Worldwide: Employee Rights/ Labour Relations

The Italian Court of Cassation has ruled that employers may assess disciplinary actions independently of criminal proceedings, establishing that factual conduct damaging workplace trust can justify dismissal even when criminal charges result in acquittal. This landmark decision addresses the autonomy of employment law from criminal law in cases involving employee misconduct and breach of fiduciary duty.

The Court of Cassation has ruled on the validity of disciplinary dismissals communicated through standard email rather than traditional methods specified in collective agreements. This decision clarifies whether employers must strictly adhere to notification methods outlined in collective bargaining agreements or if alternative communication channels can satisfy legal requirements for terminating employment relationships.

Italy has completed the transposition of EU Directive 2023/970, introducing comprehensive pay transparency rules that will fundamentally reshape recruitment processes, remuneration policies, and internal information flows.

The Italian Supreme Court has established new precedent regarding employers' obligations toward caregiving employees, ruling that temporary accommodations may constitute discrimination when maintained indefinitely for permanent disabilities. The decision clarifies that caregiver status itself warrants autonomous anti-discrimination protection, requiring employers to conduct concrete assessments of reasonable workplace modifications. This landmark judgment addresses the balance between organizational needs a

The Italian Ministry of Labor and Social Policies has issued new guidance on an extended income protection measure for employees of companies that are winding down or have ceased operations. The circular clarifies two distinct scenarios under which employers can apply for a six-month extension of exceptional CIGS benefits in 2026, each with different requirements for demonstrating prospects for business sale or workforce reabsorption.

La Corte di Cassazione ha stabilito che i datori di lavoro devono adottare accomodamenti ragionevoli anche per i lavoratori caregiver che assistono familiari con disabilità, riconoscendo che la discriminazione indiretta può configurarsi quando un dipendente subisce trattamenti sfavorevoli a causa delle esigenze di cura. La sentenza chiarisce gli obblighi organizzativi del datore di lavoro e la necessità di soluzioni stabili piuttosto che temporanee.

A Dutch court has ruled that agency work arrangements lasting more than seven years cannot be considered temporary, potentially creating an indefinite employment relationship between the worker and the hiring company.

Recent reforms to Belgian labor law reflect a clear drive toward modernization and flexibility in the legal framework. These changes have concrete implications for the entire employment relationship cycle...

The EU Pay Transparency Directive aims to operationalize equal pay through transparency duties and stronger enforcement mechanisms, with a transposition deadline of 7 June 2026. While most Member States remain in drafting phases and Luxembourg has yet to publish draft legislation, employers should begin preparing now by reviewing compensation structures, establishing objective pay criteria, and ensuring their systems can support future reporting obligations.