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February 2012

• 27 Feb 2012
  United Kingdom: Rising conflict over private sector pensions

  Strikes at Unilever in December 2011 and January 2012 have highlighted the contentious issue of occupational pensions in the UK private sector. Private pension coverage has declined dramatically from a high of 12.2 million in 1967 to 3 million in 2010. Many employers still providing pensions have switched from defined benenfit schemes to less generous defined contribution schemes. This has led to industrial action at several large companies, such as the BBC and the AA.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Italy: Rise in occupational welfare benefit schemes

  The financial crisis has led to social and economic needs clashing with Italy’s public expenditure cutbacks. This is causing widespread debate about occupational welfare benefits provided by employers that complement or replace the public welfare system. Political actors and social partners are having to operate in the midst of this turmoil while industrial relations play a crucial role in the promotion of occupational welfare benefits through collective bargaining.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Czech Republic: New regulations aim to fight bogus self-employment

  An amendment to the Czech Republic’s Labour Code, which came into force on 1 January 2012, aims to fight bogus self-employment. This form of employment had previously been just within the law, but the new regulations define dependent work more precisely and will make bogus self-employment unambiguously illegal. Financial penalties for bogus self-employment have been increased for both employers and workers, and labour inspectorates plan to introduce more controls in 2012.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Portugal: Unions split over tough labour agreement

  The Portuguese government and only one of the country’s two main union confederations, the General Workers’ Union (UGT), signed a new labour agreement on 18 January. Ministers had set up the bilateral talks on growth, competitiveness and employment after a general strike. Although the government withdrew proposals to increase working time, the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) refused to sign because other rights of workers have been severely curtailed.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Spain: New regulation improves rights of domestic workers

  A new regulation covering working conditions for domestic staff in Spain entered into force on 1 January 2012. It affects approximately 700,000 workers, most of whom are women. The new regulation puts household workers on the same level as normal employees in many respects, such as wages and working time. It also offers workers greater social protection by including them in the social security system. The unions have been positive about these measures.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Belgium: More than 10,000 bankruptcies in 2011

  A record number of bankruptcies were registered in Belgium in 2011 and more than 10,000 businesses closed down. Almost twice as many businesses went bankrupt in the Flemish-speaking region of Flanders than in the French-speaking Wallonia region, and the commerce and services sector was the hardest hit. There was a growing tendency in the business community to delay payments to other businesses as long as possible, pushing traders operating on low profit margins into insolvency.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Netherlands: Labour law changes to stamp out illegal employment

  Several labour laws have come into effect in the Netherlands with effect from 1 January 2012, and further proposals are being looked at in earnest by the new government. Many of the new initiatives are intended to combat illegal employment and labour exploitation. This activity follows a period in which there has been little active control of labour market issues, particularly in the supervision of temporary employment agencies and the employment of illegal workers.

• 27 Feb 2012
  Poland: Government to raise retirement age for women and men

  Poland’s new government, formed in November 2011, plans several important reforms, including raising the retirement age from 65 for men and 60 for women to 67 for both. The reform is to be introduced gradually from 2013. Trade unions strongly oppose the government’s pension proposals, but employer organisations are likely to support them. All the social partners are angry, however, about the government’s plan to introduce such important reforms without consultation.

• 27 Feb 2012
  United Kingdom: Unions highlight unpaid overtime

  In January 2012 Britain’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) issued figures indicating that UK workers performed unpaid overtime in 2011 that was the equivalent of one million additional jobs. The TUC is campaigning against persistent and excessive unpaid overtime, which it claims is holding back job creation while affecting workers’ health and family life. The TUC urges a change in work organisation, so that jobs are based on productivity and earnings from core hours.

• 24 Feb 2012
  Slovakia: Survey charts fall in union representation, bargaining and member benefits

  This report provides information on selected data monitored by the Information System on Working Conditions (ISPP) sample survey for Slovakia 2008–11. The proportion of organisations with employee representatives and covered by collective agreements in the survey decreased during this period. The average agreed growth of wage tariffs or nominal wages fell between 2008 and 2010. Higher wage increases were agreed in 2011 but the share of organisations involved decreased significantly. Similar trends have been seen in severance pay and discharge benefit agreements above the statutory minimum levels. Compared to 2008, a slight increase in average weekly working time was recorded for 2009–11.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Sweden: Collective agreement sets tone for 2012 wage bargaining

  A collective agreement between the Swedish Forest Industries Federation and the Swedish Paper Workers’ Union was reached on 17 December 2011, featuring a 3% wage increase over 14 months. The agreement, the first to be reached with the coordination of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, conforms to wage levels set in previous agreements within the Swedish industry agreement. This reinforces its norm-setting role in the 2011–2012 wage bargaining round.

• 21 Feb 2012
  France: Sanctions for not closing the gender pay gap

  French companies that have not taken steps to close the pay gap between women and men, through a collective agreement or unilateral action plan, may be fined up to 1% of their payroll costs from 1 January 2012. Despite much legislation on this issue over the past decade, there are still inequalities. It is hoped sanctions will remedy this in companies with 50 or more workers, which will also have to report annually on the comparative status of employment and training for both sexes.

