European Union: Employee Rights/ Labour Relations

The Pay Transparency Directive (Directive) aims to strengthen the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women and expands upon current Gender Pay Gap (GPG) reporting requirements. Pay transparency measures introduced by the Directive will empower workers to access information to challenge pay inequality within an organisation.

The Tax Appeals Commission examined whether an employee working in Ireland under an A1 certificate, who paid social security contributions in another EU jurisdiction rather than Irish PRSI, could claim tax exemption on a redundancy payment. The case centered on the interpretation of the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 requirements and whether EU Regulation 883/2004 on social security coordination could override Irish tax law provisions for statutory redundancy payments.

Τροποποιήσεις στα Παραρτήματα 5 και 8 του περί ΦΠΑ Νόμου – Παράδοση κτιρίων και μειωμένος συντελεστής ΦΠΑ για οικιστικά ακίνητα

Italy's Supreme Court has ruled that seasonal employment contracts are exempt from the five-extension limit that applies to standard fixed-term contracts. This landmark decision clarifies a long-standing ambiguity in Italian labor law and has significant implications for businesses in tourism, agriculture, food processing, and other sectors with recurring seasonal workforce needs.

The Italian Supreme Court has ruled on the evidentiary value of medical examiner reports in disciplinary dismissal cases involving employee unavailability during medical check visits.

Czechia has implemented a prohibition on employer-imposed pay secrecy clauses as part of its partial transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive, while broader implementing legislation remains under development. Employers operating in Czechia must immediately review employment agreements and confidentiality policies to ensure compliance with the current restrictions, while preparing for comprehensive pay transparency requirements expected to take effect between 2027 and 2031.

The Federal Court of Justice has issued a landmark ruling clarifying whether employees of joint ventures can be counted toward the 500-employee threshold required for mandatory employee representation on supervisory boards under Germany's One-Third Participation Act. This decision resolves a long-standing controversy in corporate co-determination law with significant implications for how companies structure their corporate groups and joint ventures.

What if your financial circumstances in 2036 look completely different from what you planned in 2026? This article explores why expats living in Spain need flexible financial arrangements that can adapt to life's unexpected changes, from property sales to relocations to longer lifespans.

Ireland's employment law landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with major developments in pay transparency, gender pay gap reporting, AI workplace regulation, and retirement age legislation demanding immediate employer attention. How should organisations navigate these evolving compliance obligations and prepare for the remainder of 2026?