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Recent Editions

Human Times
North America
Unions representing federal employees have requested a federal judge in San Francisco to stop the Trump administration's recent layoffs amid the ongoing government shutdown. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston is set to hear arguments from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which represent over 800,000 federal workers. "It's an illegal abuse of power designed to punish patriotic civil servants," said AFGE president Everett Kelley. The Trump administration contends that the court lacks jurisdiction over the case, while the unions argue that the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) guidance before the shutdown unlawfully directs agencies to disregard their legal obligations. The unions seek to invalidate actions stemming from this guidance, asserting that the layoffs are part of a broader effort to reshape the government.
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Human Times
UK
Public sector pay has significantly outpaced private sector earnings, with year-on-year growth at 6% compared to 4.4%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Andrew Wishart, senior UK economist at Berenberg, noted that public sector pay growth, including bonuses, is driving overall wage increases. Average wage growth was 4.7% in the three months to August, the ONS data shows, with this down from 4.8% over the three months to July. Neil Carberry from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation warned that the widening pay gap is unsustainable and exacerbated by a hike in National Insurance contributions that has hit private sector employers. On gaps between the sectors, Jake Finney, senior economist at PwC UK, notes that "strong public sector hiring... continues to mask a far weaker picture in the private sector."
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Human Times
Europe
A national strike in Belgium disrupted flights and public transport on Tuesday, with tens of thousands of people protesting in Brussels. Brussels Airport cancelled all departures as security workers participated in the strike. The government, facing a budget deficit, is pushing for pension reforms and other savings, angering trade unions. "This government promised more sustainable jobs and increased purchasing power. Hot air!" said the trade union CSC. The strike adds pressure on Prime Minister Bart De Wever's coalition, which recently failed to agree on a budget.
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Human Times
Middle East
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has seen a significant increase in female workers, rising 11.6% from 2.8m in 2020 to 3.1m in 2024. Overall employment in the region expanded at an annual rate of 5.7% last year, with total workers increasing from 28m to 34.9m. The UAE leads in implementing reforms to enhance workforce diversity, particularly through the Emiratisation programme, Nafis. Dr Saundarya Rajesh of Avtar Group noted that while women's entry-level participation has improved, leadership roles remain disproportionately low, highlighting the need for greater gender balance in senior positions.
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