THE HOT STORY

Ministers consider welfare overhaul for young people

Government ministers are considering welfare reforms aimed at helping more young people into employment, including removing the universal credit health element for under-25s. The payment, received by about 184,000 people aged 16 to 24, has already been reduced to £217 a month for most new claimants from next April. Options include replacing financial support with subsidised jobs, intensive employment programmes, and mental health assistance. Officials are also examining changes to Personal Independence Payment, potentially including a separate system for under-25s, while protecting people with the most severe disabilities. The proposals remain under consideration pending reviews led by Alan Milburn and the Timms panel. The government says reforms will maintain a safety net for those unable to work.

The Guardian

The Times

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WORKFORCE

Milburn questions reliance on migrant workers

Alan Milburn has condemned employers for relying on migrant labour amid a jobs crisis in the UK. The former minister, who is leading a landmark review of youth inactivity, argues that businesses should invest in training local workers instead. He notes that net migration has halved to 171,000, presenting an opportunity for change. Milburn said: "Some employers in some sectors have become too reliant on migrant labour and still are. And that what they need to be doing is investing for the long term in the sustainable supply of labour that comes from local areas."

The Daily Telegraph

LEGAL

Ex-HSBC banker banned for dodging £5,900 in train fares

Ex-HSBC banker Joseph Molloy has been banned by the Financial Conduct Authority after being convicted of fraud for devising a scam that enabled him to evade £5,900 in train fares.

Financial Times

ECONOMY

Manufacturing activity rises despite supply chain pressure

UK manufacturing activity increased in September, according to S&P Global's UK manufacturing PMI. The survey indicated a slight increase in overall manufacturing activity, with a reading of 51.9 in September, up from 51.7 in August. This marks the 11th consecutive month of growth, although the pace of production growth has slowed to its weakest level in six months. Supply chains faced significant pressure, leading to increased delivery times and rising input prices, particularly for energy and transportation.

The Independent

SUSTAINABILITY

Regulator drops mandatory climate disclosure plan

The Financial Conduct Authority has dropped plans to make listed companies publish mandatory climate risk disclosures, following concerns from businesses over implementation costs and international competitiveness. Instead, companies will retain a “comply or explain” approach to the UK’s climate reporting standard, UK SRS S2. The decision follows the European Union watering down its climate disclosure rules and the United States abandoning similar plans. The FCA said 92% of FTSE 350 companies complied with existing climate disclosure requirements in their 2025 annual reports.

Reuters

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 yen to 200,000 yen. 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

VW union angered after labour deals cut short

Volkswagen has terminated most of its collective bargaining framework from December 1, in a move which could precipitate the renegotiation of costly labour benefits for the carmaker's German workers, raising the risks of strike action. Thorsten Groeger, a representative for IG Metall, Germany's top industrial union, said the terminations were "a despicable blow to the workforce . . . We will not accept this. Anyone who tries to reach into the employees' pockets must expect a fight." Arne Meiswinkel, the human resources chief of VW's core brand, said terminating the agreements "gives us room to negotiate ‌so that ⁠we can then agree on the necessary measures . . . We must continue to work on our cost structures."

Reuters

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

Walking to school cuts anxiety symptoms

Research indicates that walking to school can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and low mood in young adolescents. A study by King's College London (KCL) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst involving US adolescents who wore fitness trackers for three weeks measured their daily step counts. Findings suggest that increased physical activity correlates with improved mental health outcomes. An extra 1,000 to 2,000 steps a day, from any starting point, was associated with better mental health outcomes and differences in brain structure, said Amanda Paluch of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "The goal is finding realistic, sustainable ways to move more," she added.

The Daily Telegraph

The Times

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