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European Edition
19th April 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Greece's largest union holds 24-hour walkout
Greece's largest union, the General Confederation of Greek Workers, has staged a 24-hour walkout to protest the cost of living and demand higher wages. The strike disrupted public transport and ferry services to the islands, as well as the Athens metro. Around 4,000 people demonstrated in central Athens in support of the strike. Hospital doctors, taxis, and buses also joined the strike. This marks the second strike in six weeks, reflecting growing social discontent against the conservative government. Despite criticism from union leaders, the ruling New Democracy party remains ahead in the polls ahead of the European Parliament elections.
WORKFORCE
New shuttle service to ease traffic congestion for cross-border workers
A new shuttle service will be launched in September to ease traffic congestion and improve journey times for cross-border workers between French communities near the Luxembourg border. The shuttle will transport commuters during peak morning and evening periods from six French municipalities to Mondorff, where they can walk a short distance across the border to Mondorf-les-Bains and access Luxembourg's free public transport network. The six-month pilot scheme, costing €730,000, aims to test the service's success. Efforts to enhance transportation links between Luxembourg and France have been ongoing, including increased train services and the expansion of the tram service to the French border. The motorway between Metz and the Luxembourg border will also be expanded, with toll charges introduced to finance the project.
EU offers to strike youth mobility deal with UK
The European Commission is set to seek member state approval to open talks with the UK to restore the ability of young people in the EU and UK to live and work in each other’s countries. The proposal is reportedly designed to appeal to a future Labour government, but the party’s response to a scheme it sees as synonymous with free movement was cool, with a spokesperson saying: “A Labour Government would seek to improve the UK’s working relationship with the EU within our red lines - no return to the single market, customs union or free movement.”
Luxembourg airport workers land better pay deal, unions say
About 360 employees of Luxembourg's only airport will receive improved salaries and a €2,200 bonus this year under a new three-year contract. The agreement, signed by the management of lux-Airport, includes better salary advancement for all workers. The labour unions OGBL and LCGB announced the deal, which comes after separate agreements with Luxair and Luxcargo Handling. 
HEALTH & WELLBEING
UK doctors to lose the power to hand out sick notes
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to end Britain’s “sick-note culture” amid concerns that over-medicalising common anxieties is driving a rise in the number of people off work with mental health problems. Doctors face being stripped of the right to issue sick notes, as the Prime Minister says doctors are too readily writing people off as unfit for work. Specialist teams linked to the benefits system will instead assess the sick and decide how best to keep them in work.
STRATEGY
Santander to exit German mortgage business, cut 500 jobs
Spain's Santander will exit the mortgage business in Germany and cut around 500 jobs by the end of 2026. The reduction in staff to 3,600 will be distributed across all Santander Germany companies. The move aims to concentrate on more profitable activities and will not affect the branch network. The reduction in roles will be achieved through natural attrition, voluntary, and early retirement. Santander employees in Germany have been informed.
Finland's Posti announces plans to cut nearly 300 jobs
Finland's national mail service Posti has announced plans to cut nearly 300 jobs due to reduced demand. The company blamed the economic outlook and downward trend in transportation volumes for the restructuring plans. Posti has initiated negotiations with employee representatives regarding staffing in its transportation and terminal operations, which could affect a total of 1,319 people. If the plans go through, up to 295 jobs could be lost. Posti employs around 15,000 people in Finland.
Danish Crown to close slaughterhouse, 1,200 employees to lose jobs
Danish Crown is closing its slaughterhouse in Ringsted, resulting in 1,200 employees losing their jobs. However, work is being offered to 300 employees at other slaughterhouses in Horsens, Herning, Vejen, and Sønderborg.
HIRING
Dutch companies file 1,500 work permit requests for refugees
Dutch companies have filed over 1,500 requests for work permits for refugees this year, following a ruling that allows them to work more than 24 weeks. The ruling, made last year, states that asylum seekers should have access to the job market to become self-sufficient and better integrated into society. The annual report from the Dutch jobs agency UWV confirms that companies are embracing this change and seeking work permits for refugees.
LEGAL
UK worker successfully sues male boss for menopause discrimination
An admin worker in the UK has successfully sued her male boss for menopause discrimination. Marie Johnson requested to work a four-day week due to the impact of menopause on her daily activities. However, her boss turned down the request without understanding how menopause affected her. As a result, Johnson resigned after 27 years at the company and sued her bosses for disability discrimination and unfair dismissal. The employment tribunal ruled in her favour, criticising her boss's lack of interest in menopause. The tribunal acknowledged Johnson's struggles with mental health symptoms arising from menopause and the challenges of caring for her elderly parents. The judge stated that her boss could have easily understood the effects of menopause on her daily life and work.
