• About EIRO
• Annual reports
• Comparative information
• EU level developments
• Representativeness studies
• Survey Reports
• Browse by:
  • Country
  • Date
  • Sector
  • Subject
• Industrial relations links

June 2005

• 30 Jun 2005
  Slovenia: Shops will not open on Sundays from 2006<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, the Constitutional Court ruled that Article 17 of the Law on Retail Trade, restricting the opening hours of shops on Sundays, is not incompatible with the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. The ruling is seen as a victory for the Trade Union of Retail Workers of Slovenia. As a result, from 1 January 2006: shops selling basic goods may open on up to 10 Sundays a year; small shops at petrol stations, hospitals, hotels, airports, border crossings and railway/bus stations, which sell essential goods, may open without restrictions on Sundays; and other shops must be closed on Sundays.

• 30 Jun 2005
  Slovenia: Government wants voluntary membership of Chamber of Commerce and Industry<#PDF_LINK>

  In June 2005, the Slovenian Ministry of the Economy announced that it wants to make membership of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) - one of the main organisations representing employers' interests - voluntary, rather than compulsory as at present. Draft legislation to this effect is being prepared. GZS opposes the proposals, arguing that a chamber with voluntary membership would not be interested in providing services that are useful for the economy as a whole.

• 30 Jun 2005
  Netherlands: Government accepts SER recommendation on unemployment insurance reform<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, the Netherlands' tripartite Social and Economic Council (SER) issued a unanimous recommendation, requested by the government, on reform of the Unemployment Insurance Act (WW). Subsequently, the government announced that it would be implementing the recommendation. virtually in its entirety. The unemployment insurance system will thus be reformed, for example by cutting the maximum period of benefit entitlement and tightening the rules on the previous period of employment required. At the same time, there will be greater emphasis on prevention of unemployment, reintegration back into work and activation of unemployed people, along with changes to dismissals law.

• 29 Jun 2005
  Norway: Parliament passes new working environment legislation<#PDF_LINK>

  In June 2005, the Norwegian parliament passed a number of changes to current working environment legislation. The changes include provisions to make it easier to use temporary employees, and to improve the prospects of part-time employees to obtain extended working hours. Furthermore, the amendments seek to implement the 2002 EU information and consultation Directive. The new provisions will come into force in January 2006.

• 29 Jun 2005
  Bulgaria: Economic and Social Council discusses EU accession<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, the Bulgarian parliament ratified the country's accession treaty with the European Union. This article examines the discussions on accession so far conducted by the Bulgarian social partners (and civil society organisation) in the national Economic and Social Council and the EU-Bulgaria Joint Consultative Committee - a joint structure with the European Economic and Social Committee.

• 29 Jun 2005
  Malta: Maltese social partners oppose abolition of working time Directive opt-out<#PDF_LINK>

  Virtually all the Maltese social partners agree that the abolition of the opt-out from the EU working time Directive's 48-hour limit on average weekly working hours, as proposed by the European Parliament in May 2005, would be harmful to the national economy. While acknowledging the importance of maintaining a better work-life balance, the government, trade unions and employers’ associations fear that the proposed amendment might lead to less business competitiveness and lower standards of living.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Germany: Few women in management positions<#PDF_LINK>

  In March 2005, the German Federal Statistical Office published new data on the chances of female employees obtaining a management position in Germany. According to a recent survey, women are still underrepresented in such positions. In March 2004, while women accounted for almost half of all persons in dependent employment, only one third of them worked in management jobs.

• 28 Jun 2005
  United Kingdom: Research highlights discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace<#PDF_LINK>

  A survey published by the Equal Opportunities Commission in February 2005 highlights the extent to which pregnant women and new mothers experience discrimination in the workplace. Nearly half of the women surveyed who had worked while pregnant said they encountered some form of related discrimination. This feature outlines the study’s main findings and examines employer and union stances on the issue.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Spain: Women and illegal work<#PDF_LINK>

  The Spanish Women's Institute recently conducted a study showing that 17% of working women are not registered for social security. The characteristics, profile and view of their work open up new questions and also new prospects in the fight for equal opportunities for men and women.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Austria: Employment rate of older people far below the EU average<#PDF_LINK>

