Managing the fallout of Covid-19

The EU is about to amend its rules on the protection of workers for the virus causing Covid-19 in the Annexes to Directive 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to...

14 May 2020

Germany: Volkswagen reduces the ‘guaranteed salary’ it promised to 18,000 managers

On 13 May Volkswagen’s middle management (some 18,000 mangers) learned that the variable part of their salaries would be reduced in 2020, due to the collapse of the group’s revenues...

14 May 2020

Solvay: solidarity fund set up by managers, employees and shareholders to help staff affected by the crisis raises €15 million

This significant sum – dedicated to the solidarity fund announced on 9 April and created at the end of the same month – was announced on 6 May by Solvay chief executive officer Ilhma...

14 May 2020

USA: ‘Big 3’ automakers set to restart on 18 May

Without any great fuss or fanfare, the Big 3 North American automakers are preparing to gradually reopen their production sites during the week of 18 May, and they have been negotiating with UAW...

14 May 2020

Mexico: the auto industry and its subcontractors, classed as ‘essential activities’ and will resume business from 18 May.

On 12 May Mexico’s General Health Council delivered its opinion allowing ‘manufacturing transport equipment’ to resume business nationwide from 18 May. Alongside the automobile...

14 May 2020

China: a difficult return to work after the pandemic

From the end of January, the Chinese authorities have multiplied their economic stimulus initiatives in order to mitigate the devastating effects of the Covid-19 crisis on the country's overall...

14 May 2020

EU: EU Commission proposes a set of guidelines to support a gradual and coordinated lifting of travel restrictions between EU Member States

On 13 May the European Commission presented ‘a package of guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen after...

13 May 2020

EU: social partners in Europe’s tourism industry make joint call for urgent measures to support sector

A joint declaration by European social partners in the hospitality, restauration and food industries – the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) as well as...

13 May 2020

Great Britain: job retention system extended until the end of October

After hinting that it wanted to end its pandemic job retention scheme as soon as possible, the UK government switched tack, and on 12 May announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which...

13 May 2020

Chile: legislative wrangling over the ban on state-supported companies from paying shareholder dividends

Will shareholders of companies receiving Covid-19 related state aid be prohibited from receiving dividends? The debate has been raging in Chile since the 06 May Parliamentary Joint Committee...

13 May 2020

United States: one of Amazon’s leading activists takes up the cause of essential workers

Chris Smalls, who sees himself as "the whistleblower fired by Amazon" for demanding more protection from Covid-19, is creating his own defense movement called The Congress Essential Workers to...

13 May 2020

Telefonica: global agreement signed that defines minimum standards for returning to work

On 12 May, Spanish telephone operator Telefonica together with UNI Global Union, and the CCOO and UGT trade unions, signed a global agreement that sets out a ‘return to work’ framework for the...

12 May 2020

Ireland: a return-to-work protocol that calls on companies to work with workers and their representatives to define and implement Covid-19 prevention measures

On 09 May the Irish government presented its ‘Return to Work Safely Protocol’ ahead of the first phase of the lockdown easing process that is set to start on 18 May. In particular the protocol...

12 May 2020

Belgium: agreement reached on the resumption of work in the metal and technology sectors

On 11 May trade unions in the metal sector along with the Agoria (technology) employers body signed an agreement for resumption of work amid the coronavirus health crisis. As a complementary text...

12 May 2020

France: national data privacy body re-iterates the principles over the collection of personal data by employers in the context of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19

With the national lockdown easing process commencing, companies are multiplying measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the safe resumption of activity. Some of these measures...

12 May 2020

Great Britain: firms called on to assess Covid-19 risks prior to resuming business

On 10 May the UK Prime Minister made a less than clear presentation outlining a national plan to ease the current lockdown situation, and on the following day the government explained what it...

12 May 2020

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France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement

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

The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...

8 December 2025

mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators

In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...

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