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January 2007

• 29 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Unions criticise unequal treatment of temporary agency workers

  The new employment act in force since 1 October 2004 sets out the employment rules for temporary work agencies according to the requirements of Convention No. 181 of the International Labour Organisation. At the same time, the Labour Code incorporates a new concept, defined as ‘agency employment’. However, the Czech Metalworkers’ Federation claims that the principle of an agency employee being entitled to the same remuneration as a regular employee in the same position is not respected in practice by some employers.

• 29 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Ongoing dispute between public bus company and regional authority

  Since August 2006, the Ústí region in the northwest of the Czech Republic has been experiencing disruptions in its public bus service, as a result of a dispute between representatives of the Ústí Regional Authority and the Ústí Region Transport Company (DPÚK). DPÚK employees thus face uncertainty about the future of their jobs with the company.

• 29 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Gender pay gap shown to be highest in top jobs

  Based on a labour market analysis carried out between 1993 and 2005 by the Czech Statistical Office, women’s monthly wages are significantly lower than those of men. On average, women earn three quarters as much as men do. In an effort, to achieve gender equality in the Czech labour market, the two main social partner organisations have undertaken projects in this field.

• 29 Jan 2007
  Denmark: Social partners work on initiatives to reduce work-related stress

  In recent months, articles on work-related stress have been appearing almost every day in the press. The articles are often based on recent research findings revealing that a large group of Danish workers suffer from high stress levels caused by heavy workloads and high work pressure. The social partners and research institutions have been trying to respond to the problems caused by work-related stress by funding research projects and instigating new initiatives and programmes to target stress at work, as well as regulating work-related stress through collective agreements.

• 29 Jan 2007
  Denmark: Economic boom triggers high employee expectations in bargaining round

  The economic upswing complicates the 2007 collective bargaining rounds in the private sector of the labour market as employees have high expectations of generous pay increases, among other improvements in terms of working conditions. Nevertheless, it seems likely that a compromise agreement will be reached, as in previous years. Experience indicates that large-scale conflict will not be a serious threat until the next round – negotiations at local level.

• 29 Jan 2007
  Finland: Social partners agree to increase in pension contributions

  Social partners have reached agreement on the extent of pension contributions for employers and employees in the next two years. By means of increased contributions, all parties wish to secure the financing of earnings-related pensions in the future, in light of the ageing of the population in Finland.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Italy: Agreement reached on end-of-service allowance

  In November 2006, the government approved a legislative bill, partly amending the reform of the end-of-service allowance defined by Law 252/2005. The legislative bill implements an agreement on the different aspects of the reform signed by the government, the employer organisation Confindustria and the three main trade union confederations in October 2006. It complements the broader context of changes and developments of the Italian social security and pension system.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Italy: Unions plan strike action at delocalisation of Michelin plants

  In November 2006, the French Michelin company, world leader in the production of tyres, announced plans to downsize human resources and the production of tyres in its plants located in Italy. The Italian sectoral trade unions are concerned about these developments and have decided to mobilise workers and organise strikes while waiting to learn more in relation to the group’s restructuring plan.

• 25 Jan 2007
  France: CFDT 46th congress debates union’s future approach

  The French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) held its 46th national congress in Grenoble from 12 to 16 June 2006. Almost 2,000 delegates attended, during which they debated the confederation’s report on its past activities and strategy for future policy. Social dialogue on ‘making career paths secure’ and on ‘employment contract rules’ was at the heart of these discussions. The congress has shown that CFDT has become a force to be reckoned with, both in relation to reforms, and also in relation to supporting the opinion held by the majority of workers.

