The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
European Edition
27th September 2023
 
THE HOT STORY
Truckers in Germany begin hunger strike to protest exploitation
Truckers responsible for transporting goods across Europe have initiated a hunger strike in Germany to shed light on the exploitation they claim to endure. The strike, described as "unprecedented," has seen 80 drivers set up an encampment at a motorway service station. The drivers, mostly from Uzbekistan and Georgia, claim they are not being paid regularly and face inhumane conditions. They demand unpaid wages of €500,000. The drivers work for Polish trucking companies owned by the Mazur Group, who deny any irregularities in payments. The drivers chose Germany for their strike as they feel safer taking action there. Edwin Atema, head of Road Transport Due Diligence Foundation, called the action "unprecedented" and highlighted the exploitation faced by drivers in the European trucking industry. The drivers and companies have filed complaints against each other, and prosecutors are investigating.
WORKFORCE
Lithuania's tax system discourages highly skilled foreign workers
Lithuania's tax system is discouraging highly skilled foreign workers from coming to the country, according to Remigijus Simasius, a former mayor of Vilnius. Only about 3% of all foreign nationals in Lithuania are engaged in highly-skilled occupations. Simasius also noted that high-earning Lithuanian citizens choose to work abroad due to the country's tax system. He stated: "When Lithuanian citizens start earning a lot of money, they encounter the social security insurance ceiling and other issues, prompting them to leave for other countries so that they can pay lower taxes." Simasius also mentioned that low-skilled foreign workers come to Lithuania because local residents are unwilling to take on low-paying jobs. The number of foreign nationals living in Lithuania has surpassed 200,000, with almost half of them working in shortage occupations.
Job growth returns in Finland with 45,000 more employed
Job growth in Finland has returned, with 45,000 more people employed in August compared to the previous year. However, unemployment has quietly increased, indicating a significant rise. Despite a high number of job openings, labour market mismatches persist. The employment rate for the 20–64 age group was 77.8%, and for the 15–64 age group, it was 74.1%. Jukka Appelqvist, Chief Economist at the Central Chamber of Commerce, stated, "We experienced quite a shock last month when employment dropped sharply in July. Now it seems that it was an isolated bad month rather than the start of a more significant employment downturn." Women primarily drive employment growth, while men in cyclical industries face job losses. Unemployment in the Uusimaa region, including Helsinki, rose by 4.1% compared to the previous year. The YTK Unemployment Fund reported a substantial increase in unemployment in Finland, particularly among those aged 55 and older. The unemployment rate among those with only a basic education reached 12% in August. The YTK Unemployment Fund has over 520,000 members, making it Finland's largest provider of earnings-related security.
New Spanish legislation to impact part-time workers' social security benefits and pensions
On October 1st, 2023, the Spanish government will introduce new conditions that will impact the social security benefits and pensions of part-time employees in the country. The Royal Decree 2/2023 will affect the social security contributions of 2m people in Spain who work part-time, with the majority being women. Under the new legislation, a part-time workday will be considered the same as a full-time workday in terms of the number of days/months/years required to claim a pension or access certain welfare benefits. This change aims to reduce the pay and work rights gap between women and men in Spain. While it doesn't guarantee the same pension as full-time employees, it does affect the ease and speed at which part-time workers can reach the regulatory contributory base for a full pension. The measure is part of the government's efforts to address gender inequality in the workforce.
Therapy sessions start for the UK's long-term sick
Therapists employed by the UK state will this week begin consultations with the long-term sick after ministers expressed frustration that the NHS is not doing enough to get people back work. Physiotherapists, mental health counsellors and stroke specialists hired by the Department for Work and Pensions will offer assessments to people claiming sickness benefits in an effort to reduce the number classed as unfit to work. Pilot sessions will begin in London and Birmingham, with the Government hoping to expand the scheme by hiring more therapists. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “Many of our claimants have complex health conditions, and this trial will explore whether they could benefit from support from medical professionals with specialist knowledge.”
Brits least likely to deem work important
Research from King’s College London shows that just 14% of UK millennials believe work should always come first, compared with 41% in 2009. The study, which is based on surveys from 24 countries, found that 73% of all UK workers believe “work is very or rather important” in their lives. British respondents were the least likely of all those polled to agree with this statement, below the US (80%), Germany (84%), France (94%), Italy (96%) and the Philippines (99%).
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Average CEO is 55, white, and went to Cambridge
Analysis suggests that the average CEO in Britain is a 55-year-old, privately educated white man who studied Economics at Cambridge and makes £4.196m a year. Researchers from People Managing People used AI to combine the LinkedIn profile pictures of FTSE 100 CEOs, creating a portrait of a typical chief executive. Looking at whether the numbers match up with the portrait, data shows that of the UK's top 100 CEOs, 88 are men and only 11 are women. It was found that there are more male CEOs called Andrew or Simon than there are women in the role across the FTSE 100. Female CEOs earn £3.371m on average - 23.5% less than men. Across the FTSE 100 CEOs, 66% were privately educated, with 14% having been to Cambridge or Oxford.
BT executive says City moves will boost diversity
BT is facing a backlash after a top executive suggested that the company's plans to cut jobs in rural areas while hiring in major cities will boost workforce diversity. The telecoms company plans to cut over 1,000 jobs in Martlesham, Suffolk, and relocate staff to cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester. Howard Watson, BT's chief networks officer, said that ethnic diversity was a significant factor in choosing office locations. The comments have been criticised for potentially discriminating against white staff, with former Government Minister Sir John Hayes calling for clarity on whether BT is jeopardising workers' interests for an ideological agenda. BT’s workforce is 25.7% female, while 10.8% are from an ethnic minority and 6.5% are disabled. It plans to increase this to 32% female, 13% ethnic minority and 10% disabled by 2025.
LEGAL
Former business Finland employee suspected of embezzling $5m
Business Finland suspects its former employee of embezzling nearly $5m while working at a US-based office. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has launched a preliminary investigation into the suspected misuse of public funds. Finnish newspapers have reported that a female former employee of FinPro is believed to have embezzled about $4.8m of Finnish public funds between 2011 and 2017. Business Finland filed a civil lawsuit against the former employee in 2018, but the case has been sent to a bankruptcy court after the employee filed for personal bankruptcy. The NBI is yet to confirm if the embezzled funds were Finnish taxpayers' money.
CORPORATE
Big Bazar declared bankrupt after failed rescue attempt
The District Court in Amsterdam has declared Big Bazar bankrupt after the discount retailer failed to resolve its financial problems. The company faced numerous complaints about unpaid bills, leading to its downfall. Big Bazar has suffered annual losses of between €13m and €17m between 2020 and 2022. The court refused the company's request to appoint a debt expert, making way for creditors' claims regarding bankruptcy. The retailer blamed price increases at other stores for its financial trouble. The bankruptcy will result in the loss of 1,300 jobs. Big Bazar was unable to pay its employees' wages for September, citing prohibited favouritism for one group of creditors. The company's lawyer argued that employees always receive their wage claims in the event of bankruptcy. Labour union CNV expressed concern and admiration for the staff's efforts. Creditors criticized Big Bazar's attempts to avoid bankruptcy.
 


The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe