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8th December 2023
 
THE HOT STORY
Wave of redundancies triggers surge in job seekers
A wave of redundancies has led to a significant increase in job seekers, with the number of people looking for work rising for the ninth consecutive month in November. The latest report on jobs by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation reveals that hiring has declined, with permanent staff placements dropping for the 14th consecutive month. Advertised vacancies have also fallen, impacting starting salaries. The construction sector experienced the fastest decline in demand for permanent staff, and London's permanent hiring index was particularly low. Employers are expected to delay hiring until next year due to uncertain UK economic growth. "Employers are reining in hiring and continuing with redundancies in response to the sustained economic slowdown," says Clare Warnes, partner in skills and productivity at KPMG UK.
HIRING
Record shortfall in secondary school teaching recruits
The Department for Education (DfE) has revealed that just 50% of teaching posts in secondary schools were filled in 2023-24, with recruitment at a record low since 2019. Data showed there were almost 27,000 new entrants at secondary level in September, down from 28,500 the previous year. For trainee primary school teachers, 96% of the target was met, up from 91% the year before. The DfE said the only secondary subjects in which targets were beaten were Classics, PE and history. Meanwhile, just 33% of the required modern language teachers had started training, the same as last year. There were already shortages of teachers in French, German and Spanish, the DfE said. In biology, 93% of the required new teachers had started, while for chemistry it was 65%. For maths just 63% of the target of 2,960 teachers started training, down from 88%. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "This catastrophic shortfall in postgraduate trainee teacher recruitment has plumbed new depths. The supply of new teachers is simply not sufficient to meet the needs of the education system, and we then lose far too many early in their careers. There's only one real answer - a properly well-rewarded teaching profession."
WORKFORCE
Coventry City Council faces imminent strikes over bin workers' contracts
Coventry City Council has been warned of imminent strikes by the Unite union over its decision to fire and rehire bin workers. The council's move is aimed at avoiding equal pay claims. Under the current terms, refuse collectors can finish work early, while staff in traditionally female roles cannot. The plan has been labeled "abhorrent" by the union. The council's decision affects around 130 staff members and is intended to provide more flexibility. The council has faced over 200 equal pay claims from female staff members. Bin workers will either have to accept new terms or be offered a new job on the new terms. The plan was passed by Labour chiefs, with no opposition from the Conservatives. The Unite union has likened the council's behaviour to that of so-called rogue employers in the private sector such as P&O Ferries.
REMUNERATION
Aldi to pay all workers at least £12 an hour
Aldi will pay all its London store and warehouse workers at least £13.55 an hour, in line with the Living Wage Foundation's National Living Wage. The grocer also upped its basic pay outside of London to £12 an hour and the new pay will take effect from 1 February. Aldi also noted that unlike some of its rivals, it pays for a break. It says that this is worth an additional £900 a year for its staff. Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Just as we promise to provide the best value to our customers, we are also committed to being the highest-paying supermarket in the sector." He added: “We are incredibly proud of every single member of Team Aldi and this is a way of thanking them for all their hard work over the past year. We believe our colleagues are the best in the sector and they play a huge part in making Aldi what it is today.”
LEGAL
Lack of court interpreters risks miscarriages of justice
A lack of court interpreters is causing delays in court hearings and posing a risk of miscarriages of justice, according to The Times. The Ministry of Justice's decision to outsource interpreter provision in 2011 has led to a decline in standards and fees, resulting in a drop in the number of interpreters. The Criminal Bar Association's analysis of ministry data reveals a fivefold increase in crown court trials adjourned due to interpreter shortages in the past five years. The lack of interpreters has caused delays in trials for sexual offences, violence, and drugs offences. Tana Adkin KC, the Criminal Bar Association’s chairwoman, expressed concern over the additional delay and anxiety caused to complainants, witnesses and defendants, many of whom have been waiting more than a year for trials. Adkin told The Times that it is “a symptom of an underfunded criminal justice system with poor regard to the professionals needed in bringing cases to a just conclusion within a reasonable time” and calls for “urgent investment” to address the lack of good quality interpreters.
HR worker sues for sexual harassment
HR worker Keith Macintosh is suing his former employer, Eurochange, for sexual harassment. Macintosh claims that his manager asked him in front of colleagues which celebrities he would like to have a threesome with. He argues that the question violated his dignity and constituted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. Macintosh also alleges disability discrimination and constructive dismissal. Employment Judge Helen Cookson allowed Macintosh's claim of sexual harassment to proceed to a full hearing, stating that enquiring into someone's sexual preferences, even in a light-hearted manner, can be unwanted and conduct of a sexual nature. The allegations will be heard in full at a later date.
Holiday park closure sparks criticism in Welsh Parliament
The behaviour of holiday park company Pontins, which abruptly closed its site in Prestatyn, north Wales, has been condemned by members of the Welsh Parliament. Conservative Senedd member Gareth Davies criticised the company for informing some staff about the closure through social media. He estimated that up to 200 jobs could be lost as a result. Welsh Labour Economy Minister Vaughan Gething expressed extreme disappointment in Pontins' conduct. Britannia Hotels, which purchased Pontins in 2011, was also heavily criticised. The closure of the Prestatyn site without proper notice and consultation has raised questions about potential breaches of employment law. The Welsh government has pledged support for affected workers and will collaborate with Denbighshire County Council and other partners.