• 25 Jan 2007
  France: Union refuses to sign agreement on diversity in companies

  In October 2006, employers and trade unions successfully negotiated an intersectoral agreement on ‘diversity in companies’. Four out of five trade union confederations announced their intention to sign this agreement, which aims to initiate social dialogue on diversity issues in companies with a workforce of 50 people or over. However, the French Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff – General Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff (Confédération française de l’encadrement – confédération générale des cadres, CFE-CGC) has announced that it will not sign the agreement.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Cyprus: First collective agreement signed between workers and airport group

  In November 2006, the first company-level collective agreement was signed between the ground staff at Larnaka and Pafos Airports and the French-led group Hermes Airports. The latter is the new operator of both airports and responsible for the construction works of new terminals at these airports. The two-year agreement, which addresses both pay and non-pay issues, does not cover hourly paid civil service aviation staff. Such personnel are covered by the existing agreement in force until the date that the two airports are fully assigned to the new strategic investor.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Bulgaria: New information centre for Bulgarians intending to work in Spain

  In December 2006, the Minister of Labour and Social Policy and the president of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria opened an information centre for Bulgarians intending to work in Spain. The new centre is the result of a joint project by Bulgarian and Spanish trade unions, which united efforts to defend social security and workers’ rights and promote legal work in the EU.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Belgium: New law gives redundancy protection to employee representatives

  In a new decree, the Court of Arbitration in Belgium has ruled that employee representatives will retain their redundancy protection if they resign from office. This reinforcement of redundancy protection for employee representatives comes at a time when some notable legal cases against participants in strike action are pending.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Belgium: Social partners put forward demands in negotiations for intersectoral agreement

  In the autumn of 2006, the main social partners were due to enter into negotiations aimed at concluding an intersectoral agreement for the period 2007–2008. In anticipation of the imminent negotiations, the trade unions, and to a lesser extent the employer organisations, outlined their main demands during September and October 2006.

• 25 Jan 2007
  Belgium: Agreement at Belgian National Railways satisfies union demands

  In October 2006, a meeting between the trade unions and management of Belgian National Railways discussed the demands put forward by the unions. Dissatisfied with its outcome, the unions threatened a 24-hour strike, planned for 8 November 2006. However, on 30 October, agreement was reached between the company’s management and the trade unions in relation to union concerns around the issues of under-staffing, sub-contracting and profit-sharing.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Employers opposed to wage increase demand by union

  The Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions is requesting a nominal wage increase of 7% in companies in 2007 According to the federation, this increase is necessary in the context of the rising demand for skilled labour in the Czech Republic. Employers regard this demand as being unrealistic and potentially harmful to businesses.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Germany: Debate on employee participation schemes highlights risks to employees

  The Christian Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, are currently debating useful reform steps that could be taken with regard to employee participation schemes. Against this background, the IW Köln has recently published a paper, highlighting that, in Germany, only 7% of employees held shares in their company in 2005. The social partners emphasise that employees should not be obliged to invest part of their wages in the company they work for, nor should employers be forced to implement such schemes.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Spain: Government launches strategy for health and safety at work

  On 20 October 2006, the government published the draft of the Spanish Strategy for Health and Safety at Work for the period 2007–2011. Work started on this strategy in February 2005 at the Social Dialogue Commission on occupational risk prevention. This commission was made up of representatives of the government, the Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organisations (CEOE), the Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CEPYME), the General Workers’ Confederation (UGT) and the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (CC.OO).

• 22 Jan 2007
  EU Level: New EU programme to target social inclusion and equality

  On 5 December 2006, the European Commission launched a new integrated programme for employment and social solidarity. The programme will provide the necessary and much-improved tools for better anticipating and responding to the collective challenges facing the EU. This article sets out the programme’s main objectives, demonstrating the role of employer and worker organisations in meeting key targets of social inclusion and equality.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Slovenia: Social partners critical of labour inspection annual report

  In line with legal requirements, the Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia submitted a report on its work for 2005 to the government in Spring 2006. The report was also discussed by the Economic and Social Council of Slovenia. However, because the report was not submitted to the council in a timely fashion, it was not possible to take into account numerous critical remarks of the social partners. In particular, trade union representatives criticised the shortcomings in reporting on the implementation of labour legislations in state administration.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Slovakia: Pressure mounts for wage increase in healthcare sector

  Healthcare workers have been asking for a wage increase for some time. At the beginning of 2006, doctors went on strike in an effort to get their wages increased. The current government is dealing with the healthcare workers’ demands for a wage increase, and hoping to introduce the increase in 1 January 2007. While some trade unionists are hoping for a 30% rise in wage, this has been refuted by the Minister of Health, as it would put a significant burden on the state budgetary resources. At the same time, the biggest sector representative trade union organisation wants to change from the current remuneration system to a system which guarantees minimum wages in individual healthcare professions.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Slovakia: Bolstering employers’ role in sectoral collective bargaining

