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European Edition
2nd June 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Portugal braces for major transport strike

Portugal is preparing for a significant transport strike tomorrow, which could disrupt major mobility networks and international connections. Union sources indicate that cabin crew, railway personnel, urban transport operators, and medical service professionals will participate. The strike may lead to over 500 flight cancellations or delays, particularly affecting TAP Air Portugal and other carriers. This protest arises from opposition to proposed labour reforms that unions believe threaten workers' rights. Travel insurance experts warn passengers to review their policies, as many exclude strike-related disruptions.
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TECH & TOOLS

67% of HR leaders are already using AI. Is your team one of them?

AI has crossed the tipping point in HR — and the data proves it. A new global survey of over 1,000 HR and people operations leaders reveals that two-thirds of teams have already reached intermediate or advanced AI adoption. The benefits are real: 56% say AI has cut onboarding time, 50% report lower operating costs, and high-growth organisations are twice as likely to call AI adoption a top priority. The teams that aren't moving fast risk being left behind.

Download the free report to see exactly where HR leaders are investing in AI — and how you can do the same.

Download the free report

 
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WORKFORCE

Türkiye's NEET crisis demands urgent action

Türkiye faces a significant challenge with its NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth, as 25.9% of individuals aged 15 to 29 fall into this category, rising to 36.5% among young women. A new report highlights the need for integrating these young people into the workforce to enhance Türkiye's productivity and competitiveness. It emphasises the importance of vocational training and aligning education with industry needs. ASO President Seyit Ardıç noted: "The main problem is not only unemployment, but also a skills mismatch," urging for targeted policies to address this issue.

AIMA workers to strike over conditions

Workers at the Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) are on strike until 5 June, excluding the bank holiday on 4 June. The Union of Migration Technicians (STM) called the strike to protest against deteriorating working conditions and increased pressure without adequate resources. The union highlighted issues such as delays in regularisation processes and concerns over outsourcing in technical roles, which threaten public service quality. They stated: "The Government has not taken effective measures to guarantee dignity, stability and recognition of the roles of migration technicians."

BNP Paribas Fortis to cut 1,000 jobs

BNP Paribas Fortis plans to eliminate 1,000 jobs as part of its strategic plan for 2026-2028, focusing on AI and digitalisation. The bank aims to use a newly launched chatbot to handle 7m customer calls annually by 2028, potentially saving 180 call centre jobs, according to CEO Michael Anseeuw. While around 500 employees leave the bank each year, these positions will not be filled automatically due to automation. However, Bnp Paribas Fortis will continue hiring between 300 and 400 staff annually to invest in human capital.
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INVESTMENT

Macron anticipates record foreign investment

President Emmanuel Macron announced expectations of "record" foreign investment totalling €93bn ($108bn) at the annual "Choose France" conference. This year's pledges are set to exceed the €87bn raised over the past eight years. Macron stated: "This edition of Choose France alone will make it possible to crystallise a record amount of €93bn in confirmed investments, for more than 15,000 jobs." Major contributions include €45bn from SoftBank, alongside investments from Brookfield, Salesforce, and Amazon, aimed at bolstering France's position in artificial intelligence and data centres.
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REMUNERATION

KLM pilots secure 4.75% pay rise

KLM pilots will see a 4.75% salary increase over two years, alongside an expanded ticket discount scheme for up to four years post-retirement. Ruud Stegers, chairman of the VNV trade union, stated that the agreement still requires member approval. The previous contract for around 3,600 pilots expired in March 2022, with negotiations marked by threats of strikes. KLM initially resisted salary increases due to lower profitability compared to Air France and rising fuel costs. Stegers described the outcome as a “balanced agreement” given the airline's current challenges.
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REMOTE WORKING

