Turlan, Frédéric

The new law to extend the scope of parental leave, and establish an allowance for this which is proportional to income, came into force in Luxembourg on 1 December 2016. The government has also presented a draft law to increase certain types of family leave, also with the aim of achieving a better work–life balance.

The new labour law was adopted by parliament in July 2016 after lengthy discussions and much campaigning by the trade unions. Several subsequent decrees implement the law’s main provisions, including important new rules on working time which give precedence to company-level agreements over branch-level ones.

The enactment of laws on labour reform, protection for whistleblowers, negotiations on unemployment insurance and the restructuring of trade unions and employer organisations are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in France in the fourth quarter of 2016.

New collective agreements, ongoing negotiations in three key sectors, discussions about workplace surveillance, plans to improve the education system and an increase in the minimum wage are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Luxembourg in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The new agreement signed by Orange and three trade unions contains measures designed to achieve a level-playing field for employees and to avoid ‘over-consumption’ of digital tools, a key element being respect for work–life balance with a guaranteed ‘right to switch off’.

Disputes over sector-level collective bargaining, changes to the bill on parental leave and working time legislation are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Luxembourg in the third quarter of 2016.

Adoption of a major labour law reform, problems over negotiations on the national collective agreement on unemployment insurance and the continuing fight against the illegal posting of workers are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in France in the third quarter of 2016.

Adoption of the new labour code, the failure of collective bargaining on unemployment schemes and a study on the negative impact of night work are among the main points of interest of this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in France in the second quarter of 2016.

Changes in working time flexibility and demands for the revaluation of careers and qualifications in the health and social care sectors are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Luxembourg in the second quarter of 2016.

The German national statutory minimum wage for international truck drivers has caused considerable controversy. Some Member States fear it will damage the competitiveness of companies sending drivers to destinations via Germany. However, it is important to find a balance between promoting the free movement of goods and ensuring appropriate protection for workers.