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European Edition
28th October 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

UK bosses 'should be banned from asking job applicants for salary history'

The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has proposed banning employers from asking job applicants about their previous salaries to combat pay discrimination, saying such questions allowed existing inequalities to follow workers from one job to the next. The commission wants the government to go further than its plans to make employers publish salaries in job adverts as part of an overhaul of equal pay laws. Mary-Ann Stephenson, chair of the EHRC, said: "Unequal and discriminatory pay can fuel inequalities and limit opportunities in many aspects of our lives. But the current equal pay system is too complex and is often difficult for people to navigate . . . Publishing salaries in job adverts is a positive step. But employers should not be allowed to ask about candidates' salary history or expectations, which can result in existing inequalities being carried into a new role." The commission is responding to a government consultation on reforms.
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RISK

EU wants countries to make plans to cope with 3C global warming

The European Union is to propose new rules mandating the bloc's 27 member states to have climate resilience plans in place to deal with average global temperatures rising 3C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. Members will be required to have national plans for how they will adapt by end-2030. Climate change “is threatening to increasingly undermine Europe’s social and territorial cohesion,” said a draft document, which added: “Climate resilience is becoming increasingly relevant.” Bloomberg notes that Europe is the fastest warming continent and could see average temperatures rise up to 5C by the end of the century.
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WORKFORCE

Portugal public sector unions announce November strike

The Frente Comum of Public Administration Unions has announced a nationwide strike in Portugal for 20 November in response to the proposed 2027 State Budget. Sebastião Santana, the union's coordinator, accused the government of neglecting workers' needs. He said that the strike aims to alert MPs before the budget vote. The union condemned the budget, saying it harms workers, pensioners, and families, and could worsen issues in healthcare, education, housing, and justice. The strike is strategically timed to influence parliamentary discussions on the budget, which began on 27 November.
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STRATEGY

Rambøll to lay off 400 employees

Engineering consultancy Rambøll is to lay off 400 management employees to simplify its organisation and enhance decision-making. Chief executive Christian Jensby said: “In many areas, the organisation has become difficult to navigate, decisions take too long, and areas of responsibility are not sufficiently clear.” Rambøll, which employs around 18,000 globally, including 4,000 in Denmark, is assessing further streamlining measures that may impact employees below management level. Rambøll advises clients on construction, transport, the environment, energy and management. 

Pepco announces first Ukrainian store openings

Polish discount retailer Pepco will enter Ukraine with three stores opening in Kyiv on 28 and 30 October. The outlets will sell affordable clothing, children's products and homewares. Prices have already been published in hryvnias on the retailer's Ukrainian website. The initial openings represent a pilot phase to assess customer demand and expansion opportunities. Pepco also plans to launch stores in Ternopil and Chernivtsi before the end of 2026, extending its European retail network.

Netherlands seeks to cut a fifth of government jobs over next decade

The Dutch government has said it aims ​to cut around 20% ‌of all civil service jobs over the next decade in an ​efficiency drive that should ​save €3.5bn. Some ⁠46,500 new government jobs in the Netherlands have been created since ⁠2018, ​increasing the workforce ​by 40%. The government is also cutting advisory bodies and office space.
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HIRING

Graduate job vacancies in UK hit record low

Graduate job vacancies in the UK fell to a record low of 7,826 in September, a 43% decrease year-on-year, according to Adzuna. The firm said the decline reflects a broader tightening in entry-level hiring across various sectors, including professional services and technology. The situation is exacerbated by rising costs and increased AI integration, which threatens junior roles. Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said: "Employers are still hiring graduates; they're just being more selective about who they back and the fundamentals still matter - the degree, the critical thinking, the ability to learn fast."
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ECONOMY

French consumer confidence hits 13-year low

French consumer confidence fell five points to 80 in October, its lowest since 2013, following widespread riots over living costs and public spending. Official figures showed record pessimism about future living standards, alongside rising unemployment fears and borrowing costs.
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INTERNATIONAL

US lawmakers challenge plan for 'AI agents' to run companies

James Comer (R-KY), chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has announced an investigation into a proposal by Delaware to create a new type of autonomous business entity that would be run by an AI agent and enjoy legal personhood like a corporation. Comer wrote in a letter to Gov. Matt Meyer: “We are concerned that Delaware’s [Artificial Intelligence Company] proposal could be used to protect powerful AI companies and their investors from responsibility for reckless harmful actions.” The committee is seeking documents from Meyer’s office by November 9, including  risk assessments, outside consulting agreements, draft bills and communications on the project. The state’s proposal would create a regulatory “sandbox” to test the structure, including liability limits for parent companies and investors.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector roiled by deadly attacks

Bloomberg reports on the impact of the deadly attacks by Iran-backed Yemeni militants and the broader regional war on Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector, observing that the disruption has “effectively shut [Riyadh's] financial district.”  Tim Callen, a former International Monetary Fund mission chief for Saudi Arabia, said: “The attacks on Saudi take away one of the investment attractions of the past, namely stability in an unstable region . . . With the risk of escalation in the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran, things don’t look likely to get better in the short-term.”
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OTHER

Chinese brands drop Kylian Mbappé over alleged Mao Zedong remarks

Dongpeng Beverage and Mengniu, two of China's largest drinks and dairy producers, have terminated their sponsorship agreements with French football star Kylian Mbappé after an unverified video appeared to show him referring to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a “dictator”. The footage, in which Mbappé seemingly discusses an internet meme depicting his face superimposed onto Mao's image, has sparked widespread criticism on Chinese social media. Both companies announced the immediate termination of their partnerships, citing zero-tolerance policies towards behaviour that offends Chinese national sentiments. Mbappé, who previously enjoyed significant popularity in China, has faced calls for his image to be removed from branded products, although the authenticity of the video has yet to be independently verified.
 
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