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04/07/2008 Inditex: the Spanish textile group forces a Bangladeshi supplier to rebuild a factory

After the BBC broadcasted a report showing female workers complaining about their working conditions, the Spanish textile group, which owns Zara, got one of its suppliers to rebuild its factory, which it owns but where none of its brands was produced. (Ref. 080560)

04/07/2008 Spain: strike notice on July 12-15 at Renfe Operadora and Adif

Spanish unions are protesting against the partition of the freight transport from the rest of the Renfe Operadora railway, announced on June 24 by the head of State, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. This belongs to a series of measures to liberalize transportation, telecommunications and the energy sector. (Ref. 080559)

04/07/2008 EU: towards a renewed social agenda

On Wednesday, July 2, the European Commission adopted a communication on the new European Social Agenda, which will be on the agenda of the informal Council of the social Ministers on July 10-11 in Chantilly. Taking into consideration the new facts and social challenges it is faced with (globalization, demography new technologies...), the EU has to redefine its priorities. The communication includes a series of guidelines which should guide European social policies in the coming years, as well as a package with proposals for action which draws the first outlines of these policies. (Ref. 080558)

04/07/2008 Portugal : postponement of the debate in parliament of the reform of the labor code

The agreement reached on June 25 by the Portuguese social partners (see article n°080538) on the reform of the labor code will not be submitted to a vote by MPs' before September. This delay may leave time for a public debate whilst opposition to the reform remains strong in the country. (Ref. 080556)

04/07/2008 Gaz de France: CSR agreement for the European companies of the group

On July 2, 2008, the European trade union federations (EPSU, EMF and EMCEF) and all the national trade unions represented within Gaz de France's EWC signed, together with the management, a CSR agreement. The management of the group takes a number of commitments regarding its employees, notably regarding employment and employability, as well as regarding third parties, with a "civic commitment." The enforcement of the agreement will be followed at the level of the group and each of its companies. (Ref. 080557)

03/07/2008 Poland: unions' way of appointing works council members declared unconstitutional

Seized by the Confederation of Polish employers, the Constitutional Court declared, on July 1, 2008, that the way works council members are appointed – with priority given to the company union – was unconstitutional, because it breaks the freedom not to join an organization and principle of equality before the law. Therefore, these provisions will be repealed within 12 months after the publication of the decision. (Ref. 080555)

03/07/2008 EU: launching of the revision of the EWC directive

The European Commission adopted today, July 2, 2008, the proposal to revise the EWC directive. The major changes compared to the previous version – which Planet Labor had obtained (see our dispatch No. 080420) – concern the definition of consultation and its scope, as well as the training of staff representatives. The governments are going to start the negotiations with, as a background, the conflicting expectations of two major role players. On the one hand, the ETUC denounces a draft which mainly serves employers' interests; on the other, BusinessEurope and German and British employers say that it adds expenses and administrative burdens for businesses. (Ref. 080553)

03/07/2008 EU: an expert group to follow the development of transnational negotiation

The European Commission has lowered the objective to draw up an optional framework for transnational agreements as part of the Social Agenda for 2005-10 in the working document published on July 2. Based on the Commission's previous works on that topic, the text plans to set up an expert group on transnational company agreements to support this form of social dialogue. The support will also be financial through budget headings on industrial relations. (Ref. 080554)

03/07/2008 Denmark: 3F says Danisco is responsible for the "mercury scandal" at its Grindsted factory

Of the 80 victims of the "mercury scandal" of Danisco's Grindsted factory who met with the 3F union on June 25 in Billund, at least 50 are ready to defend their case in court. After this case, revealed at the beginning of June by a study carried out by the 3F journal, left-wing parties and unions want to amend the law on limitations of actions (forældelseslov) in the event of serious occupational disease. (Ref. 080554)

02/07/2008 Great Britain: Equalities Bill presented to Parliament

On June 26, 2008, Equality Minister Harriet Harman set out the main measures of the new Equalities Bill in a Commons statement. Unions are satisfied but experts criticize the introduction of positive action, which won't necessarily work and might be tough to handle for employers. (Ref. 080552)

