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European Edition
5th February 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

ArcelorMittal denies job losses in Europe-wide review

ArcelorMittal has responded to media reports suggesting that over a third of its Luxembourg workforce could face job losses due to a Europe-wide review of support functions. The company clarified that these figures represent a study, not actual layoffs. "It is absolutely not the case that thousands of jobs in Europe will be transferred," a statement from the company said. The review, affecting around 1,150 positions, aims to assess roles for potential transfer to Poland or India, but many jobs will remain in Luxembourg. Union leaders are monitoring the situation closely as negotiations continue.
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LEGAL

UK government pushes back when fire and rehire measures come into force

The UK government has delayed implementation of new worker protections against so-called fire and rehire practices, according to plans published on Wednesday. The measures were originally scheduled to be implemented in October 2026, but will now come into force in January 2027. Stephen Simpson, principal editor at Brightmine, said: “Although there is still time to prepare, businesses should use this period to plan and get ahead.”
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WORKFORCE

Schiphol staff faced aggression during snow shutdown, union says

Schiphol airport employees faced intimidation and extreme working conditions during severe winter weather in January, according to a report by FNV Luchtvaart. The survey of 190 workers revealed that 30% experienced aggression from passengers, while 70% reported high workloads. Nicole van Unen, a passenger service employee, said: "Colleagues were standing on the front line, without any information or support." Management support was minimal, with many supervisors absent during the crisis. FNV campaign leader Jaap de Bie said that the chaos stemmed from long-term decisions prioritising cost control over employee welfare.

Germany has highest share of older workers in EU

Germany has the highest percentage of older workers in the EU, with nearly 24% of its 40.9 million workforce aged 55 to 64, according to Destatis. This contrasts with the EU average of about 20%. The average retirement age in 2024 was 64.7 years, up from 63.1 years in 2004. Italy follows with 23% of older workers, while Malta has the lowest at around 11%.
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HYBRID WORKING

Large Dutch employers have found a balance with hybrid working

Six years after the pandemic, large employers in the Netherlands are stabilising their office space needs, according to a survey by Financieele Dagblad of 29 major office users. While many had previously reduced their office space, most now report satisfaction with their current capacity. Mirjam Bani, a real estate economist at ING, says she is not surprised that the wave of corporate downsizing is coming to an end. “Many office leases have a term of around five years. Most major changes due to working from home have already occurred after the expiration of those leases,” she told FD.
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ECONOMY

Greece re-enters train production

Greece has re-entered the train repair and production sector after decades following an agreement between ONEX and South Korea's Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Ltd. The €25m investment will create 100 jobs and establish the National Rolling Stock Support Centre at the Elefsina Shipyards. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis called it a “truly important day” for Greek railways. The project aims to modernise Greece's ageing rail fleet and enhance the rail connection to the Thriassio Freight Centre.
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TECHNOLOGY

Anthropic unveils Claude legal plugin

Anthropic has unveiled a legal plugin that helps customise its large language model Claude for legal tasks such as document review. The AI company said the plugin did not provide legal advice. “AI-generated analysis should be reviewed by licensed attorneys before being relied upon for legal decisions,” Anthropic said.
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INTERNATIONAL

South Korea fights academic pedigree hiring

South China Morning Post examines hiring practices in South Korea that have traditionally been centred around which school a candidate attended, with higher-paying jobs going to elite alumni. Aside from a small number of elite science institutions such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon, Seoul-based campuses are the most desirable for employers looking to identify talent. Last week, civic group Spring of Education held a rally at the National Assembly Library to promote a bill aimed at preventing hiring discrimination based on academic background. In his opening address at the event, National Education Commission head Cha Jung-in observed that “academic credentialism and the competitive system attached to the university hierarchy turns everyone into losers.”

Global consultancies test China boundaries

Reuters reports that top consulting firms including KPMG, EY and Bain & Co are doing business in China in ways that some industry and legal experts say test the boundaries of Western sanctions. Interviews by Reuters with 10 current and former industry figures and a review of engagement agreements and company communications are said to demonstrate how the consultancies have sought to manoeuvre around evolving constraints.

Myanmar junta wants coup-protesting civil servants back to work

Myanmar's junta has called for former civil servants who left their jobs in protest following the February 2021 coup to return to work. The National Defence and Security Council said that those absent without permission should contact their former departments. The junta promised to remove individuals from blacklists if they have not committed any offences or have served their sentences. Many public employees remain in hiding due to previous crackdowns. Over 22,000 people are currently imprisoned, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
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OTHER

Non-stimulant pill could replace coffee

Researchers have found that solriamfetol (Sunosi) can significantly improve alertness in early-morning shift workers. In a study published in NEJM Evidence, participants taking the non-stimulant pill reported being less sleepy and more productive during their shifts. Dr. Charles Czeisler, senior researcher at Mass General Brigham in Boston, observed: "The improvement we saw is clinically meaningful. These workers were able to stay awake and alert throughout a full eight-hour shift, which has real implications for performance, safety and quality of life." The study involved 78 workers suffering from excessive sleepiness, with those on solriamfetol being four times less likely to feel drowsy on the job. The research addresses a critical gap in treatments for shift work disorder.
 
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