REMOTE WORKING
Nike CEO blames remote working for sales slump
The CEO of Nike, John Donahoe, has criticised remote working for the company's first sales slump in over two years. Donahoe stated that it is difficult to achieve bold and disruptive innovation, such as developing new shoes, through Zoom meetings. Donahoe emphasised the importance of rebuilding the innovation pipeline and plans to showcase Nike's new approach during the Olympics in Paris.
TECHNOLOGY
UK trade unions call for AI to be regulated in the workplace
The UK's Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned that Britain is failing to keep up with the regulation of AI in the workplace, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. It has proposed a legal blueprint for regulating AI, including a legal duty for employers to consult trade unions on the use of high-risk and intrusive forms of the technology. Other countries such as the US, China, and Canada are already implementing new laws for the use of AI. TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell said: “UK employment law is simply failing to keep pace with the rapid speed of technological change. We are losing the race to regulate AI in the workplace. AI is already making life-changing calls in the workplace, including how people are hired, performance managed and fired. We urgently need to put new guardrails in place to protect workers from exploitation and discrimination. This should be a national priority. Other countries are regulating workplace AI – so that staff and employers know where they stand. The UK can't afford to drag its feet and become an international outlier.”
RISK
EU transparency rules easily bypassed by lobbyists, auditors warn
Lobbyists can easily bypass EU transparency rules to influence policy, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). The report highlights major loopholes in the transparency register, including the lack of requirements for recording spontaneous meetings, unscheduled phone calls, and email exchanges. The ECA warns that the register risks becoming "a paper tiger" unless it is significantly strengthened. The report comes as EU institutions discuss the establishment of an Ethics Body and plan a review of the transparency register. The findings follow recent scandals involving cash-for-influence allegations and accusations of cronyism. The report emphasizes the need for new ethics rules to address acceptance of gifts, financial interests, and post-term activities. Lobbycontrol estimates that up to 29,000 lobbyists are active in Brussels, with Big Tech companies alone spending millions on lobbying efforts. The report serves as a reminder of the potential risks to the EU's reputation ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections.
INTERNATIONAL
Google suspends employees involved in protests against Project Nimbus
Google has suspended more than two dozen employees who participated in protests against the company’s work with the Israeli government on Tuesday, objecting to a $1.2bn contract it signed with the U.S. ally three years ago.  Dozens of employees began occupying company offices in New York City and Sunnyvale, California. The contract, known as Project Nimbus, that Google shares with Amazon provides cloud computing services to the Israeli government. It has faced backlash from employees and activists since it was signed in 2021, but the objections have grown amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The suspended workers received a message from the company's Employee Relations group informing them that they had been put on administrative leave. “Administrative leave means that we will be shutting off your access to Google's campuses and systems and you are required to refrain from work until further notice and not come into the office,” according to the email, which was seen by Bloomberg. “We are keeping this matter as confidential as possible, only disclosing information on a need to know basis.”
Thai public urged to give feedback on proposed amendments to labour relations law
Thai citizens are being encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed amendments to the labour relations law. The amendments cover various aspects such as the right of state workers to gather or strike, methods of settling labour disputes, and penalties for unlawful work stoppages. One of the proposed changes is to enact a law that recognizes the right of state officials, employees, and workers in public organisations and state enterprise agencies to gather without a political agenda. The definition of "employer" will also be redefined to align with the labour protection law, aiming to protect sub-contracted workers. In case of a work stoppage, workers are required to inform their employers 24 hours in advance, unless it affects core public services. A contingency plan must be prepared for maintaining basic services in such cases. The public has until May 8 to provide their input on the proposed amendments.
OTHER
EU court rejects trade mark application for Pablo Escobar's name
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the name of late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar cannot be registered as an EU trade mark. The court upheld the decision of the EU's intellectual property office (EUIPO) to refuse a trade mark application by Escobar Inc. The court stated that the name of Pablo Escobar is associated with drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and the crimes and suffering resulting from them, rather than any potential good deeds. Escobar Inc., founded by Pablo Escobar's brother Roberto de Jesús Escobar Gaviria, had applied for the trade mark. Gaviria spent 12 years in prison for his involvement in his brother's criminal organisation. The ruling prevents the use of Pablo Escobar's name for commercial purposes in the EU.
 


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