Data mind RH analysis – Agreements focused on older workers more common in France but still heavily focused on end-of-career arrangements National industrial relations Roxana Minzatu, nominee for the post of Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness (taking over the portfolio of the Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights),…
Germany: what impact will the return of military service and efforts to boost reserve forces have on businesses? National legislation Germany wants to significantly increase its military personnel to bolster its ability to defend itself. This push will involve reintroducing military service, either voluntary or compulsory, and doubling the number of reservists. Last week, Chancellor Friedrich Merz asked businesses to support this effort whatever the cost. While waiting for a new legislative framework, the business community is discussing the impact of such measures on labour availability and on the training opportunities offered by the army.
Réglementaire Free EU: Danish presidency promises little on social matters European legislation The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which begins on 1 July, promises to be light on social issues. While the Nordic centre-left government has indicated that it wants to defend free movement, “decent working conditions”…
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 manufacturer, which is expected to generate annual savings of €1.5 billion, is far from complete, and the automotive giant has developed an internal mobility and external redeployment scheme comprising a 'transformation office' and a 'prospects workshop'.
France: Apicil bolsters diversity policy with new agreement National industrial relations French insurer Apicil (2,000 employees) signed a new four-year agreement on diversity and inclusion with the CFDT, CFE-CGC and UNSA trade unions on 18 February 2025. Through this agreement, the group reaffirmed its commitments on eight priority areas, which are designed to cover the 26 criteria for discrimination established by law, while raising its targets as part of a continuous improvement process, particularly in terms of gender equality and parenthood.
United Kingdom: youth employment plan seeks to reduce reliance on foreign workers National legislation Addressing skills shortages and reducing skilled immigration are the objectives of the plan announced on 27 May by UK education secretary Bridget Phillipson.…
Italy: collective agreement for gas and water sector launches new joint initiatives National industrial relations 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 companies across the country. The new collective agreement provides for bilateral training projects on regulation and technological innovation, paves the way for a reduction in working hours with no loss of pay and increases the focus on vulnerable workers.
France: how insurer Maif is rolling out an action plan on generative AI built with employees Professional development In February, French mutual insurance group Maif unveiled a series of measures on generative AI. They take up the proposals resulting from an innovative process that brought together randomly selected employees and experts. Covering numerous themes of ethics, governance and training, they have been adopted almost in their entirety by the company. Evelyne Llauro-Barrès and Nicolas Siegler, deputy managing directors in charge of human resources and information systems, respectively, reveal the challenges for the insurance company when speaking to mind RH.
France: La Poste signs new agreement on forward-looking management of jobs and career paths National industrial relations On 31 March, the management of La Poste and the CFDT, FO and CFE-CGC trade unions signed a majority agreement on the management of jobs, career paths and the diversity of roles. The text, which came into force on 1 April and is applicable for a period of 18 months, aims to boost workers' employability at a time of transformation at the company. To this end, the group will rely on a jobs and skills observatory, responsible for anticipating needs within the group.
France: Decathlon devises measures to keep older employees in work National industrial relations French sporting goods retailer Decathlon signed its fourth agreement on the employment of older workers with the CFDT and Unsa unions on 20 January. This text, which applies from 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2028, reaffirms Decathlon's commitments to keeping employees aged 55 and over in work. It proposes new tools to improve working conditions and reinforces end-of-career measures.
