Italian group Ferrero has launched an investigation into allegations that children were making toys for its Kinder chocolate eggs. Ferrero said its code of conduct banned child labour and all suppliers were subject to regular independent inspections. This has occurred after the British newspaper, The Sun, reported that impoverished families in Romania, including small children, were working long hours for little pay to make the toys at home. Ferrero manager in that production area said that ‘the factories involved will have their contracts terminated if the allegations are found to be true.’ Also, prosecutors said in a statement that they were looking into the report.
English: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-24/makers-of-kinder-surprise-eggs …
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Data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in 2015 social protection expenditure accounted for 3 619.7 million euros and, compared to 2014, it has grown by 201 million euros or 5.9%. Expenditure on support for families and children increased by 24.1%, expenditure on support for disabled persons by 7.8%, and social expenditure on sickness and heath care by 7.5%. The expenditure growth was mostly affected by the deregulation of maternity, paternity and parental benefit size limits as well as amendments in the terms for granting childcare benefit that came into force on 1 October 2014. Rise was observed also in the expenditure on family state allowanced.
English: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics …
The minority government is confronted with a bill put forward by the Unidos Podemos to raise the minimum wage. Although the ruling Popular Party (PP) opposes raising the minimum monthly salary from €655.20 to €800 on January 1, 2018, there is no legal way to stop it, given that the prime minister is heading a minority government with no power to impose its views in a fragmented parliament. The government has planned to meet with trade unions and employers to discuss the matter. The two major trade unions, CC OO and UGT, have been repeatedly demanding a quick hike to €800, followed by a more gradual raise to €1,000 (spread out over 14 monthly payments). The trade unions have also formulated their demands for the coming bargaining season. CC OO and UGT formulated a demand of wage increases within a range of 1.8 to 3%. The Central Independent and Public Employees Trade Union (CSIF) requests, among other things, that public servants and employees will recover the part of their salaries that the former government lowered down.
English: http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/11/24/inenglish …
Spanish: http://economia.elpais.com/economia ...
http://www.elmundo.es/economia ...
Trade unions from the social care sector staged a major demonstration in Brussels, to protest against increased work pressure as a result of continuing austerity measures. The unions demand investment of the government in the sector and oppose the commercialisation of care and culture. The demonstration was joined by workers from the cultural sector. Some 20,000 protesters from the so-called ‘white sector’ (social care workers) targeted the increasing work pressure, demanding more staff and better pay.
English: http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/News …
http://www.epsu.org/article/solidarity-belgian-unions-fighting-jobs-and-quality-care
Workers at Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemet, Hungary, held a two-hour strike on demand for higher wages. The action was supported by the Vasas trade union. The union formulated a demand for a 15% wage increase. According to a statement issued by the factory, management has already agreed on wage increases to be phased in over two years with the Free Trade Union of Technicians (MTSZSZ). Vasas has refused to sign that deal.
English: http://budapestbeacon.com/news-in-brief/night-shift-workers-hold-two-hour-strike …
According to trade union Force Ouvriere, restructuring plans at plane-maker Airbus (AIR.PA) could result in at least 1,000 job cuts, which will be spread between technical research, IT, strategy and legal services. Airbus Group announced it would merge with its main plane-making unit, in a move aimed at reducing bureaucracy and simplifying its brand. A European works council meeting scheduled for 1 December 2016 will discuss cutbacks in other services such as human resources, finance, and purchasing.
English: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-redundancies …
Trade union UGT, after many months of negotiation, has signed the IX Collective Agreement on private health sector of Catalonia (2016 to 2017). The agreement affects some 12,000 workers throughout Catalonia. It includes a 2.5% increase of the salary, with retroactivity since August 2016. As of 1 January 2018, pay tables will already have a 0.5% increase. This 3% total raise will be the starting point for the negotiation of the next collective agreement. Another important aspect of the agreement is the implementation of a flexible and comprehensive permit (an annual day) for all shifts.
Spanish: http://ugt.es/SitePages/NoticiaDetalle …
According to the social security and pension agency 1.67 million people received unemployment benefits in 2015, an increase with 6.9% compared to 2014. The increase could be due to ‘more inclusive requirements to access social security benefits’. The provided data give further details on the regional distribution, the duration and the different age groups.
English: http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/222013/unemployment-payments-up …
The data (in Italian): http://www.inps.it/docallegati/News/Documents/StatInBreve …
The government is facing mass lawsuits for a claim of more than a billion kuna in total that could be filed by public sector employees due to the government’s non-compliance with an agreement to increase their base salary by 6%, which was signed in 2009. Under the agreement, when GDP growth reaches the average of two percent over two consecutive quarters, the base salary must be increased by six percent. These conditions were met at the beginning of this year. On 23 November 2016, the Municipal Court in Zagreb received the first four lawsuits filed by teachers who are backed by the Union of Croatian Education Workers, Revival.
English: https://www.total-croatia-news.com/business/14966-trade-union-files-lawsuits …
German hypermarket chain Kaufland, the biggest retailer with over 15,000 employees, will increase the minimum gross wage of the employees working in its local stores starting 1 March 2017. A commercial worker at Kaufland will get a gross minimum salary of RON 2,000 (some 443 euro), including food vouchers. The wage of senior employees could go up to RON 3,800 (over 840 euro). Moreover, Kaufland Romania will also increase the annual leave to 22 days, from 21 days, thus giving an extra day off to its employees. Workers in local supermarkets and hypermarkets are paid very low salaries compared to employees working in similar jobs in the same groups in Western Europe.
English: http://www.romania-insider.com/german-retailer-kaufland-ups-minimum-wage …