• 21 Feb 2012
  EU Level: Danish Presidency sets out social and employment objectives

  The Danish government, which holds the Presidency of the European Council for the first six months of 2012, has set out its main priorities in the field of employment and social affairs, and good progress is expected. They include strengthening the enforcement of the posted workers directive, progression of the proposal for a directive on equal treatment outside the workplace and the proposal to amend the directive on electromagnetic waves to protect specific workers.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Belgium: Deadline for harmonising employment statutes

  A new ruling by the Constitutional Court will force the Belgian legislator and social partners to harmonise the employment statutes for blue-collar and white-collar workers by 2013, 20 years after harmonisation was first proposed. The present laws date back to the 19th century and discriminate against blue-collar workers. The new government has promised to take up the challenge, and legislation passed in 2011 is a small step towards further equality in dismissal procedures.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Portugal: Unions force government back to table on working time

  Trade unions opposed the Portuguese government’s plans to increase daily working time by half an hour without pay. Ignoring their protests, the government sent a draft bill to parliament without discussing it with the social partners. Employers were not enthusiastic about the proposal, with the exception of the Portuguese Confederation of Industry. After trade union protests and escalating criticism, the government returned to tripartite negotiations on the issue.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Poland: Outcome of parliamentary elections 2011

  The new Polish parliament was elected in October 2011 and a government formed in mid-November. For the first time since 1989 the previous coalition has retained power. The reelected centre-right Civic Platform and Polish People’s Party is planning in-depth reforms of the Polish economy but is not interested in the significant participation of the social partners. However, social partners have unanimously demanded immediate social dialogue with the Prime Ministry.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Spain: National framework agreement for the commerce sector

  Fragmented collective bargaining in the commerce sector has led to multiple agreements for different subsectors and levels. Consequently, unions and employer organisations have signed a National Framework Agreement of the Commerce sector (AMAC) which establishes the structure of collective bargaining. This will mean creating specific commissions to develop a common national framework on certain issues. The agreement will affect 1.5 million employees.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Netherlands: Minister acts on pension agreement

  The pension agreement negotiated by the Netherlands’ Minister of Social Affairs, Henk Kamp, between employees and employers in June 2011 hinges on raising the retirement age to 67 by 2025, and reduced benefits for early retirement with exceptions for low-paid strenuous occupations. Pension premiums and management of the sizeable assets of pension funds are also an issue, and the minister has said he believes control of them should be left to experts rather than the social partners.

• 21 Feb 2012
  France: Employee transfer agreement signed in cash in transit sector

  Social partners in the French cash in transit sector signed an agreement last November, which came into force on 1 January 2012, setting out a process for transferring employees in the event of the loss of a service contract to a competitor. The agreement goes beyond the requirements of EU Directive 2001/23. Employees who agree to the transfer would be employed under the same conditions and receive the same salary at the new company. The General Confederation of Labour did not sign.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Germany: Christmas bonus – collective agreements and actual payments

  Data published in November 2011 by the Hans Böckler Foundation (WSI) shows that more than half of all German employees receive an additional annual payment in the form of a Christmas bonus. The data also shows that far more workers who are covered by a collective agreement receive a Christmas bonus than employees who are not covered. Most sectoral collective agreements provide a Christmas bonus, but the collectively agreed rates vary considerably between industries.

• 21 Feb 2012
  Norway: Pay clauses in public contracts challenged by ESA

  In November 2011, the Norwegian government altered its regulations obliging public authorities to establish standards for wages and working conditions for employees in supplier companies engaged in public procurement. The changes to the legal framework came after the Free Trade Agreement’s governing authority (ESA) said it believed Norway’s existing rules were contrary to EEA Agreement Article 36. ESA will now assess whether the changes Norway has made are sufficient.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Ireland: Recent wage rises likely to be limited to export-driven sectors

  A limited level of local wage bargaining in Ireland, confined largely to profitable export-led pharmaceutical, medical devices and food sectors, has been visible since the middle of 2011 and has led to pay increases in these industries of around 2.8% in line with inflation. However, it is unlikely to spread to other sectors of the economy, where demand is much weaker, because of the relative weakness of trade unions and the need to maintain employment during the current recession.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Lithuania: Lithuanian trade unions join forces to push demands

  Three large national trade union associations have traditionally operated in Lithuania and participated in social dialogue at national level. As a rule, a number of small unaffiliated trade union organisations would not normally take part in such dialogue. The first meeting of representatives of all Lithuanian trade unions took place in October 2011. They agreed on future joint trade union objectives and later submitted their requirements to parliament and the government. The action culminated in a mass union protest in Vilnius on 10 December.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Estonia: Industrial relations in companies

