Human Times

European Edition

2nd October 2026

THE HOT STORY

Striking Airbus workers in Spain vote in favour of deal

Airbus workers in Spain have voted to support a proposal to end months of episodic strike ‌action. The result of the vote on a deal which included recovering lost purchasing power, inflation-linked wage increases, flexibility in holidays and a return to 40% remote working enabled Airbus to "maintain a solid ‌and ⁠competitive position in Spain," the company said.

Reuters

CYBERSECURITY

Three-quarters of EU employees face cyber threats at work

Three-quarters of European Union employees have encountered suspicious emails, messages or links at work, according to a Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission. Phishing - fraudulent messages or websites which are designed to steal data or gain unauthorised access - was the most commonly reported workplace cyber threat, cited by 39% of employees in the survey. Six in ten (60%) respondents said they had received cybersecurity training in the previous year.

WORKFORCE

Failing fund meant to protect foreign workers in Denmark

Denmark's Labour Market Fund for Posted Workers (AFU), which was designed to help posted workers recover wages that their foreign employers failed to pay, has only recovered about 1% of wage claims since its inception in 2016, according to the trade union 3F. The fund's ineffectiveness is particularly pronounced for non-union workers, with only 0.2% of their claims being paid. 3F is advocating for stronger measures to ensure accountability among contracting companies and improve the fund's operations. “When AFU has recovered only around 1 percent of the reported claims after 10 years, it is an admission of failure,” said Claus von Elling, chair of 3F's construction group. “The fund was supposed to ensure that underpayment had real consequences. Instead, the figures show that the vast majority of claims are never recovered.”

Copenhagen Post

Fear of job cuts among workers in Romania

Romanian workers are increasingly concerned about job security, driven by the rising cost of living and political decisions, according to PwC's Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2026. Confidence in job security has dropped from 58% to 48% over the past year, while the intention to change employers has also decreased. Despite these challenges, motivation remains high, with 73% of workers saying they feel proud of their work. Oana Munteanu, Director and Workforce Leader at PwC Romania, observed: "Workers are willing to stay and do more, but they need trust and support from managers."

Business Review

ZF English

CORPORATE

Moscow widens corporate crackdown on European firms

Russia has intensified pressure on European companies operating in the country, placing the Russian assets of Nestlé, Metro, and Auchan under temporary management as Moscow responds to EU sanctions and support for Ukraine. A senior Russian government source suggested more European businesses, potentially including UniCredit and Raiffeisen, could face similar action. The Kremlin said the measures were linked to European countries’ alleged involvement in the war in Ukraine and could be reversed. Since the war began, Russia has imposed temporary administration on 135 firms affiliated with foreign companies, most from the EU, while the number of European businesses operating in Russia has continued to decline.

Reuters

RISK

UK's Burnham leaves door open to second Brexit referendum

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said his Labour government could offer a second Brexit referendum or pledge to rejoin the EU at the next general election. Burnham said he was not advocating an immediate referendum but would consider one if public opinion moved towards rejoining, while declining to rule out making EU membership a manifesto commitment. He has abandoned Labour’s previous opposition to rejoining the single market or customs union and restoring freedom of movement. Burnham said closer EU ties were preferable amid global challenges and plans to outline options around a UK-EU summit expected in November.

The Times

TECHNOLOGY

OpenAI 'ignored employees' warnings on security'

The New York Times has seen emails in which OpenAI staff made known their concerns that the San Francisco company's newest AI models were not being appropriately monitored during testing to gauge the technology's sophistication and to secure them. Executives responded by saying that the tests needed to be expedited to release the AI models on time. The employees said no additional security protocols were put in place. The ChatGPT maker's models later broke out of their testing environments and attacked the AI startup Hugging Face. The previously unreported email exchanges were indicative of the company's approach to security, according to employees and independent security researchers.

New York Times

INTERNATIONAL

California bans employers from relying solely on AI to fire or discipline workers

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the No Robo Bosses Act, prohibiting employers from relying exclusively on AI to make decisions about employee termination or discipline. Employers that rely primarily on AI for such decisions will be required to have a human reviewer corroborate the outcome using additional information, including managerial evaluations, peer reviews, and personnel files, and must notify affected employees about the AI’s use and the data considered. The legislation follows an earlier version vetoed by Newsom in 2025, with lawmakers subsequently removing advance notification requirements and protections for gig workers. The law makes California the first state to introduce such extensive restrictions on AI-driven employment decisions, amid growing scrutiny of automated workplace management systems.

CNBC

Japan tightens permanent residency rules for foreigners

Japan has introduced stricter requirements for foreigners seeking permanent residency, as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's immigration control measures. Starting soon, applicants must demonstrate above-average annual income and conversational Japanese skills. Application fees will increase significantly, from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000. Takaichi noted that rising foreign resident numbers have caused public anxiety, prompting the need for "orderly coexistence." Critics argue that Japan must welcome more foreign workers to address labour shortages, while anti-immigration sentiments grow amid false claims about foreigners. “I understand that over-accepting foreigners . . . might dilute Japan's unique culture. But at the same time, given its low birth rate and ageing population, Japan has to accept foreigners,” said American-born university student Yujie Chono, who was among those waiting for residency.

Bangkok Post

Straits Times

Bangladesh's job quota reform backfires

In Bangladesh, the 2024 student-led uprising led to the abolition of job quotas so as to facilitate merit-based recruitment. However, the reform has resulted in a significant decline in female representation in public sector jobs. Tothapi Azad, a Dhaka University graduate, noted that while she supported ending quotas, many women rely on them for career empowerment. Data reveals that female recruitment in civil service roles has plummeted from 35% to 19% since the quota's removal. Experts warn that fewer women in government could adversely affect policymaking and governance.

France 24

OTHER

French students protest over learning conditions

Protests by high school students in France have escalated, prompting Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to convene a crisis meeting. Demonstrations began in the Paris region, focusing on issues including underfunded schools and long hours, but have now spread across the country. Raphael, 17, was among the protesters outside a school in Strasbourg. "There are 35 of us per classroom. With 35C in summer, it's unbearable. There aren't enough toilets, and there are water leaks in some rooms," he said. "The building is falling apart, the cafeteria is too small. There's zero budget, zero resources, not enough supervisors."

France 24

The Daily Telegraph

The Guardian

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.

Online

Advertise

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

Click here to unsubscribe