21 July 2021
On 15 July, Italy’s Council of Ministers adopted urgent measures to protect employees of companies in the process of liquidation or closure. Thus the government will finance thirteen additional weeks of technical unemployment until 31 December 2021 for employees of companies in crisis ‘with a minimum of 1,000 employees and which manage at least one industrial site of national strategic interest.’ This initiative primarily concerns employees of Acciaierie di Italia Holding, the former Ilva di Taranto, which...
20 July 2021
With both legislative houses of Ireland’s Oireachtas having given their approval on 07 July, and the President’s signature all that remains outstanding, the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 has finally made it to its final stage of enactment (track its progress here). This law will amend the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015, and over time will require all companies with 50 or more employees to report annually on pay and bonus differences between men and women and to take action that reduce gender pay...
16 July 2021
In a ruling handed down on 15 July, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) dismissed the applicants in two joined cases that saw the employees be sanctioned by their employers for wearing an Islamic headscarf. A company can prohibit the visible expression of political or religious beliefs if justified by a ‘genuine need’ that is linked to the expectations of customers or...
15 July 2021
The French government has set in motion the legislative process that will extend the so-called health pass (pass sanitaire) and make vaccination mandatory for health workers. Under the text, which has been submitted to the Council of State and seen by Planet Labor, there will be new grounds for dismissal of staff at establishments where members of the public must hold a health pass – meaning they are fully vaccinated or have proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test – in order to enter. Such establishments...
13 July 2021
By way of amendments to the Sostegni Bis decree (c.f. article No. 12536), currently under parliamentary debate, the Draghi government is dismantling one of the flagship measures of the 2018 ‘Dignity Decree’ law, which had severely tightened regulations on fixed-term employment contracts. If the Senate adopts the government initiative as is, then collective bargaining will be able to define conditions for renewing fixed-term employment contracts.
12 July 2021
On Wednesday 7 July, the Belgian government announced that it is to launch a forum for consultation on how platform work should be regulated. So far the country’s government has taken a back seat on the topic (see article n° 12583), but according to Pierre-Yves Dermagne and David Clarinval – respectively labour and economy minister and minister for the self-employed – “the time has come for dialogue”. The consultation will be conducted via an online forum, where platform workers as well as users,...
8 July 2021
The White House is planning to issue an executive order aimed at curtailing non-compete clauses and the impact of occupational licenses, which prevent employees from getting a better job. President Joe Biden has committed to signing the text in the next few days, which would urge the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and the Justice Department to act to curtail these types of agreements.
1 July 2021
With France set to double the number of days of paternity leave from 01 July, Planet Labor decided to see how this measure is being implemented across Europe. From the 24 countries reviewed, which grant an average of 26 days leave upon the birth of a child, two countries clearly stand out. First is Spain with 112 days of paternity leave (16 weeks), 6 of which are compulsory at birth, and second is Norway with 105 days (15 weeks).
30 June 2021
From 01 July 2021, fresh extensions to paternity and new children leave come into effect, rising from the current 11 to 25 calendar days for a single child, and from 18 to 32 calendar days for more than one child. As such, fathers, or if applicable, ‘the mother’s spouse, partner or person linked by a civil solidarity pact will see their total potential leave periods rise to 35 days when the three days of employer-paid legal child birth leave are also included. Introduced by the Social Security Financing Act...
29 June 2021
On 28 June, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment launched a major campaign called #MakingRemoteWork. Broadcast across the media and social networks, the aim is to encourage Irish companies and employees to further extend remote working. After having established a right to disconnect in April (c.f. article No.12452), the government is now seeking go even further. Tax exemptions will be introduced in the 2022 budget for companies and employees who resort to remote working, announced Tánaiste and...
