Human Times

European Edition

30th October 2026

THE HOT STORY

Dockworkers to strike against arms shipments today

Dockworkers in 22 countries are to strike today in a protest against war and the use of ports for ‌arms exports. The strike action, which was originally called by dockworkers' unions in Italy, France, Greece, Spain's Basque Country, Turkey, and Morocco, is now supported by more than 25 unions in 113 ports. The Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) is also supporting the strike, and about a dozen ports in India could be disrupted. Organisers say the strike could disrupt more than 40% of Mediterranean cargo and affect over $2bn worth of freight. "We will send our own message of peace from Piraeus, and we will show our solidarity with the peoples suffering from war,” said dockworkers at Greece's largest port.

Shipping Telegraph

Reuters

WORKFORCE

Major strikes planned across Italy today

A nationwide general strike and series of protests are taking place across Italy today. They have been called by grassroots trade unions, including USB (Unione Sindacale di Base) and USI-CIT, who want wage increases in line with inflation.

Euronews

STRATEGY

ING plans to cut hundreds of jobs

Dutch financial giant ING is to eliminate 400 jobs in its wholesale banking division. ING said it is creating a more streamlined structure for the business, which serves large corporates and financial institutions. “Sometimes we feel we are too complicated internally, and therefore we simplify the organisation,” ING chief executive Steven van Rijswijk said, adding that means “it will be more direct for our clients to do business with us, with clear internal lines and clear decision making.” The bank has more than 60,000 employees, according to its website.

Amazon cuts 250 jobs in devices unit as restructuring continues

Amazon has cut approximately 250 jobs in its devices and services division, primarily affecting software development roles, as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency and align resources with its product strategy. The layoffs follow a series of product launches, including new Kindle e-readers, tablets, and Alexa-powered devices, and come just weeks after the company eliminated around 1,000 positions in its core retail business. Amazon said the latest reductions followed a review of its organisational structure, as the technology giant continues to streamline operations ahead of its third-quarter earnings announcement.

Reuters

Dutch shipbuilder to cut 5.5% of its workforce

Dutch trade unions De Unie and CNV have said shipbuilder Damen plans to eliminate around 225 jobs in the Netherlands - 5.5% of the company's total local workforce of 4,000. Damen confirmed the restructuring, saying that it would make its organisation “simpler and more efficient.”

NL Times

LEGAL

New UK employment protections take effect today

Stronger requirements on employers to prevent sexual harassment come into effect in the UK today. Future of work minister Kate Dearden said employers must take "all reasonable steps" to prevent harassment, including warning notices and measures allowing staff to summon assistance. Dearden said the government understood that smaller employers faced different challenges from bigger ones with dedicated human resources departments, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance relating to the rules. The reforms also strengthen trade union access to workplaces, although businesses employing fewer than 21 people are exempt. Business groups have raised concerns about compliance costs and unclear guidance.

The Times

LEADERSHIP

Christine Lagarde to step down as ECB president in February

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has announced that she will step down on February 7, 2027, approximately nine months before her eight-year term expires, triggering a leadership succession process amid economic uncertainty and financial market volatility across the eurozone. The announcement came hours before the ECB held its deposit rate at 2.5%, as instability in France’s bond market continued to affect regional borrowing costs. Although no official reason was provided for Lagarde’s early departure, speculation has centred on allowing European leaders to appoint her successor before France’s April 2027 presidential election. Potential candidates include former Bank of Spain Governor Pablo Hernández de Cos, former Dutch central bank chief Klaas Knot, and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel.

Euronews

Financial Times

New York Times

HEALTH & SAFETY

UK offshore workers face jobs risk over weight limits

Around 240 UK offshore workers remain above new safety weight limits taking effect on Sunday, potentially putting their jobs at risk. The 19st 7lb threshold, including clothing and footwear, ensures workers can be safely winched during helicopter rescue operations. Industry body Offshore Energies UK says numbers have fallen significantly from an estimated 2,200 last year following weight loss initiatives. Workers exceeding the limit could face redeployment or dismissal.

The Times

CORPORATE

MPS investors reject plans to fend off Intesa takeover offer

Monte dei Paschi di Siena shareholders have overwhelmingly rejected chief executive Luigi Lovaglio's proposed takeovers of Banca Generali and Banco BPM. With 91% of votes against the plans, the rejection clears the path for a €35bn hostile bid from Intesa Sanpaolo.

Financial Times

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

US employee engagement hits new low

Gallup's latest polling reveals that US employee engagement fell to 29% in the third quarter, marking its lowest level since 2011. The decline, which was particularly concentrated among remote and hybrid workers, is attributed to organisations adopting artificial intelligence. Gallup's findings suggest that AI adoption may be outpacing necessary communication and managerial support, leading to increased disengagement among employees. Jim Harter, chief scientist for Gallup's workplace management and wellbeing practices, said: “The Q3 findings add to concerns about how well organisations communicate expectations and maintain employee connections across different work arrangements.” The data indicates that engagement has been on a downward trend since its peak of 36% in 2020, with significant declines in clarity of expectations and supervisor support. The psychological disconnect among workers raises concerns about productivity and overall morale.

CNBC

Australian regulator orders major audit firms to address failings following misconduct scandals

Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has instructed six major audit firms - KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, EY, BDO, and Grant Thornton - to develop action plans addressing shortcomings in audit quality, financial reporting, and independence practices. The directive follows findings that auditors failed to challenge management assumptions, obtain sufficient supporting evidence, and properly document compliance with ethical requirements. ASIC will monitor the effectiveness of the plans amid ongoing scrutiny of the industry, including an investigation into allegations that KPMG misused confidential client information to secure additional audit work. In September, the regulator disclosed that it was examining 551 complaints of potential misconduct involving the Big Four accounting firms.

Reuters

OTHER

Former Spanish employment minister died in train crash

Among those killed in the train collision outside Toledo, Spain, in which at least 69 people died was Fátima Báñez, 59, who was an employment minister in centre-right Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government from 2011 to 2018. Báñez was travelling to Seville for a business event in her capacity as president of the Fundación CEOE, which represents Spanish employers. “[Báñez’s] leadership, social commitment and strategic vision have left an unerasable mark on this organisation and all those who have worked with her,” the CEOE said in a statement.

Politico

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