Managing the fallout of Covid-19

On top of the economic crisis, Norway is facing a major jobs problem because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past few weeks unemployment has risen from 2.3% to 10.9%, echoing levels unheard of...

26 March 2020

France: adoption of three ordinances modifying the Labor Code to cope with the consequences of Covid-19

On 25 March 2020, France’s Council of Ministers adopted three ordinances under the Emergency Bill of 23 March 2020 to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic (c.f. article No. 11749). One of the three...

25 March 2020

Germany: lack of legal validity for decisions made via videoconference poses a serious issue for works councils

The German laws on codetermination are definitive. Works council decisions made via videoconference have no legal value. However, amid the economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, works...

25 March 2020

Italy: new agreement to protect banking sector employees with branch offices only open for scheduled customer appointments

On 24 March Italy’s banking sector employers and trade union bodies together signed a new agreement that includes the anti-coronavirus protocol from the preceding week (c.f. article No. 11732)...

25 March 2020

Mexico: government recommends social distancing and announces no intentions to support businesses

While Mexico has just moved into the second stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government published (24 March) a decree calling on vulnerable citizens (those with underlying chronic health...

25 March 2020

Argentina: economic and social measures start being announced to attenuate the impact of the Covid-19 crisis

Damage control at all costs during the coronavirus pandemic. In Argentina, as in elsewhere, the issue is how to limit the nefarious consequences on businesses and workers of shutting down...

25 March 2020

Switzerland: Federal Council adopts a SF40 billion-support package for companies and jobs

On Friday 20 March Switzerland’s government submitted a SF 40 billion (€38 billion) support package for companies and jobs, which will be passed by Parliament on Wednesday 25 March. In addition to...

24 March 2020

Brazil: controversy sparked over extraordinary measures by President Bolsonaro to make labor law more flexible

On 22 March Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro published a ‘provisional measure’ in the Official Journal (decree with legal force which will run for 60 days and can be renewed once) concerning...

24 March 2020

EU: IndustriALL Europe launches a debate on the definition for ‘essential production activities’

Europe’s industry trade union federation, IndustriALL Europe, has called for ‘stricter definitions of essential production in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and for workers' rights to...

24 March 2020

Italy: protecting workers in the transport-logistics sectors as well as those involved in home deliveries

While the halting of all non-essential activities that was decided between 21 and 22 March has provoked the ire of the trade unions for being too lax and which may prompt these union towards...

24 March 2020

United States: warehouses and supermarkets hiring massively to cope with demand

During this Covid-19 pandemic, two business sectors are bucking a general downtrend with extremely strong growth, namely the supermarket and distribution sectors. With demand levels already high...

24 March 2020

Chile: authorities launch an arsenal of measures aimed at protecting jobs and workers

On 19 March, Budget Minister Ignacio Briones announced a massive $12 billion ‘Economic Emergency’ plan, the equivalent of 4.7% of domestic GDP in a bid to protect and safeguard Chile’s economy...

24 March 2020

France: emergency bill adopted to address Covid-19 crisis

On 22 March the French parliament passed an emergency bill to address the Covid-19 pandemic. The bill allows the government to introduce emergency measures by ordinance, particularly in the areas...

23 March 2020

Germany: crisis agreement struck in metals sector

Social partners in Germany’s metals sector announced on Friday 20 March their decision to suspend negotiations over the renewal of a branch agreement which was due to be agreed in principle in...

23 March 2020

United Kingdom: state to pay up to 80% of wages of workers unable to work during coronavirus pandemic

Amid the ongoing worldwide pandemic and following its decision to close the majority of non-essential shops, the UK government unveiled an unprecedented plan on 20 March to support jobs in the...

23 March 2020

Finland: government plan for stemming the Covid-19 tide draws on social partners joint proposals

On 20 March the government announced an economic support plan to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, the budget for which will cost an estimated €15 billion. The plan will be implemented via a series...

23 March 2020

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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...

5 March 2026

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.

29 January 2026

France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval

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8 December 2025

mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators

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31 October 2025

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Ireland: minimum wage increase of 5,6% from 1 January 2027

The info. The Irish government has included a minimum wage increase of 79 cents in its Budget 2027, in line with recommendations from the Low Pay Commission. The rate will rise from €14.15...

13 October 2026

Denmark: government prepares implementation of pay transparency in March 2027

The news. On 8 October, the Danish executive submitted the bill transposing the European Pay Transparency Directive to the national Parliament. The text stems from an agreement between trade...

12 October 2026

EU: social partners put the Commission in the crossfire over quality jobs

The news. The second phase of social partner consultation on quality jobs ended on 28 September. A mandatory prerequisite for a social initiative in accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning...

5 October 2026

China: draft bill to strengthen platform workers’ rights

On 8 October, the Chinese government published a draft bill open for consultation aimed at providing minimum guarantees to non-employee platform workers in terms of pay and working conditions. The...

23 October 2026

Ireland: the government suspends the introduction of a living wage

The news. On 7 October, the Irish government declared it was suspending the phased introduction of the statutory living wage planned for this year. The executive justified this “pause”...

12 October 2026

France: paid leave for victims of sexual and domestic violence finally adopted

The news. On 13 October, the French National Assembly unanimously approved, among voting members, the “comprehensive bill” aimed at protecting victims of sexual and gender-based...

14 October 2026