Human Times
The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
Human Times Logo
European Edition
16th July 2025
 
Industry Slice Icon Logo

THE HOT STORY

France's prime minister looks to scrap two public holidays

France's Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed cutting two public holidays as part of a 2026 budget proposal to cut overall spending while also increasing defence expenditure. Bayrou suggested axing Easter Monday and 8 May, a day that commemorates the Allied victory at the end of World War Two in Europe. He said Easter Monday had "no religious significance" and the whole nation had to work and produce more, observing that the various bank holidays had turned the month of May into a gruyère - a Swiss cheese full of holes - although he added he was open to other suggestions. On Tuesday, Bayrou saud that France was "in mortal danger" of being crushed by debt. The far-right National Rally (RN) party blasted Bayrou's proposal as an attack on French history and on French workers, while Green party leader Marine Tondelier lamented that the day that commemorated victory against Nazism would no longer be a holiday.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

LEGAL

UK government crackdown on zero-hour contracts suffers setback

Plans by the UK government to crack down on zero-hour contracts in the workplace have suffered a setback in the House of Lords. Peers backed by 264 votes to 158 a measure to change the legal requirement for an employer to offer guaranteed hours to an employee’s right to request the arrangement, and they supported by 267 votes to 153 a move to exempt employers from having to make a payment to a worker if a shift was cancelled with at least 48 hours’ notice. Explaining his alternative to the proposed zero-hours provision, Liberal Democrat Lord Goddard of Stockport, said: “The amendment changes legislation from an obligation to offer guaranteed hours to a right to request them . . . Furthermore, it maintains that when a such request is made, the employer must grant it.” Opposing the move, Labour peer Baroness Carberry of Muswell Hill, a former assistant general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, warned: “This formulation of the amendment leaves open the path to some of those worst employers to make sure that they don’t end up offering guaranteed hours to workers on zero-hours contracts.”

Turkish bank staff detained in money laundering probe

Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 85 individuals, including employees from two private banks and a fintech company, amid a money laundering investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The probe focuses on allegations of organised crime, usury, and violations of banking regulations, with a total transaction volume exceeding TL 47.5bn ($1.18bn) identified between 2022 and 2024. The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reported that suspicious transactions were processed through 312 POS terminals linked to 21 companies, primarily using foreign credit cards. Denizbank, Şekerbank, and Ozan Elektronik Para are implicated, with authorities claiming the POS infrastructure was misused to simulate legitimate business activities. Denizbank is also dealing with fallout from an alleged Ponzi scheme involving high-profile football players; former CEO Hakan Ateş stepped down earlier this year.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

CYBERSECURITY

Irish debt office to review security protocols following phishing attack

The Irish state agency that manages debt and the sovereign wealth fund is to review security protocols after losing €5m ($5.9m) in a scam. The phishing attack at Ireland's National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) was discovered last week after staff at the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), a sovereign development fund that the debt office also manages, voiced concern about a payment made to what they thought was an investee company. NTMA Chief Executive Frank O'Connor explained that it was found that a fraudulent payment request from a third party, designed to look like a legitimate request from the existing investee company, had been received at the time of an expected drawdown of funds.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

HIRING

UK graduates face fierce job competition

Entry-level job vacancies in the UK have dropped to their lowest level since 2018, with the number of graduate jobs advertised by employers having fallen by 33% this year. According to recruitment platform Adzuna, UK graduates faced an average of 140 applications per job in 2024, while data shows that entry-level roles at Big Four accountancy firms are down 11%-29% this year. AI is believed to have played a part: technology capable of repetitive administrative tasks is usually handed to new-starters. But while some blame AI for the decline in entry-level roles, Carl-Benedikt Frey from the Oxford Martin School suggests that inflation and economic uncertainty are more significant factors.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

WORKFORCE

Unemployment duration in Finland hits record high

Finland's unemployment duration has reached a record high of 70 weeks, the longest since tracking began in 2007. Young adults aged 20–24 are unemployed for an average of 34 weeks, while those aged 60–64 face job searches exceeding 100 weeks. Antti Ilvonen, Senior Analyst at Danske Bank, highlighted that the current situation reflects a weak labour market, observing: “Right now, the problem isn't a lack of willingness to work. The problem is that there just aren't any jobs.”
Industry Slice Icon Logo

TAX

Agnelli clan pays €175m to settle tax investigation

John Elkann and his siblings, Lapo and Ginevra, from the Agnelli clan, have agreed to pay approximately €175m ($204m) to Italy's Revenue Agency to resolve a tax evasion investigation. A spokesperson confirmed the agreement, although the total amount was not officially disclosed. The deal was reached “with the aim of swiftly” addressing the allegations, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

HEALTH & WELLBEING

US funding cuts threaten HIV fight

A new report from the United Nations AIDS agency (UNAIDS) warns that the withdrawal of US funding for global HIV efforts could result in over 4m AIDS-related deaths and 6m new HIV infections by 2029 if not replaced. The report highlights that the funding cuts have already caused a "systemic shock," destabilising supply chains and leading to the closure of health facilities. Kate Rees, a public health physician at the Anova Health Institute, said: "It really only takes a couple of weeks to dismantle something that has been built over more than twenty years." The cuts threaten vital programmes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of HIV cases are concentrated. UNAIDS emphasises the need for strong multilateral cooperation to prevent reversing decades of progress against AIDS.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

INTERNATIONAL

Thailand's productivity crisis deepens

Thailand is grappling with a slowdown in productivity growth, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hindered the country's aspirations for high-income status by 2037. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently launched the report "Strengthening Productivity Analysis for Policymaking in Thailand." Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul presided over the event, where OECD Chief Economist Álvaro S. Pereira stressed the need for immediate reforms. He said: "Thailand's productivity slowdown and demographic shifts necessitate immediate action." The report identifies key barriers to productivity, including high market concentration, regulatory hurdles, and inadequate investment. To address these issues, the OECD recommends establishing a National Productivity Council to enhance data management and policy recommendations, alongside developing a National Productivity Framework for ongoing monitoring and improvement.

US nuclear regulator asks job candidates political questions

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has come under fire for a job posting that includes political questions. The position, for a senior operations engineer, asks applicants how their commitment to the US. Constitution informs their work and how they would support the President's policies. Scott Burnell, an NRC spokesperson, said that the agency is adhering to Office of Personnel Management guidelines. However, former NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko described the questions as a "political litmus test," and suggested they undermine professional expertise. He remarked: "If I saw something like this as Chairman, I would tell the staff to replace them immediately with relevant professional questions."

Fukushima moves to retain young talent

Fukushima Prefecture is launching a public-private partnership to address a declining birth rate and youth exodus - particularly among women. The health and welfare ministry reported that Japan's births fell to 686,061 in 2024, with Fukushima experiencing a ninth consecutive year of decline, recording only 8,216 births and a fertility rate of 1.15. The initiative aims to foster collaboration between businesses and local organisations to create sustainable communities. Toyooka city serves as a model, having implemented measures to close gender gaps and improve workplace environments, resulting in increased female participation in the local workforce. Kiyomi Harada, head of the city's diversity and gender gap division, emphasised the need for ongoing efforts, saying: “As a government, we aim to offer opportunities for dialogue while raising awareness.”
 
Industry SLice Logo

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe