Working time
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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
Belgium: Government Proposes Annualised Working Time
The news. On 18 July, the Belgian Council of Ministers approved a preliminary draft bill introducing annualised working time, allowing hours to be averaged over a full year rather than on a weekly...
22 July 2026
Luxembourg: extension of retail store opening hours
The news. The new legislation extending opening hours for the retail sector entered into force on 19 June 2026. The law, which was introduced by the government in October 2024, allows retail...
29 June 2026
Germany: government finally unveils the main elements of its working time reform
German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Bärbel Bas has presented a draft bill aimed at making working time regulations more flexible. The proposal would move away from the current eight-hour...
22 June 2026
Brazil: government bill to reduce work week from 44 to 40 hours
The news. On 15 April, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party, left) fast-tracked a bill to Parliament to reduce the maximum working week from 44 to 40...
16 April 2026
Belgium: bill facilitating voluntary overtime submitted to Parliament
On 10 February, the government submitted a bill to Parliament aimed at increasing the number of voluntary overtime hours from 120 to 360. These may be performed without specific justification or...
12 March 2026
Mexico: promulgation of the 40-hour week reform
Approved unanimously by Mexican deputies on 25 February, the reform introducing a 40-hour working week has been published in the Official Gazette. The new working hours will be implemented...
6 March 2026
EU: BusinessEurope sets out deregulation agenda in the social field
BusinessEurope, the main lobby group representing employers and business federations across the EU, has called for a "turning point" in European social policy to help "boost competitiveness" and...
20 February 2026
Argentina: Milei’s landmark labour law reform moves forward
Argentine president Javier Milei’s flagship bill has cleared the Senate after a series of amendments and should be debated in the lower house on Thursday, against the backdrop of a general strike.
18 February 2026
Germany: Chancellor prepares ground for working time law reform
Since mid-January 2026, senior figures in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have reopened debate over Germany’s working time legislation. The party’s...
26 January 2026
Mexico: government proposes introduction of 40-hour week
On 3 December 2025, Mexico’s left-wing government presented its proposed reform for a 40-hour week (compared to the current 48 hours). The bill submitted to the Senate provides for a gradual...
5 January 2026
United States: Republican bills aim to loosen labour laws
On 20 November, the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce passed two Republican-backed bills that would allow employers to compensate overtime with paid time off and...
21 November 2025
Greece: parliament adopts 13-hour working day
Greece’s parliament approved a bill to liberalise labour rules on 16 October. The legislation allows employers to hire more easily, expands overtime, and permits working days of up to 13 hours...
- HR
- News
21 October 2025
France: when working time is calculated on a weekly basis, overtime must take into account paid holiday (ruling)
In a 10 September ruling, the labour chamber of France’s Court of Cassation found that when working time is assessed weekly, employees may still qualify for overtime pay even if paid leave...
- HR
- News brief
12 September 2025
Spain: MPs reject move to 37.5-hour working week
The Spanish parliament on 10 September rejected a bill that would have cut the standard working week from 40 to 37.5 hours with no loss of pay, effectively ending the proposal.
- HR
- News
12 September 2025
Luxembourg: government and social partners reach an agreement on pensions
Talks between the government, the Luxembourg Confederation (CLC) and the LCGB and OGBL trade unions ended on 3 September without a full agreement. While a compromise was reached on pension reform...
5 September 2025
Our mind news
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
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
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
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
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: Medef puts forward proposals to improve management quality
On 31 August, Medef, French main employers' organisation, published a practical guide to managerial skills, which it considers to be a driver of economic performance for businesses. Concerned by...
3 September 2026
2
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
11 September 2026
3
Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
14 September 2026
4
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
15 September 2026
5
UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...
16 September 2026
6
Denmark: introduction of a professional ID card for construction site workers
The news. On 3 September, the Danish Parliament adopted a bill introducing a mandatory professional ID card for people working on large construction sites. The card will include, among other...
15 September 2026