01/07/2008 Spain: the government wants to end the "early retirement culture"

First, Labor Minister Celestino Corbacho wants to limit the possibilities of early retirement rather than delay retirement age. This is one of the major themes of the reform of the social security and pensions (the Toledo Pact), which he offered to negotiate with the social partners. (Ref. 080550)

01/07/2008 EU: social priorities of the French presidency

The French presidency is starting today, and will last six months during which France will decide of the order of the day of political meetings. With the idea of a protective Europe against the impact of globalization, as preached by Nicolas Sarkozy the day before the beginning of the presidency, social priorities are gaining more ground, in theory, than the priorities displayed at first (environment, immigration and defense). In practice, the French presidency should tackle a number of controversial issues, such as working time, the revision of the EWC directive and patients’ mobility. (Ref. 080551)

01/07/2008 Klöckner & Co: the German group turns into a European Company

102 years after its creation, the Klöckner & Co company, the largest independent multi-metal distributor in the world, laid the foundation stone for its transformation into a European Company (SE). 99.9% of shareholders voted in favour of this new legal structure during the General Meeting of the group on June 20, 2008 in Duisburg. Two months earlier, the management and the special negotiating body (SNB) signed an agreement on employee representation in the new SE. (Ref. 080549)

01/07/2008 Germany: the collective agreements signed in 2008 confirm the end of wage restraint

In its middle evaluation, the Institute for Economic and Social Research (WSI) of the Hans Böckler Foundation presents a summary of the industry-wide collective agreements signed in the first six months of 2008. The wages negotiated increase of 4.6% in average. This is the strongest increase since 2000. (Ref. 080547)

01/07/2008 Great Britain: managers don't overdo in terms of health and safety

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), disproportionate health and safety management is much less widespread than the media suggest. The HSE mostly thinks that it is important to show common sense in the prevention of risks. (Ref. 080546)

01/07/2008 Peru : vote of a law regulating subcontracting

The labor legislation reform installs strict control of subcontracting companies which henceforth have to demonstrate the independence of the firms employing them. The aim is to combat exploitation and illegal work. However, the new ruling, which meets workers' claims, has aroused an outcry in business companies. (Ref. 080548)

30/06/2008 Austria: the telecom union is blocking the creation of a "civil servants' parking lot" at Telekom Austria and Österreichische Post

At Telekom Austria (TA) and Österreichische Post (ÖP), two former public companies, almost 20.000 employees kept the almost sacrosanct civil servant status they had before the privatization. To gently get rid of some of them, the two companies would like to create an external agency financed by the State, to find them a new job or redeploy them. Unions and staff representatives refused outright. (Ref. 080545)

30/06/2008 Poland: national strategy on health and safety at work 2008-2012

On June 23, the Council of Ministers adopted the national strategy for health and safety 2008-2012. Falling within the framework of EU policies on this topic, the strategy includes a series of action with the aim to decrease the number of industrial accidents and occupational diseases, and to face new risks (psychosocial troubles, musculo-skeletal disorders, or even nanotechnologies. (Ref. 080544)

30/06/2008 EU: the European Parliament criticizes the working time agreement

In 24 hours, the outgoing Slovenian presidency and the upcoming French presidency were arraigned by the members of the European Parliament's Commission on Employment and Social Affairs about the Council's political agreement on working time (see our article No. 080482). These debates foreshadow the debates that will arise from the second reading of the draft directive in the fall, during the French presidency. (Ref. 080543)

30/06/2008 Mexico : an agreement for sending skilled workers to Spain

The Mexican and Spanish authorities have agreed to regulate the flow of immigrant workers to Spain. A pilot program for temporary employment of skilled people will enable Mexicans to have a job for a year under the same conditions of pay and social services as Spanish employees. (Ref. 080542)

30/06/2008 Germany : the Siemens CEO finds his firm « too Germanic» and makes a plea for diversity

