Human Times

European Edition

14th October 2026

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THE HOT STORY

BMW flies German specialists to Hungary

BMW is flying skilled employees from Germany to Hungary after transferring production there, using cross-border deployments to support its operations. The intervention follows investments worth billions of euros by Germany's automotive industry in Hungary over recent years. BMW adopted the staffing solution after the sector encountered problems in Hungary, exposing workforce constraints around relocated production. The arrangement means German expertise remains necessary at the Hungarian operation even as manufacturing moves away from Germany.

Handelsblatt

CROSS-BORDER INDEX

Every country scored on how complex it is for employers to send staff abroad

For HR and global mobility teams, cross-border work does not start with booking a flight. It starts with a legal assessment, but tighter visa rules, changing compliance requirements and expanding reporting obligations make every business trip or assignment harder to get right.

The new WorkFlex Cross-Border Index removes the guesswork. Based on almost 2 million analysed travel days from more than 500 companies, it shows where compliance needs the most lead time before a project timeline or client commitment is set.

Check how your company's target markets score →

HIRING

BYD plans hiring spree to boost European workforce

Chinese automotive giant BYD has said a hiring spree in Europe is being planned to increase the company's workforce in the region to about 40,000 people by the end of the decade. “BYD’s commitment in Europe is very deep, and it is long term,” Executive Vice President Stella Li, who heads BYD’s overseas business, said at the Paris Motor Show. Asked specifically about the company’s European employment plans, Li said separately that its workforce in Europe would be “absolutely over 40,000 in 2030.” The company will soon have more than 10,000 people, she added.

Bloomberg

REMOTE WORKING

UK civil servant denies fraud over multiple jobs

A UK civil servant accused of holding five full-time public sector jobs simultaneously while working remotely has denied nine fraud charges. Kashim Chowdhury, 55, allegedly received £284,613 during periods of overlapping employment between 2020 and 2023. Prosecutors told Southwark Crown Court in London he concealed existing jobs, used sick leave while working elsewhere, and was contracted for 183 hours weekly at one point. "The defendant was able to do this because he worked from home, remotely," Lucy Organ, for the prosecution, said. "He told employers he needed to do so to care for his elderly mother and appears to have exploited the opportunity this gave him to secretly have numerous full-time jobs." Chowdhury accepts receiving salaries but denies dishonesty. The trial continues.

Sky News

The Daily Telegraph

The Times

WORKFORCE

Albanian students protest over jobs and education

Protests in Tirana, Albania, turned violent on Tuesday as students clashed with police over education and social issues. Demonstrators threw bricks and concrete blocks at the Education Ministry, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons. Protesters voiced concerns about university conditions, high education costs, and poor employment prospects. Luljeta Kola, a protester, stated: "What Albania needs is a revolution, a change, a complete overthrow of the system." Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu condemned the violence, saying that it was not a solution to the issues faced by youth.

U.S. News

Greece expands Digital Work Card

Greece has launched the Digital Work Card system for sectors including healthcare and telecommunications, protecting nearly 500,000 additional workers. Labour and Social Security Minister Niki Kerameus said the system ensures workers receive payment for actual hours worked and combats undeclared employment. The initiative has already led to a significant increase in declared overtime, with some sectors seeing rises of up to 1,200%. The second phase of the rollout will begin on 16 November, covering more sectors such as consulting and logistics.

GreekCitytimes

Italian theatre workers call national strike

Italian theatre workers have announced a national strike on October 14 due to employers' failure to renew the national contract, which expired in 2021. Unions Slc Cgil, Fistel Cisl, and Uilfpc-Uil cited the "counterparty's persistent unwillingness to provide adequate responses to union demands" as a key reason for the strike.

ANSA.it

TECHNOLOGY

Robots to cover night shifts in Danish supermarket

Føtex, a Danish supermarket chain, plans to trial humanoid robots for overnight shelf restocking. The robots, developed by Hive Robots and manufactured by Unitree, aim to enhance customer service by allowing employees to focus on assisting shoppers. Initial training began in June 2026, with the goal of full automation by early 2027. The robots can also monitor product expiry dates and identify misplaced items. "By automating some of these tasks," a spokesperson said, "employees could spend more time assisting customers."

IceNews

RISK

IKEA stores could become emergency shelters amid growing threats

IKEA stores in Denmark could be converted into emergency shelters or temporary hospitals during blackouts, floods or attacks on critical infrastructure. The retailer is part of Denmark’s Corporate Coalition for Crisis Preparedness, which connects businesses with authorities needing supplies, facilities and staff during emergencies. The initiative reflects growing concern over sabotage and cyber attacks attributed by European officials to Russia. Other companies are also preparing, with supermarket operator Salling Group developing 51 stores able to operate for up to 48 hours without electricity or internet. Similar schemes operate across Europe, including Finland, Estonia and Poland.

Reuters

TAX

Italy's tax evasion is above expected and rising

A Treasury-appointed commission has said that Italy's tax evasion is greater than previously estimated and increasing, according to new government data. Unpaid taxes and social contributions rose by more than €7bn ($7.87bn) in 2023 from 2022, bringing the total to between €107.9bn and €112.8bn, the commission said. The report said tax evasion increased between 2021 and 2023, though the increase in absolute cash terms ‌may ⁠partly reflect higher taxable income, driven by rising inflation and the post-pandemic economic recovery.

U.S. News

ECONOMY

AI investment supports global growth outlook

The IMF has raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1%, from 3.0%, as strong AI investment offsets economic disruption from the Middle East conflict and oil prices exceeding $100 per barrel. Growth is expected to reach 3.4% in 2027, although widening economic disparities and mounting debt threaten stability. The US economy is forecast to grow 2.3%, China 4.5% and India 7.0% in 2026, while several Gulf economies face deep recessions. IMF chief economist Silvana Tenreyro warned that global economic resilience is "reaching its limits." The IMF also highlighted risks from prolonged energy disruption, higher borrowing costs and disappointing AI returns, and urged governments to rebuild fiscal buffers.

Reuters

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Dutch women plan their lives around their menstruation cycle

According to a survey by the RTL News panel, 40% of women in the Netherlands experiencing menopause or menstruation organise their lives around their cycles. Many women are choosing to schedule important appointments and workouts during their more energetic weeks.

NL Times

INTERNATIONAL

Lyft to pay $272m settlement to California rideshare drivers

Rideshare giant Lyft is to pay $272.5m to settle a six-year lawsuit with California that it committed wage theft against its drivers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the city attorneys of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, sued the company six years ago after it was accused of misclassifying drivers as independent contractors, which meant the drivers were paid well below minimum wage and denied other legally mandated workplace protections. “Rideshare companies like Lyft have enjoyed massive growth and profits on the backs of drivers over the past decade, many of whom are from immigrant communities and communities of colour,” Bonta said. “Lyft's success would not be possible without the drivers Lyft sought to unfairly short-change. Hard-working employees deserve full compensation for their labour.”

U.S. News

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