THE HOT STORY

Brexit still divides Britain 10 years on

Brexit became a reality on this day in 2016, when 52% - or more than 17m people in the UK - voted to leave the EU. Experts say the UK economy is between 4% and 8% smaller than it would have been had the country voted to remain in the bloc - although Brexiters argue that leaving the EU is not something that can be judged in the short-term. Polls from Ipsos suggest that more than half (52%) of people in the UK would now like to rejoin the EU while 33% are against it, and 48% would support another referendum today on Britain’s membership of the EU against 27% who would oppose one. CBI director-general Rain Newton-Smith has told the FT that 10 years after the 2016 vote the UK's business community does not want to rejoin the EU - despite acknowledging the economic pain.

AP News

Financial Times

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Dutch businesses shift focus from recruitment to retaining staff

Employers in the Netherlands are prioritising work organisation over recruitment, according to a study by Berenschot. In 2024, recruitment was the main focus for HR staff, but key priorities now include absenteeism, workforce planning, and employee development. “Many organisations are still structured around job titles, job frameworks, and fixed career paths,” Berenschot consultant Francel Vos told Financieele Dagblad. “The question should be: what ambitions do we have, what do we need to do to realise them, what skills are required for this, and how can we better utilise or develop them.”

NL Times

WORKFORCE

ECB urged to be vigilant on impact of oil price on wages

European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Jose Luis Escrivá has urged vigilance regarding any knock-on impact on wages from higher oil and commodity prices precipitated by the conflict in the Middle East. “We must be vigilant that there aren’t any what we call second-round effects on wages, which will depend on how persistent inflation proves to be,” Escrivá said in an interview with Spanish newspaper Expansión.

Bloomberg

Employers invested in returnships. Now they are ditching them

Returnships, which offer a route for professionals looking to re-enter the workforce after career breaks, are declining after a post-pandemic surge, with firms becoming more risk-averse amid increasing economic uncertainty.

Financial Times

TECHNOLOGY

Sweden may oppose Tesla's supervised self-driving tech in Europe

The Swedish Transport Administration (TRV) is recommending a vote against the European launch of Tesla's supervised self-driving software, unless the US automaker disables its ability to exceed legal speed limits, according to a previously unreported letter obtained through a freedom of information request. In its letter, the transport authority said that "allowing automated systems to systematically exceed legal speed limits . . . risks undermining both the legal framework and the expected safety benefits of vehicle automation." The TRV called for the feature to be removed. "Failing this, the Swedish Transport Administration recommends that [the EU's Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles] vote against the proposed introduction."

Reuters

ECONOMY

UK business leaders issue stagnation warning

Britain is facing a potential summer of stagnation as uncertainty looms over the next Prime Minister's policies. Business leaders have expressed concern that a lack of clarity following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation could hinder decision-making and consumer spending. Anna Leach, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said businesses are concerned "about whether taxes are going to change yet again," while Rain Newton-Smith, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "We cannot increase the tax burden on businesses further without having an impact on the cost of living, which everyone recognises is really challenging for many people at the moment."

The Daily Telegraph

STRATEGY

Italian companies are increasingly confident in Spain

Italian companies are increasingly confident in Spain as a key investment destination. Over 70% expect to boost revenue and investment by 2026, with 47% planning to expand their workforce. The findings from the Third Barometer on the Climate and Prospects for Italian Investments in Spain reveal that 94% of surveyed firms view Spain as strategic. The business climate improved slightly, scoring 3.3 out of 5, with quality of life rated highly. Despite concerns over geopolitical tensions, Italian investment remains strong, with Madrid, Andalusia, and Catalonia as top regions for future investments.

ANSA.it

INTERNATIONAL

Hanson calls for overhaul of Australia's industrial relations laws

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for an overhaul of Australia's industrial relations laws. During her National Press Club address, Hanson said that "Industrial relations, I can assure you, needs a complete overhaul, because it's not working. Businesses also tell me you can't sack people these days . . . [Workers are] on their phones, they don't work, they don't turn up, they actually are lazy, and businesses are tied to it." ABC notes that a HR representative for small business said Hanson's words did resonate, observing that many of her clients were "terrified to terminate people." But Anne Nalder, CEO of the Small Business Association, said existing laws allow employers to dismiss staff, as long as a clear process is followed. "It's not true that you can't sack workers," Nalder said.

ABC Online

Most US families now have two parents working full-time

Both parents now work full-time in most US families, and mothers with bachelor’s or postgraduate degrees are driving the shift, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center which found that 52% of families now have two parents working full-time, up 6% from a decade ago. Pew observed that 83% of partners who were married or cohabitating and both employed full-time thought this situation was a clear financial positive, and almost half (49%) said it had a positive impact on the well-being of their children. A more equal split in parenting could be encouraging the trend - although 63% of mothers told Pew researchers that they were responsible for the majority of parenting tasks and household chores.

Bloomberg

India demonstrates how extreme heat can hit productivity

Bloomberg reports on how India is becoming a case study in how rising temperatures can undermine productivity and growth in nations that still rely heavily on physical labour. “My productivity is down 40%,” says Asad K. Iraqi, the chief executive of Kanpur-based leather-working business AKI. “Workers can’t survive in this heat without proper hydration and cooling.” A 2020 study by the McKinsey Global Institute found that lost labour from increasing heat and humidity could jeopardise 2.5% to 4.5% of India’s gross domestic product by 2030. Meanwhile, University of Chicago research published in 2021 found factory output in India fell by about 2% for each 1C rise in temperature amid reduced worker productivity and a rise in absenteeism.

Bloomberg

African lawmakers support push for tougher anti-LGBT laws

Lawmakers from over a dozen African nations have committed to advancing new bills that restrict LGBT rights. The African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty, held in Accra from June 3-6, coincided with Ghana's passage of a stringent anti-LGBT bill. Ghana Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin urged attendees to ensure resolutions lead to actionable legislation. The conference culminated in the approval of an "African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values," which calls for national laws that protect stated cultural values and reject foreign influence promoting LGBT rights. Reuters observes that for LGBT people in Ghana, the debate has further heightened their fears. "I constantly self-censor, hide, watch my back. That's not safety, that's survival," said an African photographer and longtime resident of Accra. "So yes, leaving has crossed my mind. That breaks my heart because Ghana is my home."

Reuters

OTHER

Dutch takeaway shops 'widely ignore EU plastic ban'

A survey reveal that many Dutch takeaway food outlets are not complying with European Union regulations on single-use plastics. Out of 101 shops inspected across 12 cities, 80 were found using at least one plastic item, including banned plastic straws. More than 25% of shops still offered these straws, and many did not charge the required fees for plastic bags. Maria Westerbos, founder of the Plastic Soup Foundation, called the situation "disappointing and regrettable," as she highlighted the need for better enforcement of the rules.

NL Times

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