  At 10 percentage points lower than the EU average, Austria is among the EU countries with the lowest employment rate of older people. Despite the current demographic trend towards an ageing of the population, companies continue to focus their further training measures on workers in the 20 to 40 age bracket. Surveys reveal that in comparison with other European countries, Austrians feel especially discriminated against for reasons of age.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Bulgaria: Government adopts National Action Plan for Employment 2005<#PDF_LINK>

  On 14 February 2005, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria approved the National Action Plan for Employment 2005, the fifth such action plan. The plan was drafted by a taskforce including a broad representation of experts from the government and employers and trade union organisations. The group took into account the national legislation and the guidelines of the European Council and the European Commission. The National Action Plan for Employment 2005 continues the task of implementing the Employment Strategy of Bulgaria adopted in 2003 and the recommendations of the Joint Assessment of the Employment Priorities in Bulgaria of the Government and the European Commission.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Czech Republic: The employment and status of women in the labour market<#PDF_LINK>

  The situation regarding the employment of women and their ability to succeed in the labour market is different in the Czech Republic from that in western European countries. The key factor influencing differences in the social and work status of women is socio-political: the legacy of the totalitarian regime in the Czech Republic and the democratic, largely social, market-based system in western Europe.

• 28 Jun 2005
  France: Government plan for developing personal services<#PDF_LINK>

  In February 2005, France’s Minister for Social Cohesion tabled a plan for developing personal services, with a view to boosting employment throughout the sector. While the plan meets the sector’s needs, it has given rise to some unease as to the type and number of jobs it may generate.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Italy: Spotlight on female entrepreneurs<#PDF_LINK>

  The first report on female entrepreneurship in Italy was published in January 2005. The report, entitled Impresa in genere, commissioned by the Ministry of Productive Activities and UnionCamere, analyses the problems, the structure and the motivating factors behind women-run companies in Italy.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Latvia: Overtime - an economic necessity<#PDF_LINK>

  A study from the University of Latvia reveals that the number of employees who work overtime in Latvia is increasing. About 15% of employees declared that they worked overtime. During 2004, the issue of overtime work was raised several times. This article provides information about the regulation of overtime work in legislation, forms of overtime work and payment. It is worth indicating that because employees willingly agree to overtime work, they are less concerned about possible breaches of their employment rights.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Slovakia: New law on undeclared work<#PDF_LINK>

  The new act on illegal work tackles the problem of undeclared work in a more systematic way than previous legislation. It creates better conditions for performance of control and prevention in this sphere. It also increases the cooperation of government bodies and provides more rights to inspection bodies in their fight against undeclared work. It also gives more strict responsibilities to employers in relation to registering their employees. It is expected that application of the new act will help to cut down on undeclared work in Slovakia.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Estonia: Company investment in human capital<#PDF_LINK>

  According to an international survey, investment by Estonian employers into the human capital of their employees is at a very low level compared to other European Union Member States. However, employers say they would not consider offering fringe benefits to employees until mandatory taxes from these benefits are reduced.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Spain: Aftermath of Sintel dispute examined<#PDF_LINK>

  In 2000-1, there was a long-running and high-profile dispute over the bankruptcy of a Spanish telephone installation company, Sintel, and the redundancy of its workforce. This article examines what has since happened to the former Sintel workforce, as at mid-2005. This includes the establishment of a worker-controlled company, Sintratel, which current employs 250 former Sintel workers and hopes in future to take on all of their ex-colleagues still without jobs or an early retirement scheme.

• 28 Jun 2005
  France: Legislation on employment placement services amended<#PDF_LINK>

  New legislation that was adopted in France in January 2005 changes the regulations on employment placement services. The state-run National Employment Agency (ANPE) no longer has a monopoly (if only theoretical) over placement services and may create fee-charging subsidiaries, while temporary employment agencies may now also provide employment placement services. The new rules should have a significant impact on the balance between public and private employment agencies. The social partners' reactions have been mixed.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Finland: Public sector unions demand curbs on fixed-term jobs<#PDF_LINK>

  The level of fixed-term employment remains high in the Finnish public sector (with around a quarter of all workers affected) and women in particular are involved. In 2005, several public sector trade unions have expressed their concern about the situation - for example, in June the VAL union lodged a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman over the use of fixed-term contracts in the state sector.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Denmark: Offshoring found to create new jobs<#PDF_LINK>

  A joint trade union/employer study published in May 2005 finds that the offshoringof Danish companies' activities abroad does not necessarily result in fewer jobs in Denmark. The specific employment effect of offshoring is limited, whereas in manufacturing industry and business services, total employment shows a more positive development among offshoring companies than in these sectors as a whole.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Ireland: European conference highlights challenges for human resources managers<#PDF_LINK>

  Challenges currently facing European personnel/human resources managers were at the core of a combined Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and European Association for Personnel Management (EAPM) conference, held in Ireland in May 2005. Under the theme European workplace of the future - flexible and competitive, attendees at the three-day event heard that human resources can make a real strategic contribution to organisational performance.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Hungary: New law on working time of mobile road transport workers in force<#PDF_LINK>

  A law adopted in Hungary in early 2005 transposes a 2002 EU Directive on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities, as well as setting further sectoral rules for the road transport industry.

• 28 Jun 2005
  Hungary: Sectoral bargaining now on the agenda in construction industry<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, trade union and employers' organisations in the Hungarian construction industry agreed a schedule for negotiations aimed at concluding a sectoral collective agreement. Previous efforts in this direction have proved largely unsuccessful, but the issue has been given new impetus by the announcement of government measures to tackle undeclared work in construction. The parties believe that a sectoral collective agreement will be an important step in reducing undeclared work in the industry.

• 27 Jun 2005
  EU Countries: Évolution du temps de travail - 2004<#PDF_LINK>

  La présente étude sur la durée du temps de travail en 2003 et 2004 révèle que la durée conventionnelle moyenne de travail hebdomadaire dans l’Union européenne dans son ensemble était d’environ 38,6 heures, soit 0,7 heure de moins que dans l’ancienne UE des 15 (plus la Norvège) et 0,9 heure de plus que dans les nouveaux États membres. La durée normale moyenne de travail annuel établie collectivement se situe entre 1 740 heures - moins de 1 700 heures dans l’ancienne UE des 15 (plus la Norvège) et plus de 1 800 heures dans les nouveaux États membres. Sur les trois secteurs examinés, la chimie affiche la durée de travail hebdomadaire conventionnelle la plus élevée, suivie du commerce de détail et de la fonction publique. Le droit au congé payé annuel conventionnel moyen était de 26,0 jours en 2004.

• 27 Jun 2005
  EU Countries: Évolutions des salaires - 2004<#PDF_LINK>

  Cette étude des tendances de l’évolution des salaires en 2003 et 2004 conclut à la baisse des augmentations moyennes des salaires nominaux négociées collectivement au sein de l’UE25, passant de 4,2% en 2003 à 4,0% en 2004 (avec toutefois des variations importantes entre pays), ce qui s’inscrit dans l’alignement d’une tendance constante à la baisse. Si l’on tient compte de l’inflation, le taux d'augmentation réelle a régressé plus fortement, passant de 1,8% en 2003 à 1,0% en 2004. Si l'augmentation moyenne des salaires nominaux négociée est restée inchangée à 3,1% en 2004 dans l'ancienneUE15, elle a, par contre, baissé dans les 10 nouveaux États membres, qui ont adhéré à l’Union en mai 2004, passant de 5,9% en 2003 à 5,4% en 2004. L'image globale est celle d'une tendance constante à la modération salariale. Cette étude analyse également les augmentations de salaire négociées collectivement dans des secteurs sélectionnés (industrie chimique, commerce de détail et fonction publique), les augmentations des revenus moyens et les salaires minima (plus les taux salariaux minima) et les inégalités salariales entre les sexes.

• 24 Jun 2005
  EU Level: June social Council discusses working time Directive<#PDF_LINK>

  EU employment and social affairs ministers met in June 2005 to discuss issues including revision of the working time Directive, a proposal to give legal effect to a social partner agreement on the working time of workers operating cross-border rail services, new employment guidelines, a Green Paper on managing migration to the EU and the creation of a new European Gender Institute.

• 24 Jun 2005
  EU Level: World Economic Forum examines gender gap<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, the World Economic Forum released a study that attempts to quantify the gender gapin a number of areas, including pay and labour market access, across 58 countries. The Nordic countries are found to be those with the smallest gender gap.

• 24 Jun 2005
  Germany: Unions take new initiatives to tackle membership decline<#PDF_LINK>

  According to the latest figures from the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), the membership of its affiliated trade unions dropped by nearly 5% in 2004 to stand at 7.01 million. Not only has membership continued to decline but DGB also faces the problem of an ageing membership and particular difficulties addressing young workers and employees in sectors with a weak trade union presence. To tackle this situation, DGB and its affiliates have decided to intensify their organising and recruitment efforts.

• 23 Jun 2005
  Belgium: New Flemish employment agreement concluded<#PDF_LINK>

  In January 2005, the Flemish social partners and regional government signed a new employment agreement for 2005-6, which contains a number of measures aimed at getting low-skilled young people and long-term unemployed people into work and keeping older workers in jobs. However, a controversy subsequently broke out about cuts in government funding for the promotion of career breaks.

• 23 Jun 2005
  United Kingdom: Mixed UK reaction to developments concerning amendment of EU working time legislation<#PDF_LINK>

  Decisions during May and June 2005 by the European Parliament and the social affairs Council concerning the proposed amendment of the EU working time Directive met with contrasting responses from UK employers, trade unions and the government.

• 23 Jun 2005
  Cyprus: Government proposes raising public sector retirement age to 63<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, the Cypriot Ministry of Finance submitted to the trade unions a proposal for raising the retirement age for employees in public and educational services and semi-governmental organisations from 60 to 63. This article outlines the content of the proposal, along with the anticipated effects of the higher retirement age and the responses of the unions.

• 23 Jun 2005
  EU Countries: Évolution des systèmes nationaux de négociation collective depuis 1990<#PDF_LINK>

  Cette étude comparative donne un aperçu de l‘évolution des systèmes nationaux de négociation collective depuis 1990 dans les États membres de l'UE (à l'exception du Luxembourg et du Portugal), plus la Bulgarie, la Norvège et la Roumanie. Elle examine le cadre juridique des négociations collectives, la documentation et les données nationales concernant les conventions collectives, les caractéristiques fondamentales des systèmes nationaux de négociation (par exemple les niveaux et la couverture de la négociation, les procédures d'extension, les changements depuis le début des années 1990, et les points de vue et les demandes des partenaires sociaux et des acteurs politiques quant à l‘évolution des négociations collectives).

• 15 Jun 2005
  EU Countries: Industrial relations in the public utilities<#PDF_LINK>

  Public utilities in Europe have undergone major changes in recent years, involving processes such as liberalisation, privatisation and a growing presence of multinational companies. Focusing on the electricity and fixed-network telephony sectors, this comparative study examines the effects of these changes on industrial relations. Covering 19 EU Member States plus Norway, it looks at developments in the status of employees, the representation of workers and employers, the structure of collective bargaining, and negotiations and conflicts over issues such as restructuring, outsourcing and worker participation.

• 10 Jun 2005
  Bulgaria: Signed collective labour agreement at the national health insurance fund in bulgaria<#PDF_LINK>

  The National Trade Union established at National Health Insurance Fund last year signed Collective Agreement providing for better protection of labour and social rights of employes

• 10 Jun 2005
  Greece: General strike held to mark belated May Day<#PDF_LINK>

  On 11 May 2005, Greece’s two largest trade union organisations, the Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE) and Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY), called a general strike to commemorate May Day belatedly. The context was that the traditional 1 May holiday had coincided with Greek Orthodox Easter and unions were angered by confusion over whether the government would transfer it to a later date.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Slovenia: Social partners renew demands for abolition of payroll tax<#PDF_LINK>

  In 2005, following the election of a new government, the Slovenian social partners are again calling for at least the gradual abolition of the payroll tax on employers, which was introduced in 1996. However, abolition seems unlikely because of government plans in other areas, notably pensions, which will place a burden on the state budget.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Bulgaria: Election policies on employment issues examined<#PDF_LINK>

  A general election will be held in Bulgaria on 25 June 2005. This article examines the policies and commitments of the three main political groupings on industrial relations and employment issues, notably the labour market, incomes and pensions.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Italy: Decentralised 'territorial' bargaining on the increase<#PDF_LINK>

  Decentralised bargaining at territoriallevel (ie covering a particular district rather than a single company) has become more widespread in Italy over the 1996-2004 period, according to a report from the National Council for Economic Affairs and Labour (Cnel). It was previously almost entirely restricted to a few sectors, most notably agriculture and construction, but it is now spreading to areas such as crafts and services (commerce and tourism). Although still of minor importance compared with national/sectoral and company-level agreements, territorial bargaining is likely to continue to develop in future.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Greece: Strikes held in maritime industry<#PDF_LINK>

  In late March 2005, the Pan-Hellenic Seafarers’ Federation (PNO) organised two 48-hour strikes in the Greek maritime sector, in support of a variety of demands related to wages, employment, social insurance and back pay owed to redundant workers. The union suspended further action following a number of concessions from the Ministry of Maritime Shipping.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Norway: Industrial action during 2004 bargaining round examined<#PDF_LINK>

  According to figures published in May 2005 by Statistics Norway, industrial action was at a relatively moderate level during the 2004 collective bargaining round, with fewer working days lost than in any other main settlementsince 1994. The disputes were on the whole concerned with issues other than pay, and many of them remain unresolved.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Sweden: Swedish trade unions in sympathy actions for the Finnish paper conflict<#PDF_LINK>

  A number of Swedish blue-collar trade unions are involved in sympathy actions to support the striking paper workers in Finland. 2 and 3 June the latest Swedish actions started and will go on for as long as the Finnish conflict lasts.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Italy: Confindustria holds annual assembly<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, Confindustria, Italy’s main employers’ association, held its annual assembly. Its president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, launched a warning on the future of the country’s industry. Economic recession, re-launch of competitiveness, tax reforms and collective bargaining system are some key issues in his address.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Italy: Restructuring plan announced at Ibm<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005 Ibm announced a European-scale restructuring plan entailing between 10,000 and 13,000 redundancies, a reorganisation of Ibm branches and the closure of some plants. The lack of clarity and transparency of the multinational company about the number of redundancies in Italy and about the future of the Italian plants caused the harsh reaction of the Italian trade union organisations.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Italy: Workers on strike at STMicroelectronics<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005 the workers of the Italian plants of STMicroelectronics went on strike to protest against the restructuring plan announced by the Italian-French multinational company which envisages 3,000 redundancies and the closure of some industrial plants. The strike was called by the setoral trade union organisations representing Italian metalworkers, Fiom-Cgil, Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil, within the framework of an action day coordinated with the French metalworkers’ representatives.

• 08 Jun 2005
  Hungary: 100 steps program: the government has announced a widespread reform package of world of work, welfare services and broad areas of public services and economic regulation in Hungary<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, Ferenc Gyurcsány, the Prime Minister announced the launch of a wide-ranging package of a reform steps, called 100 steps, which includes 100 reform measures in the field of of world of work, welfare services, broad areas of public services and economic regulation in Hungary.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Austria: Building industry and social partners call for stricter Social Fraud Bill<#PDF_LINK>

  Underhand dealings of so-called pseudo-companiesin the construction sector are costing the Austrian state up to EUR 1 billion of taxes and social security contributions each year. The Social Fraud Bill, that came into force on 1 March 2005, is devised to combat organised illicit work and fraudulent pseudo-companies. The building industry and the social partners criticise that higher penalties will not solve the problem. They demand that employees shall already get registered at the Association of Social Security Providers before they take up work.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Germany: New figures on continuous vocational training in Germany<#PDF_LINK>

  At the beginning of May 2005, the Cologne Institute for Business Research published figures on the incidence of further vocational training in Germany. Whereas the participation rates for establishments rose to an all-time high in 2003, those for the working population declined further.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Poland: Election of workers’ representative on board of KGHM S.A. causes dispute among staff<#PDF_LINK>

