday February 6 in Bade Württemberg, was extended as from Monday, February 13 in Bavaria, Hamburg, Lower-Saxony, Rhineland north Westphalia and Rhineland Westphalia...
Six Member States launch an initiative for an “European Pact for gender equality”
Czech Republic, France, Denmark, Spain, Finland and Sweden proposed in a letter to Austrian Chancellor Schüssel that the EU implement a gender-equality pact. (Ref. 06124)
Luxembourg: directive on workers’ protection against electromagnetic fields will soon be transposed
The government announced, on February 7th 2006, the adoption of a draft Regulation transposing directive 2004/40/CE on minimum safety and health requirements for workers exposed to electromagnetic...
Luxembourg : a draft law on paid care leave
The government adopted last February 7 a draft regulation which will allow employees with relatives suffering from life-threatening illness or in a situation of terminal illness to benefit from a...
Luxembourg: a bill to organize takeover bids
The submission to the House of Commons of a bill transposing directive 2004/65/EC, on February 7, 2006, came during an agitated period: the takeover bid of Mittal on Arcelor. With this...
Publication of the second list of indicative occupational exposure limit to the chemical agents
In the light of the evaluation of the latest available scientific data, the European Commission reviewed the indicative occupational exposure limits values set up by the Directive 91/322. (Ref...
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: Crédit Agricole to tighten remote work rules
Crédit Agricole is to adopt stricter rules on remote work from mid-March onwards. The rules will be tightened for employees, but the maximum number of days working remotely will remain unchanged.
2
2026 TRENDS – Pay transparency becomes a reality for European companies
mind RH is taking a look at the trends that will shape 2026. Many countries remain behind schedule in transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, leaving companies in a state of uncertainty as...
27 January 2026
3
TRENDS IN 2026 — Reducing workplace absence at all costs: a major challenge for Europe
Workplace absence is on the rise across Europe, particularly among women, older employees and, since the Covid-19 pandemic, young people under the age of 30. Faced with this growing problem, some...
14 January 2026
4
Vincent Lecerf (Orange): “Equality and diversity are competitive advantages for us”
Following the signing of a new agreement on professional equality and diversity in December, the chief HR officer of French multinational telecommunications corporation Orange Group, Vincent...
13 January 2026
5
France: transposition of the pay transparency directive takes shape
The transposition of the European directive on pay transparency into French law is entering a decisive phase. The Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou, wants to present the bill to Parliament...
21 January 2026
6
France: ‘bonus-malus’ system central to talks over short-term contracts
French social partners opened talks on 28 January 2026 on the regulation of short-term contracts, marking the start of a negotiating process set to continue with three further meetings in March...
29 January 2026