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European Edition
20th May 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
New bill boosts rights for Dutch workers
Holland's minister of Social Affairs and employment, Eddy van Hijum, is introducing a bill titled 'More certainty for flexible workers,' aimed at providing greater rights and security for those on flexible employment contracts. The proposed legislation will replace zero-hour contracts with agreements that specify minimum and maximum hours, while also tightening conditions for temporary contracts. Van Hijum stated: “The Netherlands has a huge number of people with an insecure employment contract, much more than the European average.” The bill seeks to extend the no-temporary-contract period to five years and ensure that temporary workers receive the same rights as permanent employees. This initiative aims to encourage employers to offer permanent contracts to flexible workers, thereby enhancing job security.
WORKFORCE
Strikes loom as pay talks stall
Pharmacy assistants in the Netherlands have successfully negotiated for higher wages amidst escalating tensions in various sectors. According to Nu.nl, employers are hesitant to agree to further pay increases due to rising labour costs following years of inflation. The trade union federation FNV is advocating for a 7% wage rise, while recent negotiations at Dutch Railways (NS) have collapsed after four months. AWVN, the employers' association, noted a deterioration in wage talks, stating: “It takes more rounds of negotiation and the atmosphere has worsened.” Additionally, a CNV survey revealed that nearly one in three employees now has less flexibility to work from home compared to two years ago, with many workers still valuing remote work for its positive impact on mental well-being and productivity.
Helsinki protests government austerity measures
Thousands gathered in Helsinki's Senate Square to protest against the government's austerity measures, expressing their lack of confidence in the administration. The event saw over 2,000 participants according to police estimates. Protesters condemned the "dismantling of the welfare state, tax cuts for the wealthy, and discriminatory policies." Organised by a diverse group including teachers and social workers, the peaceful demonstration featured a video booth for personal votes of no confidence. Concerns were also raised regarding the government's proposed labour reforms, which could undermine efforts to boost Finland's declining birth rate. Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen acknowledged the worrying statistics but emphasised the need to lower employment thresholds for young people, stating: "If there's no job at all, that brings hopelessness, anxiety, and sadness to many households."
Portugal sees record rise in civil service jobs
Portugal has reached a historic milestone with nearly 760,000 civil servants employed, marking a 1.3% increase from last year, according to the Directorate-General for Public Administration and Employment (DGAEP). DGAEP stated: “In the first quarter of 2025, employment in the public administration sector stood at 758,889 jobs.” This growth is attributed to increased hiring in education, health, and local administration, with significant additions of teachers and nurses. Specifically, the central administration saw a 1.2% rise, adding 6,521 jobs, while local administration experienced a 3.4% increase, contributing 4,569 jobs. Notably, the health sector added 2,599 employees, primarily in nursing roles. However, the Armed Forces reported a decrease of 392 jobs. Overall, the civil service continues to expand, driven by indefinite-term contracts and temporary hires.
Greece ranks 10th for crypto jobs
Greece has emerged as the 10th best country globally for cryptocurrency job opportunities, according to a recent study by LegalBison. The study analysed Glassdoor data, revealing that Singapore leads with 68.68 crypto jobs per million people, followed by Luxembourg and Hong Kong. Greece, with 5.89 jobs per million, benefits from the continent's growing focus on digital assets. Aaron Glauberman, Co-Founder of LegalBison, said: “Clear regulations drive crypto job growth. Countries like Singapore, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong combine supportive policies with robust financial ecosystems, creating abundant opportunities.” The rankings highlight Europe's dominance in the crypto job market, with six of the top ten countries located in the region.
Paris taxi drivers protest fare changes
In Paris, taxi drivers staged a protest against fare changes yesterday, leading to confrontations with police. The demonstrations, sparked by concerns over competition from ride-hailing services, resulted in traffic disruptions and heightened tensions in the city.
VW’s Italdesign review sparks concern
Volkswagen is reportedly exploring a sale or partnership for its Italian design subsidiary Italdesign, raising concerns among labour unions about job security. Unions representing Italdesign’s 900 employees warned of potential layoffs and demanded clarity from VW Group. According to UILM union coordinator Roberto Di Maulo, workers are “deeply worried about their future.” Italdesign plays a key role in automotive design and engineering, and any change in ownership or strategy could impact employment stability.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Banking industry demands safety for staff
The banking industry is calling for branch staff to receive the same protections as retail workers under the new Crime and Policing Bill. UK Finance has highlighted a "significant oversight" in the legislation, which currently excludes bank and building society employees, arguing that this "unfairly discriminates against branch staff." With over 10,500 incidents of abuse reported last year, the trade body emphasised that "like other retail workers in customer-facing settings, branch staff have a right to feel safe on the job." The call for action comes amid increasing protests targeting banks over their involvement in the defence industry and fossil fuel financing.
Workplace fatalities surge in Malaga province
In the first quarter of 2025, the province of Malaga has reported a significant increase in workplace fatalities, making it the fourth highest in the country for such incidents. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Financial services faces AI skills shortage
The UK's financial services sector is facing a skills gap, according to a report from recruitment agency Harvey Nash which highlights the rapid pace of AI adoption in the sector. AI has been identified as the scarcest skill, having placed seventh just 18 months ago, with analysis showing a 260% increase in reported shortages. Rhodri Hughes, executive director for financial services at Harvey Nash, said that while the UK has always been seen as a leading global financial hub, "this could come under threat" if skills shortages are not addressed. The report shows that 89% of technology leaders in the financial services sector are investing in AI, up from 43% a year ago. It was also shown that just 9% of financial services executives believe their firm is prepared for incoming AI regulation, while 14% do not have an AI regulatory risk framework in place.
TECHNOLOGY
Humans in the fast lane of AI
Forbes explores the evolving relationship between humans and AI, highlighting the urgency of AI adoption while cautioning against devaluing human roles. Steve Lucas, CEO of Boomi, states: “If we do this right, we’re not just creating smarter companies that do more with data—we’re actually opening the door to an age where humans flourish in the workplace.” The piece argues that while automation may eliminate certain tasks, it also creates new opportunities for human roles that require creativity, empathy, and judgment. The future of work will depend on companies that prioritise human adaptability and connection over mere efficiency. As Joshua McKenty, CEO of Polyguard, notes: “AI won’t eliminate us, it’ll invite us to level up.” Frobes concludes that the most successful organisations will be those that leverage human strengths alongside AI, ensuring that humans remain central to innovation and progress.
Emerge tech empowers SMEs with AI
Berlin-based Emerge Tech has secured funding from High-Tech Gründerfonds and Heimatboost to advance its AI-driven employer branding platform tailored for SMEs. The platform features AI agents like 'Creative Carla' and 'Channel Charly' that automate brand messaging and optimize candidate outreach, respectively. CEO Daniel Braun highlighted the platform's potential amid labor shortages, stating it enables smaller teams to stand out as employers.
HIRING
Deloitte to create 500 tech jobs
Deloitte is set to create 500 new technology jobs in Belfast over the next three years, responding to increased client demand and the "evolving needs" of UK businesses. The firm will establish four dedicated technology centres across the UK, with Belfast being the largest, alongside centres in Cardiff, Manchester, and Newcastle. Additionally, training programmes will be launched to upskill new joiners, including non-technology graduates and career switchers. Meanwhile, Brendan Mooney, CEO of Kainos, expressed his "deep regret" over the 190 redundancies made earlier this year as the Northern Ireland IT business reported a 15% decline in pre-tax profit, dropping from £77m to £66m. The layoffs, which incurred £8.4m in restructuring costs, are expected to save the firm approximately £19m annually, with two-thirds earmarked for growth in areas like AI.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
Inclusion: the key to innovation
Ashley B. Stewart, founder and managing partner of The Corvian Group, highlights the critical role of inclusion in fostering innovation. She argues that many organisations are retreating from their commitments to inclusion due to fears of legal ambiguity and political backlash. Stewart states: "Inclusion isn't window dressing. It's the daily, disciplined practice of making space for power to be shared." Research from Great Place to Work indicates that when employees feel they are treated fairly, they are more engaged and likely to stay with their company. The World Economic Forum's 2025 Resilience Pulse Check also emphasises that inclusive companies are better equipped to navigate disruptions. Stewart urges leaders to move beyond mere representation and to redesign processes to empower underrepresented voices, linking inclusion directly to business strategy and innovation metrics.
PRODUCTIVITY
Quiet cracking: the silent productivity killer
Over half of employees are experiencing "quiet cracking," a form of disengagement that threatens productivity. According to TalentLMS research, 54% of workers describe their relationship with employers as quiet cracking, with one in five feeling it frequently. This phenomenon can lead to unexpected turnover and decreased performance. Key factors contributing to quiet cracking include insecurity from lack of training, role ambiguity, poor workload management, isolation, fear of AI, career uncertainty, and managerial disconnect. To combat this, organisations should implement continuous training, clarify roles, manage workloads effectively, foster collaboration, provide AI literacy, create clear career paths, and ensure managers listen to employee concerns.
INTERNATIONAL
Billionaire executives: the new trend
In 2025, Forbes identified a record 48 hired-hand billionaires, a significant increase from 29 the previous year. This rise is attributed to soaring share prices and lucrative executive pay packages. The average annual compensation for the top ten U.S. CEOs surged from $46m in 2010 to $330m in 2021, with equity components of pay growing from 54% in 2012 to 66% in 2023. Notably, Steve Ballmer and Eric Schmidt remain the wealthiest hired hands. The number of hired-hand billionaires now represents 5% of America's billionaires, up from 4% in February 2024. Newcomers include Sundar Pichai and Gwynne Shotwell, while Lisa Su dropped off the list due to a decline in her company's stock. The trend indicates that non-founder billionaires are becoming more common, with the stock market's growth significantly benefiting these executives.
 


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