THE HOT STORY

Setback for union in works council election at Tesla's Berlin plant

IG Metall, Germany's top industrial union, has failed to win a majority in the works council elections at Tesla's plant near Berlin. The union, which has been fighting for more influence at the US automaker's gigafactory in Gruenheide, the company's only European production site, said it secured 13 of the ⁠works council's 37 seats, leaving the committee's majority in non-unionised hands. "Unfortunately, it was not enough to secure a . . . majority," IG Metall's lead candidate Laura Arndt said. "We will continue to do our utmost in the new works council to bring about change for us and our colleagues at the Gigafactory."

Reuters

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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TECHNOLOGY

UK to launch state-backed AI research lab

The UK government is committing £40m over six years to establish a new lab that will focus on fundamental AI research that can lead to breakthroughs in science, healthcare and transport. "This is a long-term investment in the brilliant minds who will keep the UK in the AI fast lane. If we are the ones breaking new ground on what AI can do, we can make sure our values are baked in from the outset. This is a critical part of our mission to make AI work for everyone," said AI minister Kanishka Narayan.

Financial Times

GOV.UK

WORKFORCE

Greek maritime transport workers launch strike

The Panhellenic Federation of Maritime Workers (PNO) has launched a 24-hour nationwide strike to advocate for the safety and repatriation of Greek sailors stranded in the Middle East. The action has led to ships being docked across Greece. The Federation described the situation as "particularly serious and dangerous," highlighting that hundreds of sailors remain in the region. Greek Navy Minister Vasilis Kikilias noted that ten Greek-flagged ships are in the Persian Gulf, with 85 Greek sailors aboard, while around 325 vessels with Greek interests are registered under foreign flags.

ANSA.it

Europe braces for surge of migration from Middle East

Europe is preparing for a potential increase in immigration from the Middle East due to ongoing conflict in the region, according to Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration. European governments are keen to adopt a proactive approach to manage the situation, especially given rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Pope said it was too soon to estimate how many people would flee from the region. “Right now people are primarily moving inside their countries - within Iran, within Lebanon, which is probably the place we're the most concerned about,” she said. Pope also drew attention to the “often forgotten” foreign workers that constitute large parts of the population in many Gulf countries and whom she said “are often not provided with the same level of support and attention and information as the nationals of a country.”

Luxembourg Times

Nurses' strike scheduled in Portugal

The Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP) has announced a strike for March 20 to protest the Ministry of Health's "delay in the decision" on several issues that are said to be hindering career progression. "The Ministry of Health made a commitment to address those situations . . . by the end of February. It has not fulfilled its commitment," the SEP said. The delay means that "discrimination against nurses" compared to other professional groups is maintained, the union said, thus preventing nurses' "fair career progression."

The Portugal News Online

STRATEGY

Morgan Stanley lays off 2,500 employees

Morgan Stanley has laid off about 3% of its workforce, or ‌roughly 2,500 employees, across its three major divisions. The job cuts affect investment banking and trading, wealth management, and investment management, but do not affect the lender's financial advisors. The cuts are tied to shifting business and location priorities, as well as individual job performance, and are occurring both in the U.S. and overseas, a person familiar with the matter said.

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

ECONOMY

European Commission reveals 'Made in EU' proposals

The European Union is introducing procurement requirements to bolster its manufacturing sectors and reduce dependence on inexpensive Chinese imports. The "Made in EU" proposals, part of the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), aim to set minimum standards for public procurement in key industries such as steel and cement. European Commission Vice President Stephane Sejourne said the aim of the proposals was "to boost demand and guarantee resilient supply chains in strategic sectors" amid "unprecedented global uncertainty and unfair competition." He added: "It will create jobs by directing taxpayers' money to European production, decreasing our dependencies and enhancing our economic security and sovereignty . . . If we do nothing, then it's quite clear that very soon, 100% of clean tech technology will be produced in China . . . It's quite possible that our cement, steel industries will be offshored completely in the next few years."

Deutsche Welle (EN)

REGULATION

Meta faces scrutiny over privacy breaches

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating Meta amid reports that subcontracted workers reviewed sensitive content captured by its AI smart glasses. An investigation by Swedish newspapers Svenska Dagbladet and Goteborgs-Posten found that workers in Kenya have been able to view videos, including users' private moments. Meta insists that it takes data protection seriously and filters content to protect privacy. However, the ICO expressed concern, saying: "Service providers must clearly explain what data is collected and how it is used." The watchdog has requested information from Meta regarding compliance with UK data protection laws.

BBC News

INTERNATIONAL

Trump plan seeks to tie federal employee layoffs to performance

The Trump administration has proposed a change to employee retention rules. The new proposed rule would substitute job performance for seniority in deciding who is fired when an agency institutes layoffs. The proposal would rank employees primarily by a numerical "performance credit" based on their three most recent ratings of record, with veterans' preference points added on top. The proposal would make reduction-in-force regulations "more streamlined, efficient, and merit-based," the Office of Personnel Management said. Everett Kelley, the President of the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, said: “This proposal is part of a coordinated campaign . . . these proposed rules represent a blueprint for faster, less accountable mass firings and another step in the administration’s effort to dismantle the nonpartisan civil service.”

Bloomberg

Iran warns those who seek to defy internet blackout

The authorities in Iran have issued warnings to people connecting to the internet in defiance of a communications blackout that has left the country largely cut off from the outside world. Connectivity is at "around 1% of ordinary levels," according to monitor group Netblocks. A spokesperson for the Norway-based Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights said its work had been complicated by severe communication problems. "It's a struggle for us right now, but it's not the first time that we are facing a cutoff," Awyar Shekhi said. "We've built our own networks to be prepared [for] such times to be able to get information through our sources when there is no internet."

France 24

Seoul court rules on rescinding of job within minutes

A Seoul Administrative Court has ruled that rescinding a job offer just four minutes after it was granted constitutes unfair dismissal. The case involved an applicant who received a job offer via text from the company's CEO, only to have it cancelled shortly after. “Once an employment contract is formed by a notice of acceptance, the requirements for dismissal under the Labor Standards Act must be met to cancel it,” the court said. “Canceling the hire without providing written notice of the reason and date of dismissal constitutes unfair dismissal.”

Korea Joongang Daily

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