THE HOT STORY

Eindhoven-area residents worry about worker influx

Residents in the Eindhoven area say they are worried about ASML's plan to add 20,000 employees in the region, effectively doubling its local workforce. The chipmaker will begin construction on a new campus near Eindhoven Airport in March. While the expansion promises economic benefits, locals fear rising housing costs, healthcare strain, and worsening traffic. A survey by Newcom for broadcaster Omroep Brabant revealed only 40% of residents support the expansion, down from nearly half last year. Many residents want ASML to invest in local housing and infrastructure as part of its growth.

NL Times

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Resilience training is booming in UK workplaces

Resilience training is becoming increasingly common in UK workplaces, the Sunday Times reports, with about 50% of employers offering such programmes. According to a report from training company Corndel, demand for mental health workshops has surged, with a 53% increase in resilience training over the past three years. Ann Francke, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, observing that some companies test resilience informally through interviews and early-career sink-or-swim roles, says: "Good employers have always done this."

Sunday Times

WORKFORCE

One-time pension boost for millions in Netherlands

Millions of workers in the Netherlands will receive a one-time boost to their pension savings as funds transition to a new system by January 1, 2028. The increase primarily benefits those in their 40s and 50s, but younger workers may miss out if they change jobs or reduce hours. Leontine Treur, a senior economist at Rabobank, noted that the new system eliminates the redistribution of pension rights from younger to older workers. Compensation amounts vary by age and fund, with estimates suggesting a 52-year-old could receive up to €18,000.

NL Times

RISK

Louvre Museum boosts security after heist

The Louvre Museum in Paris has installed security bars on the balcony used by burglars who stole jewels worth $102m on October 19. The heist lasted less than seven minutes. The museum also acknowledged inadequate security camera coverage and is now implementing other changes, including a mobile police presence and 100 additional cameras. "The Louvre is learning all the lessons from the theft of October 19," the museum said. Police have identified eight suspects, but the stolen jewels remain missing.

U.S. News

LEGAL

Finland's national conciliator to step down

Anu Sajavaara, Finland's National Conciliator, has announced she will not seek reappointment when her term ends in August. She cited increasing polarisation in Finnish society during her tenure, saying: "One could say that these four years have felt like quite a long time. There has been a lot for one person to do." Sajavaara's time in office has been marked by significant labour market challenges, including controversial legislation introduced by the current government. The legislation has restricted politically motivated strikes and defined essential workers, giving employers more power.

YLE Uutiset

Labour think tank wants UK Employment Rights Bill scrapped

Labour Together, a think tank linked to UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, is advocating for significant changes to the Employment Rights Bill. A leaked paper criticises the bill as a "safety blanket" that hinders economic progress. It proposes scrapping 80% of the bill and replacing it with higher taxes to fund unemployment insurance for laid-off workers. The paper argues that flexibility in the labour market is essential for economic growth, saying: "Easy firing means easy hiring, which benefits both firms and workers."

The Independent

The Times

Swiss Court admits climate case against Holcim

A Swiss court has accepted a legal complaint against cement manufacturer Holcim for alleged insufficient action on carbon emissions. The complaint was filed by four residents of Indonesia's Pulau Pari Island, which has faced severe flooding due to rising sea levels. Supported by Swiss Church Aid, the plaintiffs seek compensation for climate damage and demand a swift reduction in CO2 emissions. Holcim acknowledged the court's decision and plans to appeal, asserting its commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and having reduced direct CO2 emissions by over 50% since 2015. Cement production accounts for about 7% of global CO2 emissions, the Global Cement and Concrete Association says.

France 24

U.S. News

INTERNATIONAL

Amazon blocks suspected North Korean hires

Amazon has blocked more than 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents attempting to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identities, Amazon's chief security officer Stephen Schmidt has said in a LinkedIn post. "Their objective is typically straightforward: get hired, get paid, and funnel wages back to fund the regime's weapons programs," he said, adding that this trend is likely to be happening at scale across the industry, especially in the US. Amazon has witnessed a nearly one-third increase in job applications from North Koreans in the past year, Schmidt said, adding that the operatives typically work with people managing "laptop farms" - a reference to computers based in the US that are run remotely from outside of the country. Amazon used a combination of artificial intelligence tools and verification by its staff to screen job applications, he said.

Chinese workers return to Africa

Chinese workers are returning to Africa in significant numbers, with 90,793 on contracted projects in 2024, a 4% increase from the previous year, according to the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI). This marks a reversal of a decade-long decline, driven by major projects including Guinea's US$20bn Simandou iron ore venture. Deborah Brautigam of CARI noted that the increase reflects a shift towards large-scale, state-backed projects. However, political instability in countries including Ethiopia and Niger has led to worker exits, highlighting the complex dynamics of Chinese investment in Africa.

South China Morning Post

WSJ's parent firm accused of dismissing reporter over union role

Selina Cheng, a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has begun her testimony against Dow Jones Publishing Co., the parent company of the Journal, in a trial concerning her alleged termination due to union activities. Cheng, who is also chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, claims her dismissal in July 2024 was due to her refusal to withdraw from a union election. Dow Jones faces two charges under the Employment Ordinance, both of which it denies. Cheng's case has raised significant concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong, where media operations have increasingly come under pressure since the imposition of a national security law in 2020.

U.S. News

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