THE HOT STORY

Carers could get maternity-style ‘right to return’ to work

Employees who quit work to care for relatives with a long-term illness could gain rights similar to those granted to new parents, including a right to paid carer’s leave and a new maternity leave-style “right to return” to work after a period of intensive caring, under proposals set out in a government consultation. Launching the consultation, the employment rights minister, Kate Dearden, said: “Whether you’re caring for an elderly parent, a partner with a long-term illness, or a child fighting a serious disease, you shouldn’t have to choose between your job and those you love.” Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Too many carers currently have no choice but to reduce their hours or leave work altogether because workplace support and employment rights do not reflect the realities of caring.”

Financial Times

GOV.UK

Daily Mirror

The Guardian

WORKFORCE

Farage urges unions to affiliate to Reform

Nigel Farage has called on trade unions to leave the Labour Party and affiliate with Reform ahead of the Makerfield by-election. Farage accused Labour of neglecting working-class interests and has proposed a redress scheme for steelworkers' pensions and promised an "open door" for union leaders. A recent JL Partners poll showed Reform is now equally popular among union members as Labour. Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB union, said: "We're very clear, Reform is no friend of trade unionists."

The Times

Goldsmiths faces 'indefinite' strike over redundancies

University and College Union (UCU) members at Goldsmiths, University of London have begun "indefinite" strike action over redundancies and cuts announced by the university's leadership. The UCU said that despite two previous rounds of redundancies in the last five years, representing savings of almost £24m, a further 269 professional services staff and academics are still at risk of redundancy, with more cuts expected from September. The dispute has seen staff refuse to mark work and assessments. The university has retaliated with 100% wage reductions even for staff completing other duties.

London Evening Standard

HIRING

Hiring down 24% since before the pandemic

UK hiring fell by 24% between January 2019 and January 2026 and 12% of British workers are in roles potentially under threat from AI, according to research by LinkedIn. The professional networking site said the decline was largely down to employers being more cautious about recruitment amid geopolitical and trade uncertainty, rather than a consequence of the shift towards AI. The research found 95,000 AI-related roles have been created in the UK since 2023, but more than one in 10 (12%) of workers are in AI-exposed jobs, and have “low skill adaptability.” Janine Chamberlin, head of LinkedIn UK, said: “The data points to economic uncertainty and low business confidence rather than AI job shocks. However, leaders know that they need to continue investing in AI and skills if they are to continue growing. There is high demand for talent that can combine AI literacy with crucial human skills, such as collaboration and creativity – this is what will help to give companies the edge as the economy recovers.”

The I

Retailers call for action on youth jobs

The bosses of leading UK retailers - including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Primark - have urged the Prime Minister to address a jobs crisis affecting over 1m young people. A letter drawn up by the British Retail Consortium has warned that government policies are complicating workforce management and hindering opportunities for under-25s.

The Daily Telegraph

TECHNOLOGY

Workers fear AI jobs effect

Nearly half of UK workers are concerned about their skills becoming outdated due to AI and automation, according to a survey by Totaljobs. The study, which included 2,000 workers and 900 businesses, found that 42% of employees are worried about their job prospects as AI tools replace human tasks. Totaljobs noted that "Fobo," or the "Fear of Becoming Obsolete," is affecting many in the workforce. With unemployment at 5% and competition for jobs increasing, 83% of staff feel the need to learn new skills, yet only 37% have done so in the past year.

The Times

CORPORATE

Firms closed for 'abuse' of UK register

The UK government has intensified its efforts against "foreign abuse" of the corporate register by shutting down two services that registered over 4,300 companies for clients primarily based in China. The Insolvency Service noted that these entities diverted fees to Chinese bank accounts and failed to conduct necessary money-laundering checks. Concerns about financial crime have risen due to the ease of company registration in the UK. The latest closures involved UK Sinosia Business and Longshine Overseas, which operated similarly and registered thousands of companies across various sectors. "Overseas companies register on Companies House as it provides respectability and legitimacy, as well as opening up new markets and attracting investment for them," the service said. "However, companies which have no presence in the UK undermine economic confidence by eroding trust in the register. They are also high-risk for being used as vehicles for fraud and money laundering."

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

Donald Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee blocked by judge

A federal judge has vacated President Donald Trump’s policy imposing a $100,000 fee for employers’ H-1B visa applications. Judge Leo Sorokin said the policy violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution. He found that the payment is a tax that Congress had not delegated to the executive branch. “Every day, thousands of people with H-1B visas serve New Yorkers as doctors, teachers, and other skilled workers,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose state was one of 20 that sued to block the fee. “Today a court put an end to this administration’s illegal attempt to destroy this critical program and the many jobs it makes possible,” James said. The Trump administration said it would appeal the ruling.

Taliban urged to end arrests of women over dress rules

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed its concern regarding the recent arrests of women in Herat province for allegedly not adhering to "dress requirements." Local media reported that at least 21 women and girls were detained following a Taliban directive mandating women to wear a "proper hijab" in public. UNAMA stated: "We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law." Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, they have imposed numerous restrictions on women, including access to education and employment, precipitating widespread international criticism. A UNICEF report warned that over 25,000 female teachers and health workers could be lost by 2030 if these restrictions persist.

U.S. News

Bolivia President signs protest crackdown law

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has promulgated legislation that eases the state’s ability to impose emergency measures amid escalating anti-government protests, led by the national labour union (COB) and former president Evo Morales, that have caused unrest and led to an estimated 10 deaths and 37 injured. Bolivia has witnessed episodes of violence in the past “but none has ever been so prolonged and indefinite, and this has been one of the most violent,” observed Bolivian human rights lawyer Ramiro Orias, program director at the Due Process of Law Foundation in Bolivia. Protesting groups are angry at their exclusion from the government’s decision-making process, among other grievances.

Bloomberg

Extreme heat threatens productivity at Indian garment suppliers

Indian garment factories supplying retailers including Uniqlo, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer are experiencing productivity losses of up to 10% during peak summer months as extreme heat affects worker attendance, product quality and delivery reliability, according to a report by the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. The study of 10 factories found temperatures exceeding 45°C are causing operational disruptions including stitching errors, fabric damage, dust contamination and production stoppages, with suppliers increasingly relying on temporary measures to cope with worsening conditions. India’s apparel export sector is worth $39bn and employs around 45m people, 70% of whom are women. The report also highlighted limited oversight from global brands, with only 35% of customers requiring suppliers to monitor factory temperatures and half not asking whether extreme heat has disrupted production.

Bloomberg

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