At an interview with the daily Financial Times Deutschland on June 25, Peter Löscher, chairman of the Siemens board, considered that with over 80% of its sales abroad the management of the group is not sufficiently diversified. He intends to make internationalization one of his priorities in the years ahead. (Ref. 080541)

30/06/2008 EU: the EU Parliament strikes out at the Commission about working time

The Parliament's Committee on Petitions adopted, on June 25, an own-initiative report ordering the Commission to deal with the complaints it received for breaches of the European legislation on working time in Member States. The report should be ratified this fall, and should be quite aggressive regarding working time. Indeed, at the same time, MEPs will examine on a second reading and criticize the proposal to revise the working time Directive adopted by the Council of Ministers (see our article No. 080482). (Ref. 080540)

30/06/2008 China : skilled workforce on the downturn and wages on the rise, China will soon no longer be "an employers' paradise"

Despite a working population of around 760 million, China will probably encounter recruitment problems of skilled workers in the coming years. At the same time, insufficient job creation and the new labor laws should push up wages. (Ref. 080537)

30/06/2008 Spain : unions and employers in the metal industry sign an agreement on safety at work

Confemetal, the employers' federation in the iron and steel industry, and the union federations of the UGT sector and the CCOO signed on June 24 an agreement on safety-at-work training and its promotion. This agreement stipulates action and information programs on industrial risks in the very small and small-size firms. (Ref. 080539)

30/06/2008 Sweden : the social partners to update the Saltsjöbaden agreement regulating social relations for the last 70 years

The representatives of employers (confederation of Swedish business firms Svensk Näringsliv), the blue-collar Landsorganisationen (LO) and the Federation of employees in industry and services (PTK) opened the discussions announced last May for the renegotiation of the basic agreement on social relations in Sweden, a key foundation of the Swedish model. The issue is now for the social partners to counter government wishes for more regulation by law of the labor market. (Ref. 080536)

30/06/2008 Denmark : toward a law protecting the right of unions to collective bargaining

In order to defend the Danish model confronted with the danger of social dumping, after the European court decision in the Laval affair, the government intends to legislate to ensure the right of unions to have recourse to collective bargaining against foreign companies sending employees to Denmark without respecting Danish collective agreements. (Ref. 080535)

27/06/2008 Portugal : tripartite agreement on the reform of the labor code

The government, the employers and the UGT signed on June 25 the text to serve as basis for the reform of the 2003 labor code. The union confederation CGTP did not take part in the last round of social consultation. The agreement contains notably measures against job insecurity and allows business firms to have the benefit of a volume of hours which can be managed flexibly. Conversely, lay-offs for employee unsuitability requested by employers were rejected. (Ref. 080538)

26/06/2008 Germany : the minimum wage will be maintained in the building sector

After several months of negotiations on the renewal of the wage rate agreement, the introduction of minimum wage levels in the building sector was accepted on June 21, 2008 for the first time in Germany through a compromise proposed by a mediator, Wolfgang Clement, former SPD minister of Social Affairs and Employment. The signatories have fourteen days to get the agreement ratified by their members. (Ref. 080534)

26/06/2008 Italy : Confindustria and the unions of the province of Florence have signed a protocol agreement on health and safety in the workplace

In order to promote the culture of prevention, the Confindustria in Florence and the main provincial union confederations on the day following the industrial accident in Sicily (see our article n°080517) a new protocol boosting the joint agreement on safety. They also launched the project Assicurra aimed at enforcing in at least 100 firms, by the end of the year, the safety regulations in the workplace. (Ref. 080532)

25/06/2008 Corporate practices : the Finnish firm Itela Oy and the employment of immigrant workers

Itela Oy is a Finnish firm resulting from the privatization of the Finnish postal services in 1998 which, as part of the administration, had a cultural tradition of hiring immigrant employees. This practice came to an end with it transformation into a private sector company exposed to the rules of the market economy. The situation has evolved since the turn of the century with the company confronted with difficulties of recruitment leading it to rely on its past experience for the integration of foreign employees to such an extent that today multiculturalism is a basic dimension of Itela's corporate culture. (Ref. 080533)

