Work/Life: international employment news update

Issue 69

Welcome to the latest edition of our international employment news update.

Israeli government's planned judicial reform sparks protest by technology workers

Israeli tech companies gave permission for hundreds of their employees to attend protests around the country against governmental plans to overhaul the judicial system. Measures include allowing the Israeli parliament to overrule Supreme Court decisions through a majority vote. The protests parallel tech worker activists in the US and elsewhere.

European Parliament votes to amend platform worker directive

The EU plans to make it easier for gig economy platform workers to access a wider range of workers' rights as a result of being classified as workers rather than self-employed. Platforms would be treated as employers, with obligations to provide information to workers, and not to make automated decisions about them.

New British law could give more protection to pregnant women against being made redundant

A bill is likely to strengthen protection for pregnant women against dismissal whilst on maternity leave. Their protection will extend to start from the moment their employer is informed they are pregnant until the child is 18 months old. The bill is likely to be passed later in 2023 with government support and if so, the law will apply to England, Wales and Scotland.

French government strengthens fight against discrimination at work

The French government will order employers to pay a civil fine if they are held liable for discrimination against an employee or a candidate in recruitment. This is one of 80 measures as part of a plan to tackle racism and discrimination and will span from 2023 to 2026. The fines will be in addition to existing reparation measures such as damages.

Mandatory 90-day probation for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi labour platform has imposed a minimum 90-day probation term on recruitment agencies for domestic workers as part of an attempt to regulate the labour market. The term begins from the date of the worker's arrival in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi labour authorities further clarified that the employer will be responsible for expenses such as recruitment fees and any exit/re-entry fees.

Britain may allow foreign students longer work hours to boost the economy

Foreign student working hours could be raised from a cap of 20 hours to 30 or may be unlimited, to tackle labour shortages in sectors such as hospitality and retail. UK ministers are looking to encourage students to take more part-time jobs.

Danish government plan to abolish springtime public holiday

Trade unions and left and right wing opposition parties are protesting against the Danish government's plan to scrap the springtime public holiday – a proposal that seems to run counter to increased work/life policies such as shorter working weeks.

Dutch transportation strike: Second union issues ultimatum

The UK and France are not alone in experiencing large scale industrial action. Trade unions CNV and FNV are threatening to launch a nationwide Netherlands strike in waste management and regional public transport that will last five days if the employers association VWOV does not respond to an ultimatum issued by the trade union CNV. FNV already held a strike in January to enforce better working conditions, resulting in about 40% of public transport not running.