Collective Bargaining

The Council of the European Union adopted conclusions inviting the Commission to present a new EU strategic framework on occupational safety and health (OSH) at work for 2021-2027 and offering the Council’s input into that strategic framework. The conclusions recognise that some positive results have been achieved, as many member states have adopted national action plans based on the existing framework. The Commission, the member states and social partners are invited to intensify their efforts in the area of the changing world of work, including on psychological risks, work-related accidents and diseases and the inclusion of disabled and older workers.

Read on: in English ... The conclusions: in English ….

The longest and most massive strike ever organised in Serbian Post goes on. Employees stopped delivering letters and parcels to clients, and there are still no signs of a possible agreement. According to the relevant sources around 8,000 out of 15,000 workers are on strike, which was provoked mostly by the management’s refusal to increase wages and amend numerous irregularities criticized not only within company’s walls.

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The Federation of unions of Greek banks employees launched a 24-hour strike across the country. The mobilization is the response of the Federation OTOE to the recent lay-off at the Piraeus Bank. On the same day, OTOE launched a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Athens. Strikers call on Piraeus Bank to immediately withdraw the lay-offs and to comply with the agreement they have proposed.

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A minimum wage in the EU, which can threaten the Danish model, is on the way. Powerful forces in the EU work for a minimum wage, and for the European Commission it is a top priority. A model which the European Commission is considering is to develop the plan through a framework directive. According to the Minister for Employment, it could be a direct threat to the Danish labour market model, where employers and trade unions make agreements.

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The European Pillar of Social Rights is designed to act as a compass for a renewed process of upward convergence among member states towards better working and living conditions. It is accompanied by a Social Scoreboard to monitor the progress made by member states. This policy brief of Eurofound presents the results of an investigation into the upward convergence patterns of the headline indicators of the Social Scoreboard and the relationship between convergence and the business cycle from 2008 to 2018.

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Approximately 10% of females work part-time, which is much less than in other EU-countries (24.5% on average). To promote more jobs the Minister of Labour will promote jobs which can be split between employees. A tax subsidiary may also help the mothers find employment.

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The Czech Chamber of Commerce (HKČR) published a survey that made it clear that 59% of companies intend to pay their workers a 13th salary bonus this year. Two years ago less than one in three big companies and one in five small ones paid such a ‘bonus’.

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According to a new study also job applicants in their early 40s start feeling the effects of age discrimination in the Swedish labour market. It is a challenge, both for society and for the individual, according to economist Magnus Carlsson, co-author of a new report for the government-appointed Delegation for Senior Labour. The results are based on more than 6,000 fake job applications to around 2,000 companies, applying for work in seven areas.

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The GPA-djp trade union started negotiations for 125,000 employees in the private health and social sector with only one demand, the 35-hour week without wage loss. The introduction of such a working week would benefit all employees but also make the profession more attractive which is important in the struggle against labour shortage in the sector.

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The government signed an annex to the Basic Collective Agreement for public servants and a wage supplement agreement for education sector employees. The annex to the Basic Collective Agreement for public servants was signed by the Labour and Pension System Minister and representatives of nine trade unions. The wage supplement agreement for education sector employees was signed by the Science and Education Minister and education union representatives. As a consequence of the agreement, during this government’s term salaries in state administration and public services will have gone up 18.3% by October 2020.

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