  On 18 May 2005, the KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. copper conglomerate launched the election of the workers’ representative on the managing board of the company. The only candidate running for that position was the holding’s president, Wiktor Błądek, who enjoyed the support of the Copper Industry Workers’ Union. The candidate’s opponents, mostly members of the works organisation of NSZZ Solidarity, called for a boycot of the elections, which in their opinion were held in Belorussian style.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Czech Republic: Czech healthcare in search of economic equilibrium<#PDF_LINK>

  Ever since the formation of the Czech Republic in 1993, the economic conditions of the working of healthcare in the independent Czech state have been the subject of constant and as yet fruitless debate. No government has yet been able to formulate a comprehensive concept for the department to define clear economic rules and help balance the system. Now, in the second half of May 2005, the new government of Jiří Paroubek (Czech Social Democratic Party) is striving to achieve this objective, inviting representatives of insurers, doctors, other healthcare workers and their trade union organisations to the debating table.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Germany: New pay agreement for German steel industry<#PDF_LINK>

  On 11 May 2005, the bargaining parties in the western German steel industry signed a new collective agreement on pay. Following lump sum payments for the months of April to August wages will go up by 3.5% with effect from 1 September 2005. A similar agreement was concluded about a week later for the eastern German steel industry.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Poland: Donbas in Talks with Huta Częstochowa<#PDF_LINK>

  The 13 of May marked the deadline for completing the negotiations between Mittal Steel group and the trade unions of Częstochowa Steelworks (Huta Częstochowa) mill. Mittal Steel is the biggest enterprise in steel industry in Poland. Its estimated stake in the market is 70 %. As for Częstochowa Steelworks, this is the only important producer of naval steel in Poland. It is also the biggest employer in the region, and up to its teeth in debts. For this reason mainly, the State Treasury Ministry (Ministerstwo Skarbu Państwa, MSP) has put up the steelworks for sale.  

• 07 Jun 2005
  United Kingdom: Government to extend leave rights for parents and carers<#PDF_LINK>

  Among the legislation the re-elected Labour government will introduce in the 2005-6 session of parliament, outlined in the Queen’s Speech in May 2005, is a parental rights Bill which will extend maternity leave provision, enable mothers to transfer some of their maternity leave and pay to fathers and extend the right to request flexible working to other workers with caring responsibilities.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Finland: Border guards and commissioned officers clash with State employer<#PDF_LINK>

  Unions representing commissioned officers and border guards have for the first time in their history officially resorted to industrial action. The Officers’ Union began a boycott of international operations in April 2005 and the Border Guard Union started a strike at the Finland - Russia border in May 2005.

• 07 Jun 2005
  France: Strikes in Retail Sector<#PDF_LINK>

  Between September 2004 and May 2005, the largest retail group, Carrefour experienced various industrial disputes, mainly over pay. One of them was motivated by the highly lucrative golden handshake afforded to the outgoing CEO.

• 07 Jun 2005
  France: Cross-sector Negotiations on Teleworking Kicked Off<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, employers’ associations and trade unions kicked off talks on teleworking to define the terms and conditions for the transposition of the 2002 European Union framework agreement into French law.

• 07 Jun 2005
  France: Transposition of Directives on the Postal Sector.<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005, the law on the regulation of postal activities transposing 1997 and 2002 European Union Directives was finally adopted. It provided for the gradual introduction of competition into the postal sector and defines the public service objectives to be met by the universal postal service.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Belgium: Social chaos in the Walloon public transport system<#PDF_LINK>

  The public bus system has been affected, over several weeks, by repeated strikes. The management of the Walloon Regional Transport Company (Société Régionale Wallonne des Transports, SRWT) is not in agreement with the workers’ wage demands. The dispute has been exacerbated by the resignations of several social conciliators appointed by the federal Ministry of Employment. The impasse seems total at present.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Sweden: Former employers' leader reviews operation of National Mediation Office<#PDF_LINK>

  Sweden's National Mediation Office started operations in June 2000. In 2005, Göran Tunhammar, the former managing director of the Swedish Employers' Confederation, (now the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), has been commissioned by the government to conduct an evaluation of the Office’s work so far.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Slovakia: Undeclared work inspection results<#PDF_LINK>

