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European Edition
24th March 2025
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THE HOT STORY
Tesla workers demand longer breaks
At Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany, approximately 3,000 workers have signed a petition demanding longer breaks and increased staffing, despite the company reporting that around 80% of employees are satisfied with their jobs. The IG Metall union plans to present the petition, signed by 3,086 staff, at an upcoming works council meeting. Tesla conducted its own survey of about 7,500 workers, and said that only 5% expressed dissatisfaction. As production of the new Model Y ramps up, Tesla is converting 300 temporary workers to permanent positions, but union representatives remain concerned about whether this will suffice to meet production demands.
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LEGAL
UK unions gain new rights to recruit
The UK government is set to implement reforms granting unions the right to access staff intranets and workplaces for recruitment purposes. The Central Arbitration Committee will enforce compliance, with penalties potentially mirroring those for data protection breaches. While unions have welcomed the changes, business groups have expressed concerns over a lack of clarity in the new measures. Employers have told the government they believe the changes would create an "unfettered" right of access to workplaces, but the government has insisted that the new rules would ensure "[workplace] access occurs in a regulated and responsible manner." Ministers said they wanted to develop an "access framework that fosters meaningful and productive access agreements between employers and unions."
Amazon faces €746m fine after Luxembourg court ruling
Amazon has lost its appeal against a record €746m ($812.4m) fine imposed by Luxembourg's privacy regulator, the CNPD, for breaching EU privacy laws under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Luxembourg administrative court upheld the fine in a ruling on March 18th, stating that the CNPD's decision included necessary measures for Amazon to rectify the violations. Amazon expressed its intention to appeal, arguing that the fine was based on "subjective interpretations of the law" without prior guidance. The CNPD's ruling reflects Europe's stringent stance on data protection violations.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
Trump accused of undermining UK legal system
The Law Society of England and Wales has expressed its concern over US President Donald Trump's recent actions against law firms regarding their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Richard Atkinson, the head of the Law Society, said that the US government's investigation into these firms represents “a flagrant disregard for the fundamental principle of the rule of law,” which he said is essential for freedom and justice globally. The Trump administration has sent letters to 20 leading US law firms warning them that their DEI policies may violate American equality laws. The American Bar Association has also condemned the actions, saying that “lawyers must be free to represent clients and perform their ethical duty without fear of retribution.” Atkinson reaffirmed the Law Society's support for US colleagues facing scrutiny, and highlighted the shared legal heritage between the UK and the US.
STRATEGY
Fix Price set to expand into Serbia
Russian discount retailer Fix Price is set to enter the Serbian market later this year, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. The company confirmed its expansion plans, stating that "market conditions and consumer demand in Serbia complement its business model." The move is notable as it marks one of the few instances of a Russian firm expanding into Europe since the onset of Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Fix Price aims to open several brick-and-mortar stores in Serbia by the second half of 2025, competing with established European retailers like Delhaize, Lidl, and Mercator. Founded in 2007, Fix Price operates over 6,500 stores across Russia and other regions, including 44 stores in Latvia.
Nestlé to close two German factories
Nestlé has announced the closure of its German factory in Neuss by mid-2026 and also the sale of its Conow facility at the beginning of next year, impacting approximately 225 jobs. The decision stems from "overcapacity due to rising costs and consumer price sensitivity."
TAX
Germany reports tax revenue on the rise
In February, Germany's federal and state tax revenue increased by 8.1% compared to the previous year, reaching over €69bn ($75.19bn), according to the finance ministry's monthly report. This follows an 8.9% rise in January. The increase was primarily driven by income and sales tax, although corporate tax revenue saw a decline. Despite this positive trend in tax revenue, the ministry cautioned that recent economic data does not suggest a quick recovery for Germany's economy, which has been lagging behind other major economies. The report noted that there has been "little momentum in the job market," highlighting ongoing structural challenges such as high energy prices and excessive regulations.
RISK
Denmark is the world's most resilient country
Denmark has been identified as having the most resilient business environment among 130 nations and territories, according to an analysis by FM, a global property insurance and risk management company. Eight of the top 10 countries are European, with one United States region placing tenth. The 10 most resilient countries, according to FM, are: Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, Singapore, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Belgium, and United States Region 3. Chad ranked bottom. Haiti, Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Mali rounded out the bottom five. Ghana rose 17 spots to No. 72, Lebanon has dropped 23 spots since the 2021 edition, and Argentina was down 22. Armenia and Russia each fell nine places.
Auditor to investigate ECB system outage
The European Central Bank (ECB) is set to engage a major auditing firm to investigate a significant outage of its Target payment system that occurred in February. ECB President Christine Lagarde said the malfunction, which caused delays in payments and financial transactions, was due to faulty hardware, compounded by an initial misdiagnosis of database issues. The central banks of Germany, Italy, France, and Spain are also examining the prolonged identification of the problem and the failure of backup systems.
ECONOMY
EU steel sector gets a lifeline
The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive action plan aimed at revitalising the struggling steel sector in Europe, which faces challenges from US tariffs and cheap imports from China. The Steel and Metals Action Plan, part of the EU's Clean Industrial Deal, seeks to enhance competitiveness and address critical issues such as trade defence and high energy costs. Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, expressed optimism, saying: "Details published in the Steel and Metals Action Plan show [politicians] understand the urgency of the situation." Other industry leaders, including representatives from Thyssenkrupp and Aperam, echoed the need for swift implementation of protective measures to safeguard jobs and ensure a level playing field. The plan highlights the importance of addressing energy costs, which remain a significant barrier to decarbonisation efforts in the sector.
INTERNATIONAL
JPMorgan faces lawsuit over health benefits
JPMorgan Chase is facing a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging mismanagement of employee health benefits. The lawsuit accuses the bank of failing its employees by agreeing to overcharges in prescription drugs by the company's pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), CVS Caremark, which sets the drug prices for JPMorgan Chase's employee health plans. For instance, the multiple sclerosis drug teriflunomide was allegedly bought for $6,229, while it can be purchased for around $30 at retail pharmacies. The lawsuit argues that JPMorgan Chase has abandoned its "fiduciary responsibility" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by allowing these overcharges. "No prudent fiduciary would agree or allow for its plan and participants/beneficiaries pay a price that is more than two hundred times higher than the price available to any individual who just walks into a pharmacy and pays out-of-pocket, and five hundred sixty times higher than the price available with just a few clicks online," the lawsuit states. JPMorgan Chase has declined to comment on the matter.
OTHER
Italy bans gender-neutral symbols in schools
Italy's education ministry has mandated a ban on gender-neutral symbols in schools, citing their lack of clarity and violation of Italian grammar rules. The ministry said: "The use of non-compliant graphic signs . . . is contrary to linguistic norms." The decision may heighten tensions between the right-wing government, which emphasises so-called traditional values, and advocates for LGBTQ and women's rights. The Accademia della Crusca, the authority on the Italian language, has also advised against the use of gender-neutral symbols in official documents.
 


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