  In 2009, the first Estonian Working Life Survey was conducted by Statistics Estonia. The aim of the study was to collect data from employers as well as employees on different aspects of working life. This report focuses on the situation of industrial relations and occupational health and safety in Estonian companies. According to the survey, larger companies and employees of larger companies are covered more often by collective agreements, they tend to have employee representatives and they also have practices in place to ensure occupational health and safety.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Italy: Fiat leaves Confindustria and signs new company agreement

  With effect from 1 January 2012, Fiat withdrew from all existing collective agreements and left the Confindustria representation system, which governs Italian industrial relations. In December 2011, the Federation of Metalworkers (Fiom) left negotiations with Fiat on a new group-level agreement when Fiat declared the basis for talks would be the Pomigliano agreement of 29 December 2010, which Fiom had refused to sign. The new first level agreement was signed on 13 December 2011.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Czech Republic: Medical unions pledge to continue protest over pay

  Medical trade unions in the Czech Republic have launched a protest campaign called ‘We’re staying, keep your promises!’. The new campaign, started in November 2011, follows on from one in 2010 called ‘Thank you, we’re leaving!’ that demanded both pay rises and secure funding for wages in the Czech hospital sector. Now there is concern that Health Minister Leoš Heger’s promises, made in February 2011, that there would be 2012 pay increases for all hospital workers may not be kept.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Bulgaria: Thousands take part in national protest against pension reform

  Thousands of trade union members gathered to protest outside Bulgaria’s parliament building on 30 November 2011 when MPs were to vote on increasing the age of retirement without consulting the social partners. A protest declaration was handed to parliament, and MPs from the ruling party agreed to withdraw the proposal and continue negotiations with trade unions.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Romania: Social partners opt out of social dialogue in protest at new legislation

  Romania’s five national trade union groups removed themselves temporarily from all social dialogue in protest at the effects of a new Social Dialogue Act, passed unilaterally by the government in 2011. Four national employers’ organisations joined their protest. The act effectively put an end to collective bargaining and set out new rules for representation. A new National Tripartite Council met for the first time in November and will hopefully revive talks.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Bulgaria: New collective agreement ends railways’ longest strike

  A strike by Bulgarian State Railway workers officially ended on 20 December 2011 when a new collective agreement was signed following eight-hours of negotiations. Employees went on strike on November 24 over government plans for restructuring and job cuts. The cost-cutting measures were in breach of a Memorandum of Understanding, signed after a one-day warning strike early in 2011. The resulting 20-day strike was the longest in the history of Bulgaria’s State Railway.

• 10 Feb 2012
  Germany: Chemicals agreement aims to motivate older workers

  A collective agreement tackling the challenges of an ageing workforce was signed by north-east German employer representatives and the Mining, Chemicals and Energy Industrial Union in November 2011. The agreement affects around 30,000 employees and improves working conditions for specific groups of workers. A survey by the German Federation of Chemicals Employers’ Associations shows such measures may play a major role in chemical companies in other regions, too.

• 03 Feb 2012
  Denmark: Limited options expected in new bargaining round

  In early January 2012, the social partners in manufacturing, CO-industri and DI, began a new round of collective bargaining to renew the 2010 two-year agreement. It was decided in 2010 that the agreement should cover two years only, as by 2012 the repercussions of the economic crisis might have eased off and a new round of bargaining could take place at the start of an upswing. However, this has not been the case and negotiations in 2012 will again be influenced by the crisis.

• 03 Feb 2012
  Malta: Union rights granted to police but not other security services

  Malta’s trade union movement has welcomed the government’s acceptance of trade union membership for police, after its long campaign for these rights. However, the General Workers’ Union was disappointed by the decision to simply transform the Malta Police Association (MPA) into a trade union because this limits membership to the police, and leaves other branches of the security services without a union. It is also feared that the MPA will still be governed by the Police Act.

• 03 Feb 2012
  EU Level: Social partners in audiovisual sector promote gender equality

  The social partners represented in the sectoral social dialogue committee for the audiovisual sector have adopted a Framework of Actions on Gender Equality. At its plenary meeting on 27 October 2011, the committee acknowledged the influence the sector has on the lives of all Europeans and drew up an agreement that covers both gender portrayal in the sector’s output and furthering equality on issues such as pay, decision-making, and work–life balance in its own workplaces.

• 03 Feb 2012
  Latvia: Welfare benefits are replacing wages

  As a result of the economic crisis, the importance of welfare benefits in Latvia has increased. In addition to the guaranteed minimum income benefit and housing benefit received by low-income families, unemployed people have access to various other types of generous benefits and help from mutual assistance programmes. In contrast, salaries have decreased or failed to mirror the rise in inflation. As a result, dependence on welfare benefits has risen sharply.

• 03 Feb 2012
  Estonia: Government refuses to reduce unemployment insurance premiums

  The Estonian government has refused to reduce unemployment insurance tax from 4.2% to 3% for 2012 as proposed by the tripartite supervisory board of the Unemployment Insurance Fund. During heated negotiations, the government argued it was unwise to reduce the tax in uncertain economic circumstances. Trade unions and employers disagreed with the government’s position, and the Estonian Employers’ Confederation called its representatives back from the fund’s supervisory board.