THE HOT STORY

Glovo's Italian food delivery unit ordered to 'regularise' 40,000 workers

The Italian business of Spanish food delivery service Glovo, which is currently under court administration, has been ordered by a judge in Milan to "regularise" 40,000 delivery workers. Milan prosecutors earlier this month placed Glovo's Italian arm, Foodinho, under judicial supervision and its chief executive under investigation for alleged exploitation of workers. "It's important that the Milan prosecutors and the court have delivered a clear message: workers' rights are not an optional . . . you can't put people on the road without safeguards," said Giulia Druetta, a Turin-based lawyer who has represented the delivery workers. Glovo is controlled by Germany's Delivery Hero.

Reuters

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STRATEGY

Deutsche Bahn to cut about 6,000 jobs at its cargo unit

Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national rail operator, has announced plans to cut around 6,000 jobs at its cargo subsidiary, DB Cargo, to enhance profitability and lessen reliance on government support. The restructuring aims to implement these cuts "in a socially responsible manner." The job reductions, which represent about half of the unit's workforce, are intended to help the division become self-sufficient and align with European growth markets.

Reuters

WORKFORCE

Kaufland accused of undermining workers' rights

Supermarket chain Kaufland, part of Germany's Schwarz Group, is facing accusations from trade unions in Slovakia regarding its treatment of employees. Concerns include long working hours, pressure on staff taking family-care leave, and alleged misuse of surveillance. The union, ZO OZ KOVO Kaufland, reported that employees often work six consecutive days, which they argue harms work-life balance. Union chair Rastislav Hruška highlighted a case of a worker facing pressure after taking leave to care for a sick child. Kaufland stated it manages personnel matters responsibly but declined to address specific allegations during ongoing collective bargaining talks.

The Slovak Spectator

LEGAL

Surge in UK tribunal cases linked to autism and ADHD

Employment tribunal cases in the UK related to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have nearly doubled since 2020, according to law firm Irwin Mitchell's analysis of government data. Last year, autism cases reached 121, while ADHD cases hit 118. Notable disputes include a claim against pub operator JD Wetherspoon for disability discrimination and a case involving the Met Office government weather agency's office layout. Jenny Arrowsmith, an employment partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Many cases arise not because of deliberate discrimination, but because businesses fail to recognise their legal obligations early enough." The NHS estimates 2.5m people with ADHD and 1.2m autistic individuals in England.

The Daily Telegraph

TECHNOLOGY

Digital tools could help workers with dementia stay employed longer

Research from University of Bath professor James Fletcher in the UK suggests that digital tools can help people with dementia remain in the workforce longer and more productively. He suggests that many older adults are tech-literate and already rely on digital devices as a “second brain,” using tools that reduce cognitive load, support comprehension, assist with word-finding challenges, and simplify multistep tasks. Fletcher argues that workplace adoption of accessible technologies, personalized AI systems, and formal HR support structures - such as regular check-ins and disability action plans - could reduce stigma and encourage disclosure, enabling employees with dementia to extend their careers. With dementia diagnoses expected to rise as the population ages, Fletcher suggests that organizations and workers alike should proactively adopt cognitive-support technologies to prepare for longer working lives.

The Wall Street Journal

ECONOMY

Polish consumer mood steadies

Polish consumer sentiment was mixed in February, with the Current Consumer Confidence Index rising 0.5 points to -9.1, reflecting improved views on the country’s economic situation and household finances. The index was 5.7 points higher than a year earlier. However, households were more cautious about spending, with the measure of current ability to make major purchases falling 3.2 points. The Leading Consumer Confidence Index, which tracks future expectations, slipped 0.3 points to -7.0, weighed by weaker outlooks for savings and employment. Despite the monthly dip, it remained 3.8 points above its level in February 2025.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Data leak at Abu Dhabi finance summit exposes politicians and business leaders

Passports and other identity documents belonging to hundreds of attendees of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), Abu Dhabi’s flagship investment conference, have been exposed online. Scans of more than 700 such items, some belonging to prominent politicians and business leaders, were discovered on an unprotected cloud storage server associated with the state-sponsored event, which hosted more than 35,000 people in December. ADFW, in a statement to Reuters, said: "a vulnerability in a third-party vendor-managed storage environment relating to a limited subset of ADFW 2025 attendees . . . The environment was secured immediately upon identification, and our initial review indicates that access activity was limited to the researcher who identified the issue."

Financial Times

Middle East Eye

Reuters

Lula's tax breaks boost middle-class support

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's new income tax breaks, effective from January, aim to reduce the tax burden on middle-class Brazilians. The policy is expected to remove around 11.3m taxpayers from the rolls, so enhancing Lula's appeal ahead of October elections. The tax exemption applies to monthly salaries up to 5,000 reais ($960). Vitoria Santos, an advertising professional, observed: "It's a meaningful amount that really makes a difference." However, economists such as Fabio Kanczuk warn that this approach may not address Brazil's long-term economic challenges. "It's bad economic policy, ‌but it wins votes," said Kanczuk, a former central bank director and now head of macroeconomics at Asa Investments.

Bloomberg

Gulf Times

Reuters

Philippines needs whistleblower protection law, UN says

Whistleblowers in the Philippines face significant risks due to the absence of protective laws, a top United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) official has said. The lack of support leaves them vulnerable to retaliation, perpetuating corruption and impunity. Kirbee Tibayan, UNODC country representative, highlighted the need for a national Whistleblower Protection Act and reforms to the Bank Secrecy Act. She said: "Whistleblowers provide most corruption intel, but they're not adequately protected." Additionally, she called for a broader Freedom of Information Act to enhance transparency and inter-agency cooperation in combating corruption.

Gulfnews.com

Nevada sex workers push for union rights

Sex workers at Sheri's Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada, are striving to become the first unionised group in the US. They have submitted a petition to the National Labor Relations Board under the name United Brothel Workers. The push for unionisation follows a controversial contract that grants the brothel control over workers' likenesses. "This is how you end up the face of a Japanese lubricant company without ever having signed a document," Jupiter Jetson, one of the workers, said. "This is how you end up finding yourself on a website offering AI companionship without ever seeing a penny."

U.S. News

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