24/06/2008 France: the law implementing the Directive on cross-border mergers was adopted

The bill on cross-border mergers was permanently ratified, on June 19, by the National Assembly. It transposes Directive 2005/56/EC on cross-border mergers, which notably contains provisions concerning the protection of employee participation rights before the merger. (Ref. 080531)

24/06/2008 Spain: temporary work agencies want to serve as employment agencies by 2012

Representatives from the temporary work sector think that the way has been paved to open the debate on one of their claims: serve as mediators for the recruitment of temporary and permanent jobs. (Ref. 080530)

24/06/2008 International: building up trade union and EWC networks in the building sector

The EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Wood Workers) and the Building and Wood workers' International (BWI) organized a meeting in Lisbon on June 11-14, 2008, with the union representatives of several large groups from the building sector, including Bilfiger Berger, Bouygues, Eiffage, Hochtief, Strabag and Vinci. The objective was to build up international union networks in each group and coordinate their actions with the actions of the EWCs. (Ref. 080529)

24/06/2008 Italcementi: international framework agreement

The fifth largest cement producer in the world, the Italian group Italcementi (23.000 employees), signed an international framework agreement with the Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), its Italian affiliates (Filca-Cisl, Feneal-Uil and Fillea-Cgil) and the EWC members. (Ref. 080528)

24/06/2008 Germany: the conflict between the management and SAP staff representatives is growing acrimonious

Brought before industrial courts (see our dispatch No. 080448), the conflict on SAP's staff representation structures should go on. On June 12, 2008, the Dusseldorf court gave satisfaction to the latter in favor of local works councils. However, on June 19, the Dresden court decided that the general WC prevailed upon other structures. Awaiting for other rulings, SAP's management is sabotaging the work of the works councils it doesn't acknowledge. (Ref. 080527)

23/06/2008 Italy: Eni "takes his tie off" at work to reduce energy consumption

After the success of last year's test, Eni's employees will be allowed to adopt a "more casual wear" at work this summer as well. This initiative, which will start in a few weeks, is part of the Italian oil company's commitment to sustainable development. (Ref. 080526)

23/06/2008 Croatia: several social bills presented to Parliament in preparation for EU membership

On May 29, the Croatian government sent to parliament several bills to adjust national laws to EU standards and get Croatia ready to join the European Union. The bills are on employment agency services, parental leaves and a reduction of social contributions for employers of young people. (Ref. 080525)

23/06/2008 Czech Republic: mobilization against government reforms

In the Czech Republic, there has been increased strike activity these days. On June 9, teachers held a strike, claiming for higher salaries to compensate for inflation. For tomorrow, June 24, the CMKOS - the largest trade union in the country - called for a one-hour strike, the biggest in fifteen years. The strike is aimed against the negative effects of government reforms, especially the proposed pension reform and health care reform. Public transportation and hospitals should be mostly affected. (Ref. 080524)

23/06/2008 Great Britain: reform of the building sector

Shriti Vadera, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, launched, on June 12, 2008, the "Government Strategy for Sustainable Building", a series of measures to improve health and safety and regulations in the building sector. This article details the propositions of several departments and role-players of this branch. (Ref. 080523)

23/06/2008 Chile: historical 10.4% minimum wage increase

Chilean minimum wage will be one of the highest in Latin America after the agreement signed between the government and trade unions to raise income to $324. Economists say this increase, although somewhat brutal, shouldn't have major negative consequences on employment. Companies were totally absent from bargaining. (Ref. 080522)

23/06/2008 Belgium: the participation of employees in the capital of firms extended to agency workers

On June 17, 2008, the Parliament adopted an amendment to the law "including different provisions" which extend the mechanism of employee profit sharing ("one-off profits related to the results") to agency workers. (Ref. 080521)

