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European Edition
17th April 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
UK Supreme Court rules legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.  Judges said the "concept of sex is binary" while cautioning that the landmark ruling should not be seen as a victory for one side over the other. Transgender people still have legal protection from discrimination, the court added. Reacting to the ruling, a UK government spokesperson said: "We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex. This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs. Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government."  Chelsea Feeney, an employment associate at law firm Stevens & Bolton, said employers may need to review human resources policies to ensure they accord with the updated definition of woman.
TECHNOLOGY
Danish brewer adds AI ‘colleagues' to human team
Royal Unibrew in Denmark has introduced five AI "colleagues" to enhance workplace efficiency and creativity. The Danish brewer's marketing director Michala Svane said: “What we as humans are good at is our creativity, our empathy, our knowledge of our customers,” and working together with their digital colleagues, human employees will “get help for more routine-based work and finding information.” The AI assistants, developed with Danish company Manifold AI, include a brand specialist, market analyst, data gatherer, sommelier, and trade specialist. Employees interact with these virtual colleagues through chats and emails. Employees nevertheless need to be mindful that they maintain their critical thinking skills, one of the managers warned. “You need to be critical of everything that comes from [AI brand specialist KondiKai] because he is a machine,” Lise Knuppert Hordam said, adding “What he says is based on all the data we gave him. So it is valid what he says, but it needs a human touch and creative thinking.” It is noted that the company has made photos of the AI agents — three men and two women, "all attractive and fit."
WORKFORCE
Fewer than 5% of Luxembourg workers overqualified
According to a recent Eurostat report, only 4.7% of workers in Luxembourg are overqualified for their jobs, the lowest rate in the EU. This contrasts sharply with the EU average, where one in five residents is overqualified, particularly in countries like Spain and Greece. The low overqualification rate in Luxembourg is attributed to the high availability of skilled jobs, with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training forecasting that “most job openings are expected to be in highly skilled occupations.” Currently, 50% of the workforce is highly qualified, projected to rise to 60% by 2035, with high-skilled roles expected to account for 65% of job offers in the coming years. Gender disparities exist, with 5.1% of women overqualified compared to 4.3% of men.
Netherlands tax hike hits low-income workers hard
In 2025, approximately 700,000 low-income workers in the Netherlands will face increased income tax due to recent changes in the tax system, according to the labour union FNV. The union said the new tax structure, which is intended to benefit those on low and middle incomes, has inadvertently led to higher taxes for the lowest earners. FNV Handel chair Linda Vermeulen said: “These are the people who stock our stores, care for the elderly, and welcome children at daycare. Instead of rewarding them, they're being penalised.” Tax expert Edwin Heithuis confirmed that the reforms disproportionately impact low earners. FNV is campaigning for the reversal of the policy, urging coalition parties to reconsider the measure, which they argue undermines the government's promise to secure livelihoods for all.
LEGAL
More UK staff blowing the whistle on bullying and discrimination
UK data reveals a significant increase in whistleblower reports concerning bullying, discrimination, and substance abuse, with a 16% rise in 2024 compared to the previous year. Joanna Lewis, managing director of Safecall, which provides whistleblowing services like helplines to companies, said that employees were “becoming more confident making reports, utilising their whistleblowing facilities, and highlighting wrongdoing in their workplace.” The report, based on Safecall's client base covering over 5m employees, indicates a 9% increase in bullying and discrimination-related reports since 2020, with substance abuse reports nearly doubling in recent years. However, Lewis said it was a “cause for concern” that many global companies were scaling back their diversity, equality and inclusion policies following Donald Trump's presidential election victory. “When it comes to whistleblowing, the worst case outcome is that employees globally become nervous and stop reporting malpractice,” she said.
STRATEGY
PwC pulls out of risky markets
PwC has ceased operations in over a dozen countries deemed too small, risky, or unprofitable, as part of a strategy to avoid a repetition of past scandals. According to the Financial Times, the decision stemmed from "mounting differences with local partners." Local leaders reported losing over a third of their business due to pressure from PwC's global executives to abandon risky clients. The firm has faced significant client losses and layoffs since last year. Additionally, PwC's mainland China unit received a six-month suspension and a $62m fine for audit failures linked to China Evergrande's $78bn fraud. PwC is also working to restore relations with Saudi Arabia after a suspension of activities with the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund.
TAX
France poised to make a one-off wealth tax permanent
France’s economics minister, Eric Lombard, has said that a minimum 20% tax on the country’s wealthiest introduced last year should be made permanent in a bid to tackle spiralling national debt. The levy raised €2bn last year from households earning more than €500,000.
INTERNATIONAL
US State Department wants staff to report instances of alleged anti-Christian bias
The US State Department is calling on its employees to report instances of alleged anti-Christian bias, including formal or informal actions due to opposition to vaccines or personal pronoun choice, that may have occurred under President Joe Biden. In a cable sent Friday to all US diplomatic missions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio requested that staff report any perceived discriminatory actions taken against Christians or employees advocating on their behalf between January 2021 and January 2025. The cable says that all reported allegations will be investigated by a government-wide task force on anti-Christian bias and if discrimination is identified disciplinary action may ensue. “The task force is soliciting examples of anti-religious bias, particularly from the past four years, where the Department targeted anyone for their religion, including discrimination, harassment, exclusion, disciplinary action, adverse security clearance determinations, or any other adverse action, or in retaliation for exercising their religious rights,” the cable said.
Scheme helps Singaporeans who have lost their jobs due to retrenchment
In Singapore, the new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme offers vital assistance to those who have lost their jobs due to retrenchment or other uncontrollable circumstances. The scheme, announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, provides temporary financial relief, with payouts of up to $6,000 over six months for eligible job seekers. To qualify, individuals must be aged 21 and above, unemployed for at least one month, and have earned $5,000 or less monthly. The scheme encourages proactive job searching through various activities, allowing participants to earn points for financial support.  National Trades Union Congress secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said the scheme is a significant first step in providing temporary financial relief to those who are involuntarily unemployed. “We hope this will provide workers with relief, especially in times of increasing uncertainty,” he said.
UAE workplaces push for miscarriage leave
Businesses and HR leaders across the UAE are expressing their interest in adopting a miscarriage leave policy to support grieving parents, Khaleej Times reports. Armin Jamula, Co-Founder of ItsHerWay, said: “Leave of Absence sheds light on a topic often left unspoken in our region. When parents are expected to return to work the day after a miscarriage, it reveals a painful blind spot in corporate empathy. Our pledge is a call to action, to normalise such an important dialogue and encourage actionable change that offers both women and men the space to process their grief after loss.” Myra Bennett, Principal Consultant, Genie Recruitment, said: “From what I've seen through my work with clients, some businesses do offer compassionate leave for pregnancy loss. It may not be as long as maternity leave, but the gesture itself makes a huge difference. Giving parents time and space to process something so life altering shows genuine care. It also sends a message that employees are valued as people, not just as a number.”
Man who threw banknotes at employee 'committed assault'
A man in Korea has been fined 500,000 won ($350) for throwing eight 50,000 won bills at a motel employee in Suwon, Gyeonggi, after being denied parking access. The Suwon District Court ruled that the act constituted assault under Korean law, and that it caused both physical and psychological distress. The man claimed he intended to throw the money towards the counter, not at the employee, and argued that paper bills could not inflict harm. However, prosecutors maintained that throwing money at someone’s face amounted to unlawful physical force. The court upheld the fine, rejecting the man's appeal.
 


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