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Human Times
North America
SCOTUS backs Trump on layoffs

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to proceed with plans to lay off tens of thousands of federal employees without Congressional approval. In an 8-1 decision, the justices lifted a previous order from U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who had blocked the mass layoffs across more than 20 federal agencies. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, arguing that Congress should have the authority to determine the size and function of federal agencies. The court said: “The Government is likely to succeed on its argument that the Executive Order and Memorandum are lawful,” although it did not address specific layoffs. The ruling comes amid ongoing litigation, but the justices are unlikely to reverse their decision. The layoffs could affect agencies such as Health and Human Services, which plans to cut 8,000 to 10,000 employees, and the Veterans Administration, which initially aimed to lay off 83,000 but has since reduced that number to about 30,000.

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Human Times
UK
GPs shift focus from sick notes

GPs will pilot a scheme replacing automatic sick notes with tailored support to help patients stay employed. Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised the current approach as a “bureaucratic dead end,” noting that 93% of the 11m fit notes issued last year declared patients unfit without offering alternatives. Under the £64m WorkWell scheme, 15 regions will fund in-practice teams, including employment advisers and social prescribers, to assist patients. “We simply can’t afford to keep writing people off,” said Streeting, highlighting the pilot's aim to reduce economic inactivity linked to health issues. The initiative will include physiotherapy, counselling, and even gym memberships to support physical and mental health. It also empowers non-GP staff, such as occupational therapists, to issue fit notes, aiming to reduce GP workload and guide more people back into employment with appropriate accommodations.

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Human Times
Europe
Border checks strain German policing

Germany's heightened border controls have sparked legal and operational concerns, particularly affecting federal police staffing and morale. Federal Police Commissioner Uli Grötsch reported over 2.8m overtime hours since March 2024, largely driven by just 285 asylum-related rejections. Officers face poor infrastructure, such as winter use of portable toilets, and unresolved legal ambiguity, as the Berlin administrative court ruled pushbacks illegal under EU law. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt maintains the policy despite criticism. Grötsch also addressed 19 racial profiling cases, urging greater empathy from officers balancing security duties with sensitive identity checks targeting individuals from the Global South. The redirection of officers to border posts has also depleted riot police units and weakened regular police operations nationwide, increasing strain on already overburdened local forces.

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Human Times
Middle East
Kuwait ramps up deportation efforts

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior deported around 6,300 expatriates during May and June 2025 as part of a campaign to enforce residency and labour laws. The Deportation and Detention Department reported that many deportees were referred by various internal sectors and some were subject to judicial rulings. The department aims to expedite deportation procedures while ensuring humane treatment for detainees. Ongoing security operations target expatriates living or working illegally, with those arrested processed for further action. The Ministry has intensified enforcement efforts to regulate the labour market and uphold immigration laws, as stated by Khitam Al Amir.

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