23/06/2008 Cegelec: EWC and management agree on a meeting agenda

The management of the French group Cegelec (25.000 employees), integrating solutions and technological services, and members from the European works council adopted, on June 17, 2008, at the Nanterre Court, to meet before July 30 with the select committee, to talk about the takeover of the group (which belongs to LBO France), by the Qatari Diar fund. An extraordinary plenary session should be held on July 17. (Ref. 080519)

20/06/2008 Germany: many executives want to switch employers

According to an online study carried out by the Lüneburg University, many executives and technicians are extremely unhappy about their job. 70% of them are thinking about leaving their firm in the next couple years. (Ref. 080520)

20/06/2008 Spain: first union report of the equality plans negotiated in firms

The Equality Act, in force since March 23, 2007, has hardly paid off. Yet, one of the main strengths of the text was the obligation for companies with 250 or more employees to bargain for a plan encouraging equal treatment and opportunity between men and women. This weakness could be explained by technical problems, which don't necessarily question the effectiveness of the Act, said Esmeralda Sanz, confederal secretary in charge of women's rights at the Workers' Commission union (CCOO), who recently published an analysis in one of the union's journals. (Ref. 080518)

20/06/2008 Italy: mobilization against the changes to the law on health and safety at work

After six people died in Sicilia on June 11, the three metalworkers' union federations organized, on June 17, 2008, a national one-hour strike, which didn't get much support. The government announced an extraordinary plan in terms of health and safety and invited the social partners to be involved in its development and in a joint proofreading of the Testo Unico (see our article No. 080334). However, although unions are willing to help develop the plan, they already said no to the changes proposed by employers. (Ref. 080517)

20/06/2008 France: bill to reform the 35-hour work week

The bill on social democracy (see our article No. 080512) adopted on June 18 by the Council of Ministers also contains provisions making regulations on working time more flexible by granting more autonomy for bargaining at company level. When Xavier Bertrand, Minister of Labor, announced that he wanted to reform the 35-hour week legislation, there was an outcry among the social partners who already negotiated a framework for flexibility in the length of work time. The government, which has adopted a bill going far beyond this framework, is accused of disrupting the recently launched social dialogue dynamics. (Ref. 080516)

20/06/2008 Suez: agreement on social guarantees for Suez Group employees

Since all the prior requirements to the vote by Gaz de France and Suez's general assemblies on the merger were met, Suez's management and the social partners signed, on June 17, 2008, an agreement on social guarantees for Suez Group employees. Negotiated several months ago, the text mostly provides guarantees for the employees of Suez Environment, which is going to be put on the stock exchange. (Ref. 080515)

19/06/2008 EU: labor costs rise fast

Hourly labor cost has been increasing since the beginning of 2007, with a 4.3% annual rise up to the first quarter of 2008, compared with 2.9% for the previous quarter. Most new EU Member States have annual increases over 10%, while Germany is still going through severe wage restraint (+1.6%). Other statistics gathered by Eurostat show that gender equality is still not a reality, with a 15% gap between men and women, in men's favor. (Ref. 080514)

19/06/2008 Netherlands: a government committee wants to raise retirement age to 67

The Bakker Commission, appointed in 2007 by a coalition government unable to find an agreement on the softening of the law on dismissal and other social reforms, gave its annual report on June 16. Unexpectedly, it recommends postponing retirement age by two years to bring it up to 67 years old. (Ref. 080513)

19/06/2008 France: a bill to reform union representativeness

The Council of Ministers adopted, on June 18, the bill for the reorganization of social democracy and for the reform of working time. This bill amends unions' representativeness regulations, which will now be based on the results of the professional elections, and use the voting rate as a starting point in the company. This reform of the legal frame should disrupt the union landscape. (Ref. 080512)

19/06/2008 Italy : upsurge in the consumption of drugs in the workplace

According to the results of a recently published press survey, one in two young workers consumes drugs at work in four of the largest plants in the iron and steel and auto industries. But this phenomenon could be even more widespread. The popularity of cocaine has increased consumption, with notable speed. Even if the extent of the problem is unknown, management and unions are worrying about its development. (Ref. 080511)

