Belgium: New agreement in food industry
Every 2 years, union ACV Puls negotiates wage and employment conditions in the food industry. In October, the unions and the employers reached a new agreement which foresees a purchasing power premium of € 250 for employees. Other elements include an increase of the allowance for commuting by car from 70% to 80%, an increase of the bicycle allowance to € 0.27 per kilometre, from February 2024, and an increase in the reimbursement of childcare costs from € 3 to € 5.
Croatia: New agreement in public health sector
The healthcare union HSSMS-MT reports that following the third round of public sector pay negotiations, unions have accepted a pay increase of 5%. This is an improvement compared to the 3% offer made in the second bargaining round. The unions have also secured a € 300 Christmas bonus. There is also a commitment that negotiations open for a general pay increase if the new pay system was not in place by 1 March 2024.
Italy: New agreement in private social care
Public service confederations have signed an agreement with the AIOP private sector employers in social care which runs from 1 October 2023 to 30 June 2024. The aim is to provide improvements to the pay and conditions of around 30,000 workers who have been waiting 11 years for a new agreement. The intention is that the agreement will bridge the gap until a new sector-wide agreement is negotiated. Bargaining on such a new sector-wide agreement is set to begin in January 2024. In the meantime, workers will get increases of between € 118 and € 301 along with improvements to night shift payments, service-related pay and productivity bonuses.
Latvia: New agreement in health sector
The health workers’ union LVSADA reached an agreement with the Ministry of Health that will deliver pay increases for doctors (10.6%), nurses (6.5%) and assistant nurses (6.9%) in 2024. This means that medical personnel will have seen pay rises of around 23-24% for the three-year period 2022-24. There will also be an additional € 40 per month (gross, average) for non-medical personnel in 2024.
Malta: New collective agreement at College of Arts, Science and Technology
Around 175 employees will benefit from a new collective agreement with improved working conditions that was signed between the Maltese College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the trade union UHM. The collective agreement improves the working conditions of the employees in the administrative ranks that fall under the UHM agreement. The new agreement includes an improved financial package and better progression opportunities and also provides for improved flexitime to accommodate the needs of workers. It also includes five additional days for paid study leave, so that now employees are eligible for ten days of study leave.
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