  The National Labour Inspectorate and the Centre of Labour, Social Affairs and Family realised inspection of undeclared work immediately after the new act entered into force. During the first two weeks of inspection nearly 1,000 undeclared workers were detected. In April and May the employers registered 51,000 new employees. However, the praxis showed that nearly 60% of them were external employees who did not work under usual employment contracts.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Latvia: Latvian builders’ misfortunes in Sweden continue<#PDF_LINK>

  Since the autumn of 2004, several Latvian construction firms have been affected by the Swedish Building Workers’ Union’s boycott of the construction services market. The unions believe that Latvian firms doing jobs in the Swedish market are paying their workers lower wages than is permitted in Sweden. The attitude toward the Latvian firms has generated a broad resonance and revealed that implementing the free movement of services and labor is not a simple process.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Estonia: Collective labour dispute in railway sector<#PDF_LINK>

  Already over two years a railway company Edelaraudtee and the Estonian Locomotive Workers’ Trade Union have held negotiations in order to conclude a collective agreement without reaching any results. During this time the trade union organisation has threatened with strikes for several times. Public conciliator is involved in resolving this labour dispute but so far the conflict has not found a solution.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Denmark: Industrial action increases moderately in 2004<#PDF_LINK>

  According to new figures published by Statistics Denmark in April 2005, the number of working days lost due to industrial action in 2004 increased again after having been down over three-quarters on the 2002 figure in 2003. Compared with previous years, however, the number of lost working days is still moderate.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Greece: Report on the Competitiveness of the Greek Economy Sparks Opposition<#PDF_LINK>

  At the most recent meeting of the National Council on Competitiveness and Development (ESAA), its Annual Report on Competitiveness for 2004 was presented. The report, which sparked opposition from the trade unions, attempts to list the factors contributing to the country’s low level of competitiveness worldwide, and in parallel proposes measures and policies for its improvement.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Romania: Hunger strike at Coca Cola Romania<#PDF_LINK>

  At the end of April 2005, a labour dispute broke out at Coca Cola Romania, with employees claiming a 20% pay rise and the amendment of many articles of the former collective agreement. Prior to some other forms of protest, eight employees went on a hunger strike. Workers received support from trade union federations at sector and national level.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Norway: Norway trying to cope with the free movement of workers from the new member states<#PDF_LINK>

  In May 2005 social dumping and the regulation of labour migration was on the agenda of the social partners and policy-makers in Norway. The government and the social partners intend to intensify efforts and strengthen measures to combat social dumping.

• 07 Jun 2005
  EU Level: Commission adopts Communication on youth policies<#PDF_LINK>

  At the end of May 2005, the European Commission adopted a Communication on youth policies as part of the follow-up to the adoption of the European Youth Pact by the European Council in March 2005.

• 07 Jun 2005
  EU Level: Creation of new health, safety, research and education institute <#PDF_LINK>

  A new European health and safety, research and education institute, ETUI-REHS, was created on 1 April 2005, following a merger of three European trade union institutions. It is hoped that the new organisation will become the centre for expertise in these fields.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Ireland: Royal Bank of Scotland’s personnel policies are dominant<#PDF_LINK>

  An independent chairman has issued a set of recommendations dealing with the transposition of personnel policies from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) into Ulster Bank and First Active, both of which were taken over by RBS in 2003.

• 07 Jun 2005
  EU Level: Gender mainstreaming in the use of EU structural funds<#PDF_LINK>

  The EU’s high-level group on gender mainstreaming met in May 2005. At the meeting, a range of best practice examples of gender mainstreaming in the use of EU structural funds were presented.

• 07 Jun 2005
  Hungary: Reorganisation of European level representation of Hungarian employers<#PDF_LINK>

  Following intense communication among the organisations concerned, it was agreed a major change in employers’ representation at UNICE, and in general at European level. The nine Hungarian employers’ association has agreed to suspend activities and disband CEHIC by June 2005. MGYOSZ, one of the major encompassing employers’ association, became the sole Hungarian member of UNICE.

