Human Times

European Edition

7th September 2026

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THE HOT STORY

Airbus says preliminary deal reached with Spanish unions

Airbus says it has reached a preliminary deal with four unions in Spain that points to a ‌potential breakthrough in a dispute that has seen weeks of strikes at the planemaker's local plants. The company said it had reached a "proposal of understanding" with unions UGT, ATP, CCOO and SIPA after a meeting mediated by the Industry Ministry to resolve the labour dispute over pay and conditions. Industry Minister Jordi Hereu said the agreement - which also addresses workplace ⁠issues including mobility, canteen services and flexibility - was "a magnificent step forward" and emblematic of the value of social dialogue in securing stability.

Reuters

HR & LEADERSHIP

Is your retention data lying to you?

Employee intent to stay in EMEA has dropped from 66% to 62% in a year, and voluntary turnover now costs the global economy $2.9 trillion annually. Most organisations treat this as a culture problem or a headcount problem but they're rarely looking in the right place. BAFTA-winning writer Adam Kay spent years inside a system that couldn't see its own people clearly, and he's joining Rippling's Wendy Harris and Eric Greenwood to make the case that your people aren't the problem. Your blind spots are. Join the free 45-minute session to find out what AI means for the headcount you can't yet see.

Save your seat

WORKFORCE

AIGI sends redundancy letters for 2,500 workers

The AIGI association, which represents firms involved in the ancillary chain of the troubled former ILVA steelworks in the southern Italian city of Taranto, has sent letters to trade unions regarding the procedure to make over 2,500 of their workers redundant. The decision follows a Milan court ruling that mandates the cessation of operations in the plant's "hot area" unless asbestos is removed and emissions are controlled. AIGI President Nicola Convertino said the redundancies were a "necessary and inevitable step - a direct consequence of the sudden deadline set for the closure of the hot area as early as October. We have reached this point due to the total lack of reasonable planning that could have safeguarded our companies."

ANSA.it

Heineken staff join nationwide social security protests

Workers at breweries in Den Bosch and Zoeterwoude are staging a three-hour strike today to protest the Dutch government's proposed cuts to unemployment benefits and disability insurance. The FNV union, which organised the action, has emphasised the need for a strong social safety net for workers facing illness or job loss. Heineken acknowledged employees' right to strike, and said it is focused on maintaining a safe environment during the protest. Other sectors, including healthcare and metalwork, have also begun striking.

NL Times

ECONOMY

France announces €1bn aid for farmers

France has announced a plan to release over €1bn in aid to support the country's agriculture sector after this summer's record heatwaves and ‌droughts devastated crops and pastures. "One billion euros represents a ⁠massive effort given the current budgetary context," Agriculture minister Annie Genevard told reporters, adding: "The immediate ‌goal ⁠is to manage the emergency." About 30,000 to 35,000 farms were in financial trouble, she said. France's main agricultural union, the FNSEA, said farmers had already suffered at least €10bn of lost production.

France 24

Reuters

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Dutch health provider expects more workplace absences this month

Dutch occupational health provider Arbo Unie anticipates an increase in sick leave reports starting in September, marking the beginning of the “absence season.” Analysis from 2020 to 2025 shows sick leave in September is typically 69% higher than in August. “The post-summer rise does not mean workers suddenly have no desire to return to the job,” said Corné Roelen, an occupational physician from Arbo Unie. “From September, many organisations get busier again, and people have more contact with one another. At the same time, the period when colds and flu play a larger role begins. That combination can explain why sick reports climb so clearly after summer.” While most absences last under a week, a notable share lead to long-term leave, primarily due to mental health issues such as stress.

NL Times

RISK

Finland holds Europe's largest civil defence drill since WWII

Over 2,000 participants engaged in Shelter 2026, Europe's largest civil defence exercise since World War II, which was held last week in Kuopio, Finland. The drill tested responses to cyberattacks, infrastructure failures, and missile threats. Retired Army Colonel Asko Muhonen said: "Finland's preparedness depends not only on the armed forces but also on civilians accepting responsibility during a crisis." Finland's emergency preparedness guidance advises households to be ready to manage for at least 72 hours without outside assistance during disruptions to electricity, water or other services.

Helsinki Times

LEGAL

Global watchdog identifies increasing misuse of informal money-transfer networks

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, has said the misuse of informal banking networks, including hawala and other similar service providers (HOSSPs), which move payments through agents rather than regulated financial institutions, is a growing worldwide problem. FATF President Giles Thomson warned that sophisticated, commercially run networks now act as a “serious risk multiplier,” and make it easier for criminals to hide activities that harm people and communities around the world. FATF said in its report that professional service providers, including lawyers, accountants, auditors, consultants and real estate agents, are increasingly involved in facilitating the schemes.

Reuters

WION

CYBERSECURITY

OpenAI commits $1bn to cyberdefence effort

OpenAI has said it would commit $1bn in subsidised access to its AI cybersecurity tools, training and technical support for organisations that protect critical services, amid growing concern over increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled cyberattacks. The "Daybreak for Frontline Defenders" programme will initially focus on US operators of essential services including water utilities, electric grid operators, and state and local governments. There are plans to soon expand to partner countries, OpenAI said. "In the ⁠coming months, AI-enabled cyber attacks will become far more widespread and sophisticated as models around the world become increasingly capable," the company said, adding: "Our goal ⁠is to use frontier AI to make the systems Americans depend on harder to attack and easier to repair."

The Next Web

The Register

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Foreign finance workers take on bigger roles in Korea

The Korea Times reports on a shift in Korea's traditionally conservative financial industry, which has seen foreign workers being recruited for roles beyond serving international customers. The report does however note that hiring foreign nationals can sometimes come with challenges: visa and residency requirements can be a hurdle, and language barriers and differences in workplace culture can make onboarding difficult. A banking industry official observed: "Even if someone speaks Korean fluently in everyday life, financial terminology can be a different story. We provide additional training to help foreign employees get up to speed with industry-specific language and practices."

The Korea Times

Most UAE professionals are not networking effectively

New LinkedIn research reveals that while 91% of UAE professionals plan to stay in the country, many struggle to build professional connections. Despite recognising the importance of networks, 74% browse work-related content without engaging. Barriers include fear of judgment and lack of guidance, with 58% feeling they lack support in developing relationships. “The UAE continues to be a place where people come to build ambitious, long-term careers. But in a fast-moving labour market, skills alone are not always enough. Visibility and relationships also matter, especially for people who are new to the country, early in their careers, or looking to move into a new sector,” said Najat Abdelhadi, Mena career expert at LinkedIn. “Building a network does not need to start with a big request or a perfectly written message. Small interactions add up,” she added.

Emirates24

Khaleej Times Online

Billionaire attorney defends firm's work-from-home policy

Billionaire attorney John Morgan has defended his personal injury firm Morgan & Morgan’s controversial work-from-home policy, which includes monitoring employees with cameras and productivity tracking. Describing on a podcast how the arrangement was introduced at America's largest injury law firm, Morgan said: "Here's what we're going to do. You can work from home, but guess what? We're going to put a camera on your computer. We're going to put a camera up your ass." He said 23 employees left within the first week.

OTHER

Older adults outnumber the youngest children worldwide

A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that last year, the global population of people aged 65 and over surpassed the number of children under five for the first time in recorded history, and the global population aged 65 and over will rise from 10.5% in 2025 to 19.6% by 2060. The bureau's August 2026 report, An Aging World: 2025, says this demographic shift is occurring more quickly than expected a decade ago and is creating an unprecedented, increasingly “top-heavy” age structure.

Axios

The Nation

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