International specialists at IRS round up employment developments from across Europe, including: European Commission proposals to revise the European Works Councils Directive; a French national agreement on work-related stress; and forthcoming German legislation to set minimum pay rates in low-paid sectors.

• EU: Commission proposes revised European Works Councils Directive In July 2008, the European Commission published its long-awaited proposals for revision of the 1994 EU Directive on European Works Councils, aimed at making their information and consultation rights more effective.