  Sectoral collective bargaining has enjoyed a consistently strong position in Slovakia. According to surveys, however, employers do not usually have as great a role in sectoral social dialogue as trade unions. Some employers feel that sectoral collective agreements put them at a disadvantage and therefore try to avoid signing them. In order to improve this situation, a project called ‘Social dialogue and strengthening of the employer’s position’ has been initiated in Slovakia. This project, co-financed by the European Union, aims to strengthen the position of employers in sectoral social dialogue. In November 2006, the first seminar was held, with representatives of the employers, trade unions and the government in attendance.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Slovakia: Unions satisfied with new collective agreement in civil service

  In October 2006, trade unions in the civil service concluded a new sectoral collective agreement for 2007. The unions have achieved less than they had initially demanded from the new government but do not intend to resort to protest action. Most of the agreed terms and conditions of employment remained as they were in the 2006 collective agreement. The pay rates of civil servants will increase, but only by 4% compared with the 8% increase proposed by the trade unions. Despite this development, the unions are generally satisfied with the outcome of the sectoral collective bargaining round.

• 22 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Metalworkers’ federation completes project on European Works Councils

  The Czech Metalworkers’ Federation OS KOVO will soon have completed its second project on European Work Councils (EWCs). Both projects on EWCs have been funded by the European Commission. According to OS KOVO, the presence of numerous foreign companies in the Czech Republic, amounting to approximately 280 companies to date, was the reason for carrying out the two projects.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Italy: Efforts to combat illegal work intensified

  Recent official statistics show that, in Italy, illegal labour accounts for between 15.9% and 17.6% of gross domestic product. Various laws and initiatives have sought to address the problem at European, national and local levels. Recently, legislation and measures to tackle informal work have been reinforced in Italy.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Italy: Unions satisfied with new public sector agreements

  On 4 November 2006 the government and the trade unions reached an accord on public sector agreement renewals for 2006–2007. Besides bringing forward resources initially set aside for 2008, the deal significantly reduces the time taken to approve agreement renewals for public sector workers. The trade union confederations expressed their satisfaction and promised to call off their planned general strike as soon as the parliament approves the accord.

• 15 Jan 2007
  France: Report advocates radical overhaul of vocational training system

  A report published by the Paris Chamber of Commerce in September 2006 advocates a radical overhaul of the French vocational training system. The report’s authors point to a number of limitations of the system, in particular the poor coordination and inefficient use of funding. The trade unions are, however, opposed to some of the recommendations of the report, in particular the proposal to remove the individual right to training.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Greece: Closure of chemical plant averted following protest action

  After around 10 months of industrial action, workers at Phosphoric Fertilisers Industry (BFL) in Thessaloniki have succeeded in preventing the closure of the plant. A draft bill is expected to be submitted to parliament specifying the terms of exit for redundant and resigning employees.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Italy: Union federation divided over protest action against precarious employment

  On 4 November 2006, a national demonstration was held in Rome against precarious employment, or the excessive use of atypical contracts in the Italian labour market. The protest was organised by voluntary associations, left-wing political parties of the current coalition government and trade unions. Both autonomous and rank-and-file unions as well as a number of national sectoral unions affiliated to the General Confederation of Italian Workers (Cgil) initially supported the demonstration. However, the demonstration resulted in internal conflict for Cgil.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Portugal: Strikes in public sector over budget cuts

  In November 2006, the Portuguese parliament approved the 2007 draft budget. The bill was passed thanks to the votes of the majority Socialist Party as all the other parties voted against the budget. The public sector trade unions, who oppose both the budget and government plans for the public sector, launched a two-day general strike on 9–10 November.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Netherlands: Parliamentary balance swings in favour of left-wing after elections

  Parliamentary elections held on 22 November 2006 in the Netherlands have significantly changed the political balance. Right-wing parties have been weakened by the elections, while the left has been strengthened. The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers responded cautiously to the election outcome; the Dutch Trade Union Federation expects the outcome to reinforce socially oriented politics in the Netherlands.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Portugal: Social partners sign landmark agreement on minimum wage increase

  On 5 December 2006, the government and the social partners signed an agreement to increase the statutory minimum wage during the period 2007–2011 at an annual rate of about 5.3%. It is the first time in the history of social concertation in Portugal that tripartite negotiations regarding the minimum wage have resulted in an agreement. At present, the statutory minimum wage covers about 5% of the workforce. As the agreed annual increases of the minimum wage are higher than the growth rate of salaries, they will prove significant in collective bargaining,

• 15 Jan 2007
  Slovenia: Euro-Mediterranean Summit held in Ljubljana

  The annual Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils took place in Slovenia in November 2006. It was hosted jointly by the Slovenian Economic and Social Council and the European Economic and Social Committee. The summit brought together civil society representatives from the 25 EU Member States and 10 Mediterranean partner countries, as well as representatives from national, regional and international institutions.

• 15 Jan 2007
  Slovakia: Government increases minimum wage by 10%

  On 1 October 2006, the new Slovakian government increased the minimum monthly wage from SKK 6,900 to SKK 7,600 (€199 to €220). This represents a 10.1% rise. The new rate satisfies earlier trade union demands on the minimum wage increase while employers had hoped for a more moderate increase. Major changes in the rules governing the minimum wage are expected. The new government has declared its intention to introduce new legislation on the minimum wage, as well as adopting a new approach to wage increases.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Spain: New collective agreement for business and consultancy firms

  In November 2006, after two years without an agreement, the social partners signed the fifteenth sectoral agreement for consultancy companies involved in planning, business administration and accounting, information technology services, market research and opinion polls, for the period 2005–2006.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Bulgaria: New collective agreements signed in food industry

  At the end of August 2006, representative trade unions and employer organisations in the food industry concluded four branch collective agreements for the next two years. Through their joint efforts, the parties demonstrated their willingness to develop production and employment in the industry and to guarantee and respect workers’ fundamental social and economic rights.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Controversy over new workplace health and safety legislation

  In January 2007, a new Labour Code governing basic regulations for health and safety at work, among other things, came into effect. In addition, Act No. 309/2006 Coll. on occupational health and safety has also come into effect. The act contains key provisions regarding the professional competency of those working in the area of occupational health and safety. However, the new legislation has caused divisions among employers and the trade unions in this area. As a result, the Chamber of Commerce has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic claiming that some of the provisions of the new health and safety legislation are unconstitutional.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Belgium: Measures to combat illegal work among migrants in construction sector

  Since June 2006, migrants from eastern Europe have been able to obtain employment in a number of sectors in Belgium. In particular, the number of migrant workers engaged in construction work has increased considerably and this is expected to rise even further. As a result, new measures have been introduced in an effort to stamp out illegal work among migrants.

• 11 Jan 2007
  EU Level: European Court ruling on case of dismissal on grounds of sickness

  On 11 July 2006, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) re-defined its interpretation of the concept of ‘disability’ in a case brought against a catering company by a Spanish worker. The court ruling makes it clear that the protection of employees against discrimination on the grounds of disability, guaranteed under the Framework Directive, also applies in the case of dismissals. However, the court also made an important distinction between the concept of disability and sickness, stipulating that they should not be treated as the same thing. Accordingly, dismissal for reasons related to sickness does not automatically amount to a dismissal on the grounds of disability.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Germany: Extension of shop opening hours sparks intense debate

  In November 2006, following the example of the city state of Berlin, parliaments in the majority of German federal states (Länder) passed legislation which effectively repeals most of the restrictions of the federal Shop Closing Hours Act. As a result, it is now possible for shops in many German states to open 24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday. Shop opening on Sundays remains restricted, although some states allow shops to open for up to 10 Sundays a year. While the deregulation of shop opening hours was largely welcomed by the employers, it met with severe criticism from the United Services Union (ver.di), which fears disadvantages for shop employees, most of whom are women. Meanwhile, against the background of the extension of shop opening hours, employer organisations in the retail sector in all German states cancelled the existing framework collective agreements, with the intention of repealing or reducing the bonus payments for work during unsocial hours.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Germany: Employees face pension cuts following rise in legal retirement age

  On 29 November 2006, the federal government decided to raise the statutory retirement age from the current age of 65 years to 67 years. This increase will be gradually implemented between 2012 and 2029. People with as many as 45 insurance years will still be allowed to retire without any cuts in their pensions at the age of 65 years. Under certain conditions, people will be able to retire after 2029 from the age of 63 years onwards but will then have to face pension cuts. At the same time, the government decided to take measures to promote the employment of older people.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Germany: Union calls for more training opportunities for immigrants

  In November 2006, the Institute for Employment Research published a study on the employment prospects of trainees with an immigrant background. The study stated that the percentage of such trainees as a proportion of all apprentices slowly declined from 12.1% in 1996 to only 7.7% in 2004. In order to reverse this trend, the Confederation of German Trade Unions calls for a common strategy among the social partners to improve the prospects of immigrant youths to enter the labour market.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Austria: New international trade union confederation founded

  On 1 November 2006, a new International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was officially formed at its Founding Congress held in Vienna. ITUC was established as a result of the merger of the former International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labour. The aim of the new organisation is to set up a stronger and more united trade union movement at transnational level in order to respond to the growing challenge of economic globalisation.

• 11 Jan 2007
  Austria: Social democrats propose basic monthly social security cover

  Following the general elections, held in October 2006, the Social Democratic Party regained its position as the largest parliamentary party. Subsequently, the party proposed the idea of a ‘basic cover’ scheme, which provides for a minimum income of €800 for unemployed people and retirees. However, the proposal has received a mixed response from other political parties and the social partners.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Netherlands: Trade unions give mixed response to plans to simplify law on dismissals

  The election manifesto of the Christian Democratic Alliance includes plans to simplify dismissals legislation. This has prompted a mixed response from the Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV) and the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV). The CNV has rejected the plan outright, while the FNV now accepts some of the proposals. The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, which is in favour of a more flexible dismissals law, has welcomed the FNV’s recent willingness to negotiate.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Czech Republic: Opposition to new law on union plurality in collective bargaining

  From 1 January 2007, new generally binding labour legislation, which will include new provisions concerning trade union plurality, is due to come into effect. However, the largest employer organisation, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, is objecting to the proposed new organisation of relations between social partners in enterprises. Minority trade unions are also opposed to the new amendments, which they argue discriminate against the smaller trade union bodies.

• 09 Jan 2007
  EU Level: Diversity in implementation of telework agreement across the EU

  For the first time, the European social partners have presented a joint report on the implementation of an autonomous agreement on telework. The report provides an overview of the procedures, instruments and progress of the agreement’s implementation, and highlights the variety of implementation results and differences in reporting. The implementation procedure was not completed in all European countries.

• 09 Jan 2007
  EU Level: European Court upholds pay system based on length of service in equal treatment case

  In October 2006, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its ruling on the case of Cadman versus the Health and Safety Executive regarding the interpretation of service-related pay, in the context of its potentially discriminatory impact. The case illustrates the circumstances under which the criterion of length of service is appropriate to attain a legitimate objective of rewarding experience. It demonstrates that employers do not have to establish specifically that service to the company is an appropriate criterion to attain that objective, unless the worker provides evidence raising serious doubts. The ECJ additionally held that, in the context of a job evaluation scheme, there is no need to show that the individual worker has acquired experience, in order for the worker to meet the criterion of length of service.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Ireland: Labour Court to rule in bank dispute over pensions

  The current impasse concerning the pensions dispute between Bank of Ireland and the Irish Bank Officials Association represents an important challenge for the Labour Court. In particular, the court has been faced with the task of finding a creative way to deal with this difficult dispute and hence to rescue a key element of the new ‘Towards 2016’ social partnership agreement.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Italy: Agreement on contentious issue of Saturday work signed at Iveco

  In early September 2006, an agreement on working on Saturdays was signed at the Iveco motor company. Located in Brescia in northern Italy, Iveco is part of the Fiat group and manufactures industrial vehicles, such as vans and trucks. After much debate between the company’s social partners, an agreement was reached on the introduction of Saturday work in two shifts for September and October 2006. However, in a number of other companies within the metalworking sector, negotiations on the same issues are still marked by conflict.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Latvia: National Tripartite Council supports proposed increase in minimum wage

  Once again, wage-related issues were a central focus of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council’s autumn meetings. The council supports the government’s plans to raise the minimum monthly wage to €170 and increase the tax-free allowance threshold to €70 in 2007. However, the council has rejected the government’s proposals to reduce the personal income tax rate. The social partners also support amendments to the state budget law.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Latvia: New regulations aim to curb sickness absence

  For several years, employers have been pushing for amendments to the legislation in order to restrict opportunities for the abuse of sick leave certificates as issued by medical doctors to justify employees’ absence from work. Dishonest use of such certificates has emerged as a significant problem in the context of increased competition and labour shortages, which are forcing employers to improve productivity and employees to work harder. Frequent and lengthy cases of illness are particularly characteristic among public sector employees who have problems performing their jobs.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Malta: Social partners react positively to 2007 budget

  Reactions of the social partners to the measures announced by the government in the 2007 budget have been largely positive. In particular, trade unions and employer organisations commented favourably on several measures in the budget aimed at increasing workers’ income and at boosting employment levels. Moreover, the social partners stated that the pre-budget consultation had proved to be a useful exercise as some of their recommendations were taken into consideration in the budget.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Netherlands: Call for anonymity in job applications to counter discrimination

  In the autumn of 2006, the chair of the Social and Economic Council expressed his support for the idea of anonymous job applications, in an effort to further diversify the workforce and to combat discrimination against ethnic minorities and older workers. A pilot project in relation to anonymous job applications is currently being monitored in one municipality. In addition, the Labour Party has submitted a plan of action containing proposals directed at activating diversity policy. While the Dutch Trade Union Federation views such initiatives favourably, it also recognises that the responsibility for decisions related to the recruitment of employees ultimately rests with the employers.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Netherlands: Union federations seek to exclude trade union from collective bargaining process

  Both the Dutch Trade Union Federation and the Christian Trade Union Federation in the metalworking sector are seeking to exclude their fellow negotiator, the De Unie trade union, from collective bargaining rounds. In particular, the two trade union federations disapprove of De Unie’s concluding collective agreements, to which they themselves cannot agree. Moreover, De Unie’s representativeness is under question in the sectors where it has concluded independent collective labour agreements.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Netherlands: Union advocates better social security cover for self-employed

  The Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) is attempting to close gaps in social security by negotiating with insurance companies on collective pensions and occupational disability insurance schemes for self-employed individuals without staff. FNV is also urging politicians to ensure that legislation, such as the new pensions act, takes self-employed workers without staff into account. As many as 50% of such workers do not appear to have taken out any pension and/or occupational disability insurance, generally because of the high costs involved.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Poland: Miners protest against proposed merger

  The case of Lubelski Wegiel Bogdanka S.A. shows that not all enterprises that appear to be doing well financially can be certain of their long-term survival. For companies in which the state retains some degree of control, as in the case of the Bogdanka mining company, one potential risk for companies is the decisions taken by politicians. As a result of such political decisions, Bogdanka may be forced to merge with a group of energy companies and to move its corporate headquarters to Poznan in western Poland; a recent demonstration by Bogdanka’s employees was staged in protest against the government’s plans.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Poland: Trade unions oppose government strategy for mining sector

  Trade unions in the mining sector have accused the government of being overly ambitious in its drive to reduce costs. The unions argue that the proposed divestment or shutting down of Polish coal pits, the reduction of coal production activities and the inevitable lay-offs arising from such efforts should be reconsidered. Employer bodies have also criticised the government proposals.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Portugal: Strikes at Lisbon metro over renewal of collective agreement

  The recent strikes at Lisbon’s underground transport system – Metro de Lisboa – attracted a high level of participation, resulting in a serious impact on daily life in the greater Lisbon area. The main demand of the striking workers is that the continuity of their company agreement be guaranteed, at least until 2011. In response to the vociferous strike action, the management of Metro de Lisboa has promised to offer a negotiated solution to the problem. The strikes at the company prove that the critical situation in collective bargaining, which began after the change in labour legislation in 2003, has not yet been resolved.

