News

Directive on protection of workers from optical radiations is adopted
The European Parliament adopted, February 14, 2006, the draft Directive on minimal safety and health requirements for workers exposed to physical agents (optical radiations). (Réf. 06139)
Germany: wage negotiations postponed in Bade-Wurtemberg’s metal industry
Started on February 14, 2006 in Böblingen, wage negotiations in Bade-Wurtemberg’s metal industry, which employs nearly 800 000 people, were postponed to March 17 after only three hours of...
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...
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
Italy: Enel signs agreement to manage the effects of AI on work
An agreement signed at the end of July by the electricity company Enel (31,000 employees) and the unions Filctem-Cgil, Flaei-Cisl, and Uiltec is pioneering in the Italian energy sector. It aims to...
7 September 2026
2
France: Bayer puts female health and inclusive parenthood at the centre of its equality policy
In a new agreement on gender equality highlighted by mind RH, Bayer commits to strengthening its parenthood policy. Furthermore, the company is anticipating pay transparency and introducing...
25 September 2026
3
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
4
Germany: Volkswagen cancels almost all collective bargaining agreements signed with IG Metall
The Volkswagen brand announced on 30 September that it is terminating 10 of its 13 internal collective bargaining agreements, effective 31 December 2026. The announcement, which the carmaker...
1 October 2026
5
Germany: working time dispute between Mercedes and the IG Metall Union
The news. At the beginning of September, Mercedes-Benz asked employee representatives and the IG Metall union to agree to an increase in the weekly working time from 35 to 40 hours, without any...
16 September 2026
6
Germany: major day of union action in the automotive industry ahead of collective bargaining
A few weeks before the start of collective bargaining in the German metalworking sector, the IG Metall trade union mobilised nearly 175,000 workers across more than 200 industrial sites on 21...
22 September 2026