Remote work hits young graduates hard

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's recent study reveals that the rise of remote work since the pandemic has led to increased unemployment rates among young college graduates. The study found that the jobless rate for graduates in "remotable" occupations rose by about 1% from 2017-2019 to 2022-2024, while older workers saw a slight decline. The authors noted: "Remote work has weakened incentives to hire young workers by impeding on-the-job training." They estimate that remote work accounts for nearly two-thirds of the rise in unemployment for this demographic since the pandemic.
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WORKPLACE

London's office market embraces flexibility

London's office market is evolving, with flexible offices and coworking spaces gaining prominence post-pandemic. Companies are adapting to hybrid work models, leading to increased demand for adaptable office environments. According to Savills, flexible office operator take-up reached 839,000 square feet by Q3 2024, the highest since 2019. Central London accounted for 64% of this demand. The market is shifting towards higher-quality spaces, with 84% of leased areas being Grade A. Savills noted that 84% of respondents prioritised proximity to public transport, highlighting the importance of location in attracting talent.
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TECHNOLOGY

München gears up for driverless taxis

Uber and Autobrains are launching a Level 4 autonomous taxi programme in München, allowing vehicles to operate without a driver. This initiative, announced at the GTC conference in Taipei, aims to integrate existing vehicles from various manufacturers, such as Audi and BMW, into a robotaxi network. The project relies on Autobrains' "Agentic AI," which uses specialised software agents for driving tasks. München was chosen for its urban infrastructure and legal framework supporting autonomous driving. The commercial service awaits regulatory approval, with details on vehicle brands and operational areas still pending.
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STRATEGY

Global firms use AI in India to bring more creative work in-house

Kimberly-Clark, J.C. Penney-parent Catalyst Brands and Target India are among the global firms that are using AI at their Indian hubs to bring more creative work in-house as the technology's ability to expedite and scale campaign creation enables them to rein in marketing costs. Two years ago, content creation took 24 days but now it "only takes two hours" due to AI, Kimberly-Clark ​India head Deena Dayalan told a Reuters summit in Bengaluru. Some analysts nevertheless have faith in the existing marketing model. "If mediocre is all you need, ​then absolutely you can do it yourself," observed Brian Wieser, CEO of advisory firm Madison and Wall.
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LEGAL

Turkish manager arrested over exploitation claims

Ulas Demir, the Turkish manager of Caddell Construction Co.'s Italian branch, was arrested at Bergamo airport while attempting to flee to Istanbul. He is under investigation for exploiting Indian labourers during the construction of the new US consulate in Milan. Prosecutors allege that workers were paid below the poverty line and faced threats of dismissal if they did not comply with exploitative conditions. Milan chief prosecutor Paolo Storari has ordered an emergency review of the company following violations discovered at the site.
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INTERNATIONAL

JD.com founder pledges to protect workers from AI-driven job losses

JD.com founder Liu Qiangdong has pledged that the Chinese e-commerce group will protect jobs as it expands the use of AI and automation across its operations, saying the company will not dismiss frontline workers replaced by machines. Speaking internally, Mr Liu said JD.com would do “everything possible” to safeguard employment for its workforce of around 900,000 people, including blue-collar staff, amid growing concerns in China over the impact of AI and robotics on employment. The company is already deploying technologies including unmanned warehouses, drone delivery, self-driving vehicles and automated retail stores. It is also investing in worker retraining, having established more than 80 training centres focused on skills such as automated system maintenance and servicing.

KPMG Australia’s CEO resigns amid whistleblower claims

Andrew Yates, chief executive of KPMG Australia, has resigned after the accounting firm said investigations into a whistleblower’s claims had fallen short of its standards. It was alleged that KPMG improperly used confidential information from its client Lendlease to win audit work with Westpac and Dexus, and that it had repeatedly failed to act on the whistleblower’s complaint. “The initial internal investigation, that did not substantiate the allegations raised by the whistleblower, was in hindsight not conducted with the necessary rigour required,” the firm said in a statement, adding that an external investigation into the whistleblower’s complaints by law firm Allens would continue “with new evidence and an expanded scope.” KPMG said it was “continuing to challenge the conclusions reached in prior investigations.”
 
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