Human Times

European Edition

24th April 2026

THE HOT STORY

Tesla expands German hiring

Tesla will add 1,000 jobs at its Gruenheide gigafactory near Berlin by the end of June to raise weekly production by about 20% from the third quarter. The company said the hiring responds to stronger Model Y demand, with recruitment due to begin in May. Around 500 temporary workers are expected to become permanent employees this year, broadening the plant’s workforce of about 11,500 people. Tesla has also started seeking several hundred staff for battery cell production planned for the first half of 2027, a separate expansion at its only European gigafactory as the company works to strengthen output in a market where its share has been falling.

Reuters

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WORKFORCE

UK taxes on wages rising at fastest rate in OECD

A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD) reveals that taxes on wages in the UK have increased by more than in any other member country. The tax wedge, which measures total taxes on labour minus cash benefits, rose by 2.45 percentage points to 32.4%. This compares to an average rise of 1.15% across the OECD. The increase is attributed to higher national insurance contributions and the freezing of income bands. Despite the rise, the UK's tax wedge remains below the OECD average of 35.1%. The report comes after the International Monetary Fund last week forecast that taxes as a share of the economy in the UK were set to climb at the fastest rate in the G7 between 2024 and 2031.

The Daily Telegraph

City AM

The Guardian

Retirement age rises in the Netherlands

In 2025, the average retirement age in the Netherlands reached 66 years and 4 months, according to CBS data. Over 100,000 workers retired that year, which is 2½ months later than in 2024. The decline in early retirements contributed to this increase, with only 40% retiring before the state pension age of 67, down from 46% in 2024. The AOW age is set to rise to 67 years and 3 months by 2028. Women made up 45% of retirees in 2025, retiring on average five months earlier than men.

NL Times

Luxembourg unions seek agenda clarity

Luxembourg's trade unions welcomed Prime Minister Luc Frieden's announcement of a national tripartite meeting, set for late May or early June, to address the energy crisis and inflation. OGBL president Nora Back emphasised the need for a clear agenda, highlighting unresolved issues like minimum wage and purchasing power. LCGB president Patrick Dury echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of structured discussions. However, UEL president Michel Reckinger argued that the meeting should focus solely on energy and inflation, suggesting other topics be addressed elsewhere. "A structured approach with a clear agenda is crucial," Dury said.

Luxembourg Times

Lufthansa pilots strike for better pay

Lufthansa pilots have gone on strike for the third time this year, demanding higher contributions to their retirement plans. The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union argues that the current contributions are insufficient. However, Lufthansa's management, including Michael Niggemann, stated: "We cannot further jeopardise the company's future." Despite high salaries, with First Officers earning €88,600 and Captains up to €281,300 annually, tensions remain. Gerald Wissel from Airborne Consulting noted a "two-class society" among pilots, highlighting ongoing frustrations over pay and working conditions.

Handelsblatt

LEGAL

Malta's labour laws get a makeover

Workers in Malta will soon enjoy significant improvements in labour laws, including guaranteed sick leave from the first day of employment. Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue and Accommodation Andy Ellul described the reforms as "historic," affecting 32 Wage Regulation Orders (WROs). The changes standardise sick leave entitlements, introduce bereavement and marriage leave, and eliminate age-based wage disparities. Employers must also provide uniforms and protective equipment at no cost. Ellul stated that these reforms modernise outdated legislation to reflect current economic realities, while Diane Vella Muscat noted they enhance worker protections and clarify employer responsibilities.

Independent

Maltese court separates auditor's case from main inquiry

A Maltese court has ordered separate proceedings for auditor Christopher Spiteri and audit clerk Jonathan Vella in the Vitals Global Healthcare inquiry. They are among defendants linked to charges including corruption, fraud, conspiracy and money laundering over the sale of three state hospitals. Spiteri, who audited several companies involved in the deal, and Vella, who worked under him, will now have their cases heard independently. The sitting also covered unfinished digital data extractions and the disputed status of expert Jeremy Harbinson.

Independent

HIRING

Romania digitises foreign hiring

Romania is introducing new rules to make it easier for entrepreneurs to hire workers from outside the country while tightening oversight and worker protections. Dogioiu said the ordinance creates “a single national platform” to manage foreign access to Romania’s labor market in a transparent and secure way. The measures include a shortage-occupation list updated every six months, standardized contracts, a mandatory financial deposit for repatriation and penalties, and an “employer pays” rule banning fees charged to workers.

Romaniapress

STRATEGY

Electrolux to close Hungary factory and take $65m charge

Electrolux has announced the closure of its refrigeration manufacturing plant in Hungary by the end of 2026, impacting around 600 employees, as part of efforts to improve cost competitiveness and optimise its production footprint. The company expects to record a restructuring charge of approximately $65m in the second quarter and said it will meet product demand through existing facilities and external partners.

