THE HOT STORY

PostNL to cut 2,000–3,000 mail carrier jobs

Dutch mail and parcel company PostNL anticipates a significant reduction in its workforce, affecting 2,000 to 3,000 jobs, according to the FNV union. The company plans to manage the reduction through natural attrition, opting not to replace staff who leave the postal division and scaling back on temporary hires. PostNL is also reducing the number of its mail depots, in a move that may force some employees to travel farther to reach their workplace. FNV board member Pieter Beuzenberg said the additional travel time may cause problems for part-time mail carriers who have additional responsibilities. “There is a reason they work part-time for us. The job serves as a bridge, whether due to physical limitations, caregiving duties, or another job they hold in addition,” he said.

NL Times

HR TECH EUROPE 2026 AGENDA IS LIVE

The HR Tech Europe 2026 agenda is officially live!

Bringing together voices shaping the future of work, expect insights from CHROs and industry leading speakers from brands like Amazon.com, Disruptive HR, Marriott International, Pandora, Samskip, SoundCloud, Josh Bersin and more. Read on for a taste of what’s taking shape on stage this 22–23 April at RAI Amsterdam.

Explore the Agenda

WORKFORCE

Finland shows slight improvement in record-high jobless rate

Finland's unemployment rate decreased to 10.3% in January, down from 10.7% in December, according to Statistics Finland. However, the number of unemployed individuals rose by 26,000 compared to the previous year, totalling 295,000. The decline in employment was particularly evident among men, with 23,000 fewer employed, while women's employment remained stable. The employment rate for men aged 20-64 fell to 74.1%, while women's dropped slightly to 75.4%. Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen said: "The government is committed to creating 100,000 new jobs before the term ends."

YLE Uutiset

German union calls for two-day nationwide transport strike

The German transport union, the Greens, has called for a nationwide transport strike on Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28. The proposed action would disrupt passenger rail and road transport across many municipalities. The strike is expected to commence in the early hours of Friday and continue until Saturday night or early Sunday. The action follows a previous strike that occurred on February 2. A spokesperson for the Greens said: "We aim to highlight the urgent need for better transport services."

ANSA.it

REMUNERATION

Louvre director resigns after heist

Louvre director Laurence des Cars has resigned in the wake of October's high-profile theft of historic jewels from the museum. She submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who said the institution needed "calm and a strong new impetus" to carry out major security and modernisation projects. In the last year, the museum has also seen multiple staff walkouts and a wildcat strike over poor working conditions, mass tourism and understaffing.

U.S. News

BBC News

REGULATION

UK fails to diverge from EU rules

The UK has not significantly diverged from EU regulations since Brexit, according to a report by UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE). The report highlights that the UK has maintained alignment with EU standards on environmental, product, and labour issues. UKICE has attributed the lack of divergence to a desire to avoid imposing extra administrative costs on businesses, while also noting that there has only been limited political support for scrapping regulations on employment or environmental law. The report also highlights "passive divergence," where the UK has opted against adopting changes made by the EU. The UK government has committed to pursuing a "reset" with the EU, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently saying: "If it's in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the single market, then we should consider that."

City AM

EU warned against relaxing merger rules

Finland, Ireland, Estonia, Latvia and the Czech Republic have warned against relaxing EU merger rules following some companies' calls for reduced regulatory scrutiny of deals in order to better compete with non-EU rivals. "Size in itself should not be the primary objective" of mergers, the five countries said, calling to pursue "undertakings that succeed through efficiency, innovation and fair competition instead of exemptions or special treatment."

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Corporate board diversity efforts fade as DEI policies retreat

Corporate America is scaling back diversity efforts on boards, with S&P 500 companies appointing women and minority directors at rates similar to a decade ago. Nearly 80% of new directors last year were white and about three-quarters were men, marking a sharp decline from diversity gains in 2021. Corporate policies supporting board diversity have also declined. Only about a quarter of S&P 500 companies maintained formal policies last year requiring consideration of gender and racial diversity when appointing directors, down from roughly half the year before. So far this year, that share has fallen to 14%. The retreat comes after legal setbacks, including court rulings striking down California’s board diversity mandates and Nasdaq’s disclosure rule on board diversity. Although overall board demographics remain somewhat more diverse than a decade ago, progress has slowed significantly. At the current pace, boards in the broader Russell 3000 index would not reach gender parity until 2044, according to projections.

Wall Street Journal

Elon Musk makes direct appeal to Korean chip engineers

Elon Musk is actively recruiting Korean semiconductor engineers to support Tesla's plans for a large-scale chip production hub, known as "Terra Fab." He announced job openings for AI chip design engineers on his X account, highlighting a need for talent in chip design and fabrication. Musk said: "If you're in Korea and want to work on chip design, fabrication or AI software, join Tesla!" Demand for semiconductor engineers is rising, with Korea projected to face a shortfall of 54,000 engineers by 2031, according to the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association.

Korea Joongang Daily

The Korea Times

Overhaul of Argentina labour law advances in Congress

Argentina's lower house of Congress has approved a bill which grants employers greater flexibility in matters of hiring, firing, severance and collective bargaining. President Javier Milei believes the changes to the country's half-century-old labour code are crucial to his efforts to attract foreign investment, increase productivity and boost job creation. Unions say the law will weaken worker protections.

The Globe and Mail

OTHER

Olympic disqualifications linked to PFAS in ski wax

Three athletes, including South Korean Dasom Han, were disqualified from certain events at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics due to the detection of PFAS-containing waxes on their skis, violating a ban enforced by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. The ban, which took effect in 2023, aims to eliminate these hazardous "forever chemicals," known for their environmental persistence and potential health risks.

Chemistry World

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