THE HOT STORY

ASN Bank cuts jobs in major overhaul

Dutch lender ASN Bank has announced it will cut 850 to 950 full-time jobs as part of a significant reorganisation. The move aims to simplify internal structures and save €80m annually. The job reductions will occur gradually until the end of next year, with some positions eliminated through reduced external hiring and unfilled vacancies. CEO Roland Boekhout said: "Naturally, I recognize the impact this further organisational simplification has on all our colleagues." The bank is also merging its brands and focusing on core activities including mortgages and savings.

NL Times

WORKFORCE

Hellenic Train workers announce strike

Hellenic Train workers and train drivers have announced a 24-hour nationwide strike for 18 November, citing “systematic indifference” from management towards ongoing operational issues. The unions, including the Hellenic Train Workers' Union, are demanding immediate hiring, improved working conditions, and repairs to infrastructure. They highlight unsafe workplaces and staff shortages, which they claim compromise safety. The unions urge Hellenic Train to engage in public dialogue through the Mediation and Arbitration Organisation (OMED) to address these concerns, warning that failure to do so may lead to further action.

GreekCitytimes

Kela director apologises over worker comments

Lasse Lehtonen, the Director General of the Social Insurance Institution (Kela), the government agency that provides basic economic security for everyone living in Finland, has apologised for comments that offended staff. In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Lehtonen suggested that it is a job seekers' market, and Kela has "no particular need to retain its staff until the very last minute." During an ensuing board meeting, he acknowledged that his remarks about the job market and staff retention were inappropriate. "My comments have not shown the respect that the professionals working at Kela deserve, and for that I apologise," a statement from Lehtonen read. He noted that the agency will continue to discuss the matter with its employees.

YLE Uutiset

CYBERSECURITY

Firms face fines over cyber breaches

The UK government's Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will grant regulators the authority to impose fines of up to 4% of annual turnover - or £17m if this is higher - on firms which fail to comply with cybersecurity rules. The Bill gives the Technology Secretary the power to instruct regulators and the bodies they oversee to take specific, proportionate steps to prevent cyberattacks posing a threat to national security. Organisations will be have to report serious incidents to their regulator and the National Cyber Security Centre within 24 hours, with a full report within 72 hours. The Bill aims to expand regulations to include more sectors. Research by KPMG shows the average cost of a significant cyber attack in the UK exceeds £190,000, totalling £14.7bn annually.

Financial Times

The Times

LEGAL

SIPTU wants greater protections from online abuse for workers

Ireland's SIPTU has called for stricter regulations to protect workers from online abuse. During its biennial conference in Galway, delegates passed a motion highlighting that public servants and union activists face organised harassment on social media - behaviour which would be illegal in person. The motion criticised the inadequate self-regulation of online platforms. Additionally, SIPTU is seeking legislation imposing heavy penalties on employers who violate workers' rights.

RTE.ie

STRATEGY

Nissan cuts 87 jobs in France office

Nissan will cut 87 roles at its European HQ in Montigny-le-Bretonneux as part of CEO Ivan Espinosa’s global restructuring, which includes a 15% headcount reduction and a 30% cut in production capacity. Most affected roles are in marketing and sales, though 34 new positions and redeployment options will offset some losses. "This decision is driven by the need to reflect the reality of today's business environment," the company said. A voluntary separation program starts first; forced redundancies may follow in February. Despite the cuts, Nissan emphasized the office remains “absolutely vital” to regional operations.

Reuters

HIRING

UK firms freeze hiring ahead of the Budget

UK businesses are delaying hiring as they await clarity on government tax and spending plans, according to a survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG. The REC-KPMG permanent hiring index rose slightly to 45.2 in October, below the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction. The temporary hiring index, however, rose to 50.2. Permanent appointments fell in October, albeit at the slowest pace since July 2024. The report suggests that demand for workers has been hindered by higher employment costs stemming from the hike in employer National Insurance contributions announced in last year's Budget.

The Times

INTERNATIONAL

BHP found liable over Mariana dam disaster

The High Court in London has ruled that BHP, the world’s biggest mining company, is legally liable for one of the worst environmental disasters in the history of Brazil. Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians, around 2,000 businesses, and dozens of local governments had sued BHP over the collapse of the Fundao dam in Mariana, in the southeast of the country, which was owned and operated by BHP and Vale's Samarco joint venture. The event unleashed a wave of toxic sludge that killed 19 people and polluted the length of the Doce River. Judge Finola O'Farrell said in a summary of her ruling that BHP should not have continued to raise the height of the dam before its collapse, which was "a direct and immediate cause of collapse of the dam giving rise to fault-based liability on the part of BHP."

France 24

Financial Times

Reuters

Amazon faces lawsuit over disability policies

Amazon is facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that its absence policy discriminates against warehouse employees with disabilities. The complaint, led by Cayla Lyster, claims that Amazon docks unpaid time off for employees seeking accommodations and threatens termination for excessive absences. Lyster, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, described what she said was a "punitive absence control system," which she claims intimidates employees into not requesting necessary accommodations. The lawsuit seeks damages for hourly warehouse workers in New York who have sought or intended to seek accommodations over the past three years. Inimai Chettiar, president of A Better Balance, a workplace advocacy organisation, said that "workers shouldn't ever need to choose between their safety and their paycheck." The lawsuit follows a similar case filed by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin against Amazon for denying reasonable accommodation requests.

Bloomberg Law

Reuters

Bangladeshi workers demand justice in Malaysia

About 100 Bangladeshi workers have protested in Dhaka, demanding unpaid wages and fair treatment from Malaysian employers. Organised by the Migrant Welfare Network, the rally highlighted alleged mistreatment of migrant workers in Malaysia. The demonstrators called for compensation for 431 workers reportedly exploited by Mediceram and Kawaguchi Manufacturing. Former employees shared experiences of wage withholding and hardship. The group urged authorities and international buyers to ensure justice and address systemic abuses. Complaints have been filed against companies, including Ansell, for forced labour and neglect.

Yahoo News Australia

OTHER

Truffle hunters strike gold in Croatia

In the picturesque forests of Buzet, Croatia, Ivana Karlic Ban and her dogs are on the hunt for white truffles, a highly sought-after delicacy. "The white truffle is very rare, its price can reach €6,000-€7,000 per kilogram", she explained. Unlike black truffles, which can be cultivated, white truffles grow in specific conditions and are only found in Italy and Croatia. Karlic Ban, part of a family of truffle hunters, runs a shop in Paladini offering unique truffle products, including the first chocolate with truffles. However, she notes that climate change and deforestation have led to a decline in white truffle populations, saying: "Their numbers have definitely gone down but the prices for them accordingly went up". The truffle season runs from September to December, making now a prime time for enthusiasts.

Reuters

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