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

ECONOMY

Eurozone contracts for first time in 16 months

The S&P flash Eurozone Purchasing Managers’ Composite index, a measure of private sector activity, dropped to 48.6 points in April, down from 50.7 in March and pushing the index below the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction for the first time in sixteen months. “The eurozone is facing deepening economic woes from the war in the Middle East, presenting a major headache for policymakers,” said Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, which compiles the index. “Increasingly widespread supply shortages . . . threaten to dampen growth further while adding more upward pressure to prices in the coming weeks,” he added.

Euractiv

Financial Times

REMUNERATION

FTSE 100 bosses see pay jump almost 18%

Top executives in the UK saw their pay and perks increase by nearly 18% last year, significantly outpacing the average worker's earnings. According to Deloitte analysis of 55 FTSE 100 companies, the typical chief executive earned £5.9m, with their salaries increasing around 4.5 times faster than the average UK worker. The analysis shows that 26 out of the 55 companies are seeking shareholder approval for new executive pay policies. Of the 16 proposing significant increases, the average proposed pay hike is 200%. Mitul Shah, partner in Deloitte's executive remuneration and reward practice, said: "We continue to see a significant number of companies propose substantial changes to variable pay opportunities."

Daily Mirror

WORKPLACE

Large firms hold steady on office space

According to a survey by Colliers, 87% of large companies in Romania plan to maintain their office footprint through 2026, while small firms are more inclined to expand. The survey, which included 101 companies, highlights a growing divide in office space strategies based on company size. Large firms exhibit stability, with 68% expressing a positive business outlook, while mid-sized companies show more uncertainty. Additionally, over 40% of small firms report high office attendance, contrasting with larger firms that implement stricter attendance policies.

Thediplomat.ro

CORPORATE

Portugal pushes for TAP Air sale

Portugal has requested binding offers from Air France-KLM and Lufthansa to acquire a controlling stake in TAP Air Portugal, which the government aims to privatise after rescuing it during the Covid-19 pandemic. Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento noted: "Two of the three big European airline groups... are in the running, which demonstrates the attractiveness of the company as well as the country." The final decision on the sale could occur in August or early September, as TAP remains one of the last state-owned airlines in Europe.

France 24

LEADERSHIP

Dan Shapero is LinkedIn's new CEO

LinkedIn has named Daniel Shapero as its new CEO. Shapero, who joined LinkedIn in 2008 ⁠as a general manager for the LinkedIn Research Network, will replace Ryan Roslansky. “Dan has led sales, marketing, and product across the most important parts of this business,” Roslansky wrote in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday. “He knows our members, our customers, and carries the mission in a way that’s genuinely rare.” Roslansky will retain his position as executive vice president at LinkedIn parent Microsoft.

CNBC

CYBERSECURITY

Anthropic's Mythos model is being accessed by unauthorised users

A small group of unauthorised users has gained access to Anthropic's new Mythos AI ‌model, according to a Bloomberg report which cites documentation and a person familiar with the matter. Users in a private online forum gained access to Mythos on the same ⁠day that Anthropic first announced a plan to release the model to a limited number of companies for testing purposes, Bloomberg has reported. Anthropic has said it is investigating the report of unauthorised access, and currently has no evidence that the access is affecting any of its systems.

Bloomberg

INTERNATIONAL

US Labor Department proposes rules on contract and franchise worker pay

The US Department of Labor has announced a proposed rule that would narrow the circumstances in which a business can be considered the "joint employer" of another company's workers under the federal law requiring a minimum wage and overtime pay, in a move that Reuters says will make it more difficult to hold companies liable when their contractors or franchisees ‌violate federal wage laws. Acting Labor ⁠Secretary Keith Sonderling said the proposal would make it easier for employers to comply with the law, and would ultimately be to the benefit of workers. "A clear standard on joint employment would give businesses more confidence to invest in partnerships, help employees understand their rights, and make the department’s investigations more efficient," Sonderling said.

Reuters

China reinforces its ‘legal shield' against foreign pressure

China has introduced new regulations to combat the extraterritorial application of foreign laws, effective from April 13. The Regulations on Countering Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation aim to block foreign measures deemed improper by Beijing. Analysts see the move as a shift from diplomatic protests to “legal warfare.” The European Chamber of Commerce in China has voiced concern that the “broad scope, vague language and wide discretion” of the rules go far beyond similar statutes in the West. The move added to uncertainty around global supply chains amid the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the chamber said.

South China Morning Post

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