• 06 Jun 2005
  Poland: Business Centre Club airs views on social dialogue<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, the Business Centre Club Employers’ Organisation (BCC-ZP), on of Poland's four main central employers' associations, issued a document setting out its views on the social dialogue. It proposes a number of changes to national and regional tripartite social dialogue bodies and to the relationship between social dialogue and the political system.

• 06 Jun 2005
  Sweden: New agreement signed for blue-collar municipal workers<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, following mediation, the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions concluded a new two-year pay agreement for 380,000 blue-collar workers employed by municipalities and city councils. This deal completed the 2005-6 bargaining round in the municipal and regional sector, following earlier agreements for white-collar and professional workers.

• 06 Jun 2005
  Sweden: Government jobs to be moved to areas affected by military cutbacks<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, the Swedish government announced that some 2,200 jobs in various public authorities are to be moved from Stockholm to four areas of the country affected by a restructuring of defence forces, involving the disbandment of a number of regiments with 2,500 redundancies. Trade unions representing the government employees affected are opposed to the relocation of jobs.

• 06 Jun 2005
  Romania: Government seeks to relaunch social dialogue<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, in order to address tensions with the social partners, especially related to proposed amendments to the Labour Code, the Romanian Prime Minister held consultations with some trade unions and employers' organisations. Despite some consensus among the participants, the meeting angered those social partners that were not invited. Meanwhile, pay disputes have broken out in a number of sectors

• 03 Jun 2005
  France: New back-to-work scheme agreed for redundant employees<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, French employers' organisations and four out of five trade union confederations concluded an intersectoral agreement on the introduction of a new personalised back-to-work assistance agreement(CRP) scheme to retrain and find new jobs for employees who are made redundant. The scheme is based on the provisions of a new law on social cohesion, adopted in January.

• 03 Jun 2005
  France: Unions oppose extra 'solidarity' working day<#PDF_LINK>

  From 2005, the French government has abolished one public holiday a year, with the extra solidarity dayof work being used to fund measures to assist the elderly and people with disabilities. Trade unions strongly oppose this move and have called for industrial action on 16 May 2005, formerly the Whit Monday public holiday.

• 03 Jun 2005
  France: Government proposes reform of financial participation/employee savings schemes<#PDF_LINK>

  In March 2005, France's new Minister of Economy and Finance invited companies that wish to do so to give employees a one-off payment related to company performance, as a trade-off for a reduction in company tax. Soon afterwards, the Prime Minister announced that there is to be a reform of the main statutory employee savings and financial participation schemes. These proposals, which aim to give fresh impetus to consumer activity, have not, by and large, found favour with the trade unions, which want to focus on pay bargaining, while employers have been more positive.

• 03 Jun 2005
  Spain: Government proposes overall strategy for reducing industrial accident rate<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, the Spanish government proposed a plan for improving occupational risk prevention and reducing the industrial accident rate. It aims to draw up an overall strategy, agreed by the social partners, that will generate transversaland integrated policies to deal with the complex topic of health and safety at work. Both the trade unions and the employers' organisations - which will be consulted on the proposals - are in favour of this plan, but for very different reasons.

• 03 Jun 2005
  Italy: Whirlpool Europe restructuring plan envisages large-scale job losses<#PDF_LINK>

  In April 2005, the US-based multinational Whirlpool, the world's largest manufacturer of domestic appliances, announced a restructuring plan for its plants in Italy that envisages around 1,000 redundancies by 2007. The plants concerned are located in the province of Varese. According to the company, the restructuring plan is necessary to counteract a constant fall of competitiveness in certain segments of production. The main sectoral trade unions have objected to the company’s unilateral decision and have appealed to the local and national political authorities to find alternatives to the relocation strategies increasingly being pursued in the manufacturing sector.

• 03 Jun 2005
  Spain: Third agreement signed on resolving labour disputes out of court<#PDF_LINK>

  In March 2005, the Spanish social partners renewed for the second time a national agreement on resolving labour disputes out of court, first signed in 1996. The procedures laid down by the agreement cover 7 million workers, or 70% of all workers covered by collective agreements. The Intersectoral Mediation and Arbitration Service, based on the agreement, is becoming increasingly important in the resolution of labour disputes.