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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
So-called “backdoor” job references, which have long played a role in hiring, are being used more than ever by businesses desperate for human insight now that candidates are using AI to write résumés and coach them through virtual interviews. “They’ve become a lot more important,” observes headhunter Mark Toscano. “The tools that people are using to present themselves in the best light possible are the same reason that companies are resorting to these backdoor references.” Although such references offer the potential for score-settling by rivals, independent recruiter Kelli Hrivnak says: “I’ve actually seen backdoor references help people more often, as opposed to being a detriment.”
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Human Times
UK
The Trades Union Congress says that legislation proposed by Reform UK would remove the right for women to claim equal pay for the same work. Nigel Farage's party argues its Women's and Motherhood Protection Act would consolidate various protections for women into one law – superseding the 2010 Equality Act - and enhance pregnancy and maternity protections. Reform would rely on the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 to ensure pay and parental leave rights are preserved. But TUC boss Paul Nowak said Reform’s plans would effectively legalise discrimination and remove new rights being introduced by the Employment Rights Act, such as protection from harassment.
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Human Times
Europe
Sweden's parliament has passed a law which allows authorities to revoke immigrants' residency permits following instances of bad behaviour, such as having unpaid debts, doing undeclared work or links to extremist organisations. Opposition and human rights advocacy groups say the law is arbitrary because it would involve decisions about behaviour that has not been deemed criminal. "The good behaviour law leaves people in uncertainty about what actions or expressions can be used against them," Stockholm-based group Civil Rights Defenders said. "It undermines the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law." The Swedish parliament has also adopted legislation obliging public sector workers, including employees of tax authorities, employment and social insurance agencies and prison and probation services, to report to the police any migrants who are not authorised to live in Sweden. “Reporting obligations imposed on public agencies create a climate of fear that harms not only undocumented people but everyone who depends on these institutions,” said Louise Bonneau from Brussels-based nonprofit PICUM, which supports migrants.
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Human Times
Middle East
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has agreed to adopt the first binding employment standards for gig workers in sectors such as ride-hailing and food delivery. The Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, which was adopted at the 114th annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, aims to extend labour protections to hundreds of millions of people worldwide who work through digital platforms. A growing number of workers are being excluded from standard labour protections due to their classification as independent contractors rather than employees, and the protections include an end to such classification, as well as enforcement of minimum wage requirements and obligations including healthcare, sick leave and social security contributions. “For the first time in the history of international law, the women and men who move our cities, who clean and care in our homes . . . will be named, recognised and protected by a binding international standard,” said Amanda Brown, vice chair of the ILO’s Workers’ Group.
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