|
EU: Barroso sets out priorities for new European Commission
The new European Commission that takes office in November 2009 will propose a new Regulation on posted workers and make further attempts to revise the Working Time Directive. It will also create "an employment agenda for a changing workplace".
France: Older worker penalties will take effect from January 2010
The French Government reminded employers in September 2009 that from January 2010 they will face a penalty of 1% of their paybill if they are not covered by a collective agreement on promoting the employment of older workers.
Germany: Further binding sectoral rates agreed
Trade union and employers' organisations have agreed binding legal minimum wage rates in two new industries, under the provisions of Germany's Posted Workers Law, and sectors employing 1.8 million workers are now covered by such rates, as at late September 2009.
Ireland: Rise in redundancies leads to backlog in payments
Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) is facing a massive backlog of claims for statutory redundancy payments, as a result of a wave of redundancies and company insolvencies, it was announced in September 2009.
Italy: Union calls strike as metalworking talks reach deadlock
Fiom-Cgil, one of Italy's largest trade unions, called a strike in October 2009 in support of its demands for a new collective agreement for the metalworking industry, following negotiations hampered by the economic recession and divisions among unions.
Spain: Government attempts to revive "social pact" talks
The Spanish Government made renewed efforts in September 2009 to engage trade unions and employers' organisations in talks over a "social pact" to boost employment, but employers are in favour of more radical reforms than those proposed by the Government.
|