• 09 Jan 2007
  Slovakia: Respect for employees’ privacy in IT use at work

  In Slovakia, protection of employees’ privacy in relation to the use of new information and communication technologies in the workplace, such as the internet and email, is not regulated by law. Although cases of unauthorised usage have resulted in disciplinary proceedings, there are no known cases of labour disputes in this matter. This topic has not been the subject of collective bargaining, nor has it been included in the agenda of the social partners. Moreover, legislative regulation of the issue is not under consideration at present.

• 09 Jan 2007
  United Kingdom: Social partners divided over stalemate in EU discussions on working time opt-out

  During November 2006, employers and trade unions in the UK differed sharply in their responses to the failure of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council to agree on changes to the working time Directive. The Confederation of British Industry welcomed the retention of the current scope for individuals to opt out of the 48-hour maximum working week. However, the Trades Union Congress was critical of the outcome of the council’s meeting, regarding it as a missed opportunity to strengthen the protection available to employees working long hours.

• 04 Jan 2007
  Slovakia: Controversy over number of employer organisations in tripartite council

  From 1991 to 2004, employers in Slovakia were organised in one central organisation – the Federation of Employers Associations. However, in 2004, a number of employers left this organisation and established a new group – the National Union of Employers. Both organisations represent employers in the national tripartite concertation, where sometimes they express different viewpoints. The current chair of the tripartite council recently declared that it would be better if the employers were represented in this body by only one organisation, but this opinion has been rejected by most of the employer representatives. It is assumed that the problem of representation of the social partners will be resolved by the adoption of the new act on tripartism.

• 04 Jan 2007
  Norway: Restructuring in public sector can lead to exclusion from working life

  A research report published in September 2006 shows that restructuring in the Norwegian public sector may in some cases increase the probability of being excluded from working life through unemployment, sickness or disability. Another report compares different types of redundancy pay arrangements used in the public sector, and concludes that severance pay packages which presuppose that employees resign voluntarily are an incentive towards more active job seeking.

• 04 Jan 2007
  France: Private agencies authorised to provide employment placement services

  The 2005 Law on Social Cohesion put an end to the state-run National Employment Agency’s monopoly over placement services for unemployed people in France. In July 2006, the National Union for Employment in Industry and Commerce, which is in charge of the bipartite unemployment insurance scheme, launched a European invitation to tender, aimed at entrusting private organisations with the placement of 46,000 jobseekers.

• 04 Jan 2007
  Germany: Social partners divided over issue of co-determination at company level

  On 8 November 2006, the Cologne Institute for Economic Research published its findings on the effectiveness of co-determination at company board level. While the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations contends that the legal regulations surrounding co-determination should be liberalised, the Confederation of German Trade Unions argues that co-determination is a cornerstone of the German model of the social market economy.

• 04 Jan 2007
  EU Level: Trade unions urged to embrace gender mainstreaming

  A recent report on gender mainstreaming by the European Trade Union Institute recommends ways in which trade unions can tackle gender inequalities within their own institutions. Starting with a conceptual definition of gender mainstreaming, the report gives practical guidelines for promoting the interests of women and highlights good practice examples drawn from trade unions.

• 04 Jan 2007
  France: Landmark agreement on vocational training in social economy sector

  In September 2006, three employer organisations and three trade union confederations representing the social economy sector signed the first agreement on continuing vocational training for the sector. The employers and trade unions determined five areas where further consultation is required, including the transferability of the individual right to training from one company to another as well as the promotion of individual career paths through the recognition of work experience.

• 04 Jan 2007
  Netherlands: Increasing women’s labour market participation through childcare provision

  The issue of childcare facilities for children featured prominently in the pre-election campaigns of November 2006. Almost all of the major political parties proposed some form of basic day care facility; even the Dutch Trade Union Federation put forward its own proposal. Increasing the level of women’s participation in the labour market is an important motivating factor in this context. The proposals have been made against the background of recent studies, which show that career prospects have deteriorated for women who work part time and who take leave to provide care.