UNI Global Union urges BNP Paribas to address links to settlements in West Bank under its vigilance duty Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders This controversial list (here) that was published on 12 February has been subject to intense lobbing not least by a variety of NGOs and trade union bodies that are calling for greater transparency in order to lead awareness campaigns or calls for boycott (for more on this issue c.f.…
Poland: state-backed reduced working hours trial launched Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Poland’s labour ministry on 14 August launched a pilot scheme to test shorter working hours, allowing companies to trial either a four-day week or reduced daily hours. Employers selected for the programme will receive state financial support to help implement the new work arrangements.
UN agencies publish guidelines to protect workers from heat Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 22 August, the World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization released a joint report highlighting the rising risks that heat poses to workers amid climate change.…
France: national campaign for employment of older workers launched Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 29 April, the French labour ministry organised a major conference on the employment of workers aged 50 and over in the country. This initiative marks the start of a national campaign to change practices, legislation and attitudes towards older workers.
Global trade union skills centre launched on due diligence obligations Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 19 March, the global union confederations UNI Global Union (services) and IndustriAll (industry/energy), together with the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a political foundation of the German Social Democratic Party, announced the creation of a skills centre to "strengthen workers’ rights through human rights due diligence laws". The team is currently being set up and is expected to start work at the end of 2025.
Germany: complaint filed against Edeka over lack of social and environmental due diligence in Guatemala Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Two NGOs filed a complaint at the end of February against Edeka, one of Germany's leading retail chains (approximately 400,000 employees in 11,000 stores), with the country's Federal Office of Economics and Export Control. The accusation is based on the German supply chain due diligence act and concerns a series of social, human rights and environmental offenses by an indirect supplier of the German brand.
Netherlands: Facebook promotes gender inequality according to the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights ruled on 18 February that Meta, the owner of Facebook, reinforces gender stereotypes through its algorithm for promoting job offers.…
Italy: Confindustria proposes plan for workers’ housing Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Employers’ organisation Confindustria intends to harness public and private partnerships to launch a major housing construction and repurposing plan with the aim of addressing,…
India: labour ministry and Amazon strike agreement to promote employment Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Recruitment/Employer branding/employee loyalty The US e-commerce giant and India's labour and employment ministry have signed an agreement to combat the mismatch between supply and demand in the field of employment. Amazon will now publish all its job vacancies on the government's recruitment portal, through which it will also be able to search for candidates.
G7 labour ministers agree action plan for trusted, human-centred AI Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Following their meeting in Italy from September 11 to 13, the G7 labour and employment ministers signed a joint declaration focusing on artificial intelligence. The declaration contains an action plan proposing ways to increase the potential and limit the risks of artificial intelligence in terms of training, social dialogue, automation and health and safety.
