Human Times

European Edition

1st July 2025

THE HOT STORY

Highly-paid foreign workers are more likely to stay in the Netherlands

Research from the Dutch economic policy bureau CPB indicates that foreign workers in the Netherlands are more likely to remain in the country if they earn a higher income or have a partner. The study, which analysed anonymised data from 1999 to 2022, found that only one in four foreign workers stays after ten years, but this increases to 35% for those on highly-skilled migrant visas. Notably, 87% of foreign workers earning over €6,000 a month remain after five years, compared to 78% earning between €2,000 and €3,000, and 64% earning between €1,000 and €2,000. The CPB observed: "Having a partner - particularly one who is Dutch-born - is also linked to a longer stay."

NL Times

DutchNews.nl

WORKFORCE

France 24 news coverage disrupted amid staff strike

France's public broadcasters, including France 24, joined strikes yesterday against a proposed merger that would unite France Médias Monde (FMM) with France Télévisions, Radio France and the National Audiovisual Institute (INA) under the direction of a single chief executive officer. Unions said the proposed holding would be "extremely dangerous" both for employees and for the independence of news coverage.

France 24

STRATEGY

ING to cut jobs as it has ‘too many’ Managing Directors

Dutch banking giant ING is planning job cuts focused on senior staff, saying there are just too many of them. The lender wants to eliminate 230 roles across its wholesale banking division, according to a statement. The cuts “will be focused on Directors and Managing Directors in commercial, front office roles” as ING has “too many senior roles,” the bank said, adding that the cuts will be split proportionally across its locations.

Bloomberg

TomTom to cut 300 jobs

Dutch satnav maker TomTom is cutting 300 jobs as part of its strategy to "embrace artificial intelligence." The job losses will affect various roles, including those involved in route planning, sales, and customer service. Currently, TomTom employs 3,600 people, with around 1,200 based in the Netherlands, where less than half of the job cuts will occur. The company, which reported a net loss of €17m last year, said that the move will “improve the experience” for clients. The company's consumer division has been shrinking for years because most people no longer use a separate navigation device.

NL Times

DutchNews.nl

France 24

HEALTH & WELLBEING

See a physio, quit the fizzy drinks: employers intervene to stem ill-health exodus

Companies are filling the gap left by the NHS in a bid to keep staff at work, and UK government ministers are hoping more employers will invest in preventive services.

Financial Times

TECHNOLOGY

Gartner predicts many agentic AI projects will be scrapped within two years

According to a report by Gartner, over 40% of agentic artificial intelligence projects are expected to be abandoned by 2027 due to rising costs and unclear business value. Anushree Verma, a senior director analyst at Gartner, noted that "most agentic AI projects right now are early stage experiments or proofs of concept that are mostly driven by hype," suggesting that many current models lack the maturity to autonomously achieve complex business goals. Despite these challenges, Gartner predicts that by 2028, at least 15% of daily work decisions will be made autonomously through agentic AI, a significant increase from 0% in 2024.

Reuters

TAX

German parliament passes €46bn corporate tax relief package

Germany's parliament has passed a €46bn package of fiscal relief measures to support companies and boost investment. The measures seek to reduce companies' tax bills with favourable depreciation options for investments of up to 30% and for electric car purchases of as much as 75%, and also pledges a one-percentage-point cut to the corporate tax rate each year over five years from 2028, reducing it to 10% by 2032.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

US tax on remittances sparks concerns

A proposed 3.5% US tax on remittances, part of President Donald Trump's tax and spending plan, has raised concerns among experts about its impact on national security and economies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances and Development Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, said: “We did a conservative estimate of the impact of these flows and it will have an effect of reducing transfers by at least 5% in the next year.” Countries like Haiti, which heavily rely on remittances, could face dire economic consequences, as the tax may push migrants to use unregulated channels for sending money. The legislation has sparked debates about privacy and compliance costs for small businesses, with many fearing it could lead to a decline in remittance flows, further destabilising already fragile economies.

The Columbian

Dubai commits to four-day week after trial success

Dubai's 2024 pilot of a four-day workweek for civil servants has reportedly led to significant improvements in happiness, productivity, and workplace morale, prompting calls for similar practices in the private sector. The Dubai government will implement the "Our Flexible Summer" initiative across all 21 government entities from July 1 to September 12, 2025, offering two flexible working options. Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director-General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said: “This isn't just a shift in working hours - it's a reflection of the government's evolving mindset.” The initiative aims to enhance work-life balance and support families during summer holidays, aligning with Dubai's public sector transformation strategy and the UAE's “Year of Community” campaign. While currently limited to government agencies, the initiative reflects a broader push for flexible work models in Dubai's private sector.

The Nation

Colombian labour reform delivers significant increase in worker protections

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has enacted a significant labour reform aimed at enhancing worker protections. The law introduces measures such as increased overtime pay and medical coverage for gig workers. However, the reform has faced criticism from business leaders, who claim it could lead to job losses and increased costs for small businesses. Despite these concerns, trade unions and Petro's allies have welcomed the changes, which aim to address inequality in Colombia's workforce. The law's passage follows a challenging legislative process; Petro had to compromise on several provisions to secure approval.

U.S. News

OTHER

UK minister wants to help more young people have children

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, written to promote a UK government policy of providing new nursery places inside about 200 schools across England, education secretary Bridget Phillipson says she hopes to make it easier for people to have children. She says her childcare plans would hopefully encourage people to have children who otherwise would have rejected the idea. Official data reveals that the fertility rate in England and Wales has plummeted to 1.44 children per woman in 2023, the lowest since records began in 1938. In the Telegraph, Phillipson says the falling birthrate is “a trend which has worrying repercussions for society in the future, but tells a story, heartbreakingly, about the dashed dreams of many families.”

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