18/06/2008 Germany: the Deutsche Post wants to turn its last 750 post offices into "postal agency", causing unions' anger

Deutsche Post intends to improve its service offer. In the meantime, the group confirmed, on June 13, 2008, that it was looking for partners (supermarkets, superstores, tobacco shops, storekeepers…) to take over, by 2011, the activity of the last post offices - about 750 - still managed by the Deutsche Post's employees. This is a "bad omen for employees and customers" said the Association of Postal Services and Communication Employees (DPVKOM). (Ref. 080510)

18/06/2008 France Telecom: the EWC holds a plenary meeting in Cairo

For the first time - to our knowledge - the EWC members of a European multinational company, in this case the French telecommunications' group France Telecom, met for a plenary session in a city located outside the European Union - Cairo. In addition, the management is still bargaining for the creation of a global works council. (Ref. 080509)

18/06/2008 Spain: professional experience soon to be officially validated

Employees will soon get official recognition for the skills acquired as part of their professional experience. (Ref. 080508)

18/06/2008 EU : the Twenty-Seven try to curb the crisis after Ireland's 'no' to the Lisbon Treaty

Since Ireland rejected, last week end, the Lisbon Treaty, the heads of State and government of the Twenty-Seven Member States are looking for an answer to this particular "no" and trying to curb the political crisis which could spread. European and Irish unions recommend putting Social Europe back in the saddle, since it has been particularly ill-treated lately. Whether it is temporary or not, this new rejection will definitely have repercussions on the Union. Although it can keep on working based on the complex Nice Treaty, it won't be able to avoid the mid-term political consequences and spare a questioning in the long run. (Ref. 080507)

17/06/2008 Great Britain: new study on management competencies for preventing and reducing stress at work

This study, paid by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Investors in People (IIP), is part of a three-year project. It identifies the management behaviors necessary to fight against stress at work. (Ref. 080506)

17/06/2008 Netherlands: two-week paternity leave

The debate is hardening around the introduction of the two-week paternity leave, presented in Parliament on May 12 by the Groenlinks Green Party, with the support of the Socialist Party (SP) and the Christen Unie's orthodox Christians. The Labor Party wants more flexible hours for employees with children. Employers refuse to see the paternity leave go from two days to two weeks. (Ref. 080505)

17/06/2008 Germany: Ver.di calls for an 8% wage increase and job security in the banking sector

On the eve of the opening of the wage negotiations in the banking sector, on June 19, the commission for collective agreements of the German services union revealed its requirements. Ver.di wants an 8% wage increase as well as agreements on job security for the 420.000 employees of a sector where important mergers and takeovers are looming ahead. According to Ver.di, 20.000 jobs are threatened. (Ref. 080504)

17/06/2008 BBVA: the Latin American union coordination denounces offenses to union right in the Colombian and Paraguayan units

Union representatives from Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Spain, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay met in Madrid in the name of the Latin American union coordination of BBVA (BBVA CSLA), which has gathered, since it was created in 2001, the union organizations of the group, very present in Latin America. Unions renewed their commitment to get closer to defend employees through social dialogue and collective bargaining, and to cooperate better to defend employment, wages and working conditions. (Ref. 080503)

17/06/2008 International: the ILO takes up the arms against unionists' murders in Colombia

The annual conference of the International Labor Organization led to an indictment of violence against union movements in Colombia, where 26 staff representatives were killed since the beginning of the year. Most crimes remain unpunished. In Central America, notably in Guatemala and Honduras, it is evenly dangerous to practice a union activity. (Ref. 080501)

17/06/2008 Corporate practices : the German group Henkel boosts and internationalizes its corporate diversity management policy

In November 2007, Henkel (household products, cosmetics and adhesives) appointed its first "diversity manager" reporting directly to the group vice-president. Anke Meier, assigned to this new job, explained to Planet Labor how she intends to work on the internationalization of the group's human resources as well as the coordination of the policies concerning female employees, the demographic ageing pattern and the reconciliation between work and family life. (Ref. 080502)