Council tax bills to rise as local authorities set aside millions for pensions blunder
Local authorities are being forced to set aside millions of pounds in redress due to a £1.6bn pensions blunder. The payments are a result of the "McCloud judgement," a legal case involving fire service and judges' pensions. Workers claimed their pensions were not protected in the same way as those of older employees, leading to the change in 2014. Councils have had to allocate funds for payouts, with estimates suggesting the cost to local councils in England and Wales is £1.6bn. The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Advisory Board estimates that the corrections are costing councils £100m collectively each year. The burden of fixing the pensions problem will likely result in higher council tax bills, cuts in public services, or a combination of both. The correction payments are a bureaucratic nightmare for councils, requiring additional resources and changes to systems. However, the LGPS as a whole is currently well-funded with more assets than liabilities.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Would barrister apprenticeships open up the profession - or fall short?
Introducing barrister apprenticeships as a way to address social inequalities and open up the legal profession may not be as effective as hoped, writes Caroline Casey in The Times, who says that in theory, they should appeal to those from less advantaged backgrounds. However, that has not been true for solicitor apprenticeships, which were introduced in 2016, or for schemes in other professions. Her research on what motivates young people to choose either the apprenticeship or university route to become a solicitor found that solicitor apprenticeships were viewed by those from less-advantaged backgrounds as new, untested and potentially less legitimate, and therefore a riskier path than going to university. This attitude is likely to affect perceptions of the barrister apprenticeship as well, Casey writes.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Private hospitals see record admissions as patients pay for diagnostics
Private hospitals saw a record level of admissions this year as patients paid for diagnostics through their insurance policies. Between March and September, there was a 7% rise in private treatments, with 443,000 procedures claimed through medical insurance. The Private Hospital Information Network reported a 12% increase in people paying for care via insurance. The surge in demand for insurance suggests that people are taking steps to protect their health due to long NHS waiting lists. The number of consultant doctors working in private hospitals also reached a three-year high. The sector is on track for its highest-ever number of admissions this year, as patients seek assurance and avoid waiting for NHS services. The British Medical Association's strike action and financial pressures on the NHS may further impact waiting times.
TECHNOLOGY
Google unveils Gemini AI system
Google on Wednesday released its new Gemini AI system, which will compete against systems such as ChatGPT and Open AI. The company said Gemini is the most flexible artificial intelligence (AI) model it has created with the ability to work on smartphones as well as large data centres.
STRATEGY
Volkswagen to cut staff costs by a fifth
Volkswagen plans to reduce administrative staff costs at its namesake brand by a fifth through partial and early retirement. This is part of Volkswagen's aim to cut costs by €10bn by 2026. The company's CEO, Thomas Schaefer, stated that fewer people will be needed in various areas at Volkswagen in the future. Other initiatives include shortening product cycles, reducing production times, and cancelling a planned R&D site. Volkswagen, like other carmakers, has been affected by inflation, competition from Asia, and high labour and energy costs in Germany. The cost cuts are necessary to stay competitive with rivals such as Tesla. "This doesn't mean more work for fewer people, but rather shedding old habits and saying no to duplicating efforts and inefficiencies," said Schaefer.
INTERNATIONAL
US federal government proposes drug and alcohol testing for foreign aircraft-repair shop employees
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed mandatory drug and alcohol testing for employees of foreign aircraft-repair shops outside the United States. The proposal, which would affect nearly 1,000 repair shops in 65 countries, comes after years of urging from labour unions and Congress. Shops in countries where mandatory testing is against the law can apply for an exemption. Unions representing US aircraft mechanics have long called for more scrutiny of foreign shops, citing safety concerns and the protection of US jobs. The FAA's proposal is seen as a positive step by the unions, with one union president stating that it will address the issue of offshoring maintenance and improve passenger safety. The FAA will allow 60 days for public comments on the proposed rule. If it becomes final, foreign shops working on US planes will have one year to set up testing programs and transmit results to the US Department of Transportation.
Fresh legal setback for Tesla in Sweden
Tesla has faced a setback in its labour dispute in Sweden after an appeals court withdrew an injunction, forcing the company to rely on the national postal service for license plate deliveries. The court's decision comes as workers at repair shops continue their monthlong walkout, refusing to handle any Tesla-related packages or mail. Tesla's lawsuit against the Transport Agency will now be reviewed by the appeals court for a final ruling. In the meantime, the company has filed a second legal action against the national postal service. Sweden is Tesla's fifth-biggest European market, with the Model Y being the country's best-selling vehicle this year. The outcome of the PostNord case is expected to be announced soon. The dispute poses a challenge to Elon Musk's avowed anti-union stance.
Kenyan judge clears Meta of contempt in content moderators' pay dispute
A Kenyan judge has ruled that Facebook's parent company Meta was not in contempt of court for failing to pay content moderators. The judge stated that Meta did not deliberately breach a court order requiring payment to the moderators. The case was brought by 184 moderators who claimed they lost their jobs after organising a union. The plaintiffs alleged that they were blacklisted from applying for similar roles at another firm after Facebook changed contractors. Settlement talks collapsed, and the case will now proceed to trial unless resolved out of court. British tech rights group Foxglove, supporting the plaintiffs, expressed confidence in the case. "Meta can no longer hide behind outsourcers to excuse the exploitation and abuse of its content moderators," said Foxglove director Martha Dark.
OTHER
French parliament passes law to protect farmers from neighbours' complaints
The French parliament has passed a law to protect farmers from complaints from neighbours about noise or stench from agricultural activities. The bill, supported by President Emmanuel Macron's government, aims to stop "abusive" lawsuits from former city dwellers who have bought houses in the countryside. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said: "This law will put an end to abusive lawsuits against farmers who do nothing but their job: feed us." Nearly 500 farmers are currently facing lawsuits from neighbours taking issue with noise or smells emanating from their farms. The new law aims to give more protection to existing farms from newly arrived residents in the area. The legislation is seen as a victory for farmers and has received support from farming unions. However, environmentalists argue that the law is an "absurd and populist" measure proposed by the powerful agricultural lobby.
 


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