Germany – BMW and Daimler get OK for ‘mobility’ joint venture that includes human cloud

Automakers BMW Group and Daimler AG reported they have received approval from US competition authorities for their mobility joint venture that will bring together the companies’ human cloud and other offerings that include car sharing, parking and electric vehicle charging.

Both companies each have...

World – People: LinkedIn, VMP, Adcorp

LinkedIn appointed Mahesh Narayanan as country manager for India effective 7 January, the Business Standard reported. Narayanan most recently led Saavn, a music streaming platform; a position he left in August.

Finnish HR services firm VMP plc appointed Pauliina Soinio as interim CFO and member of the...

Germany – Cabinet proposes law to remove obstacles to skilled immigration (Deutsche Welle)

Germany’s cabinet put forward a proposed law to remove obstacles to immigration of skilled labour, Deutsche Welle reported. One obstacle the proposed law would remove is the requirement that German employers show that no German or European Union citizen can do the job for which they are advertising....

UK – Court of Appeal finds Uber drivers are workers

Uber drivers in London are workers, not independent contractors, according to a ruling on Thursday by the Court of Appeal.

While Uber argued that it is only an intermediary connecting drivers with riders, the Court of Appeal cited the “practical reality of the relationships” as favouring 'worker'...

UK – Employer confidence down for fifth month amid Brexit uncertainty, REC says

Employers’ confidence in the UK economy was negative for the fifth consecutive month, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s JobsOutlook report announced Wednesday.

The net balance of those seeing a positive outlook as opposed to a negative one reached -12, compared to -11 in...

France – Freelance.com leader leaves group

French online staffing group Freelance.com (EPA: ALFRE) reported Director General Claude Tempé will resign from his post, effective Jan. 25, 2019.

Tempé announced his resignation at the Dec. 17-18 board of directors meeting. He plans to devote more time to staffing projects but will continue to support...

UK – New plan for post-Brexit, skills-based immigration system; £30,000 minimum salary

Plans for a new post-Brexit, skills-based immigration system were outlined on Monday by the UK’s Home Office in a white paper report.

For skilled workers, the plans call for removing an annual cap on the number of work visas issued and ending requirements for labour market tests by employers wanting...

Netherlands – YoungCapital acquires bankrupt job board

Jobbird, a bankrupty job board, was acquired by staffing firm YoungCapital, reported Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. It was unknown how many of Jobbird’s 12 employees would transfer to the new owner; financial details were not released, according to De Telegraaf. Jobbird declared bankruptcy earlier this...

UK – Ruling on Uber driver’s ‘worker’ status due today

The Court of Appeal is due to deliver its’ judgment in the appeal against a ruling that Uber drivers are workers rather than self-employed independent contractors later today, reports ITV News.

In October, the Court heard Uber’s appeal against the decision of an Employment Appeal Tribunal not to overturn...

UK – Salaries rise in five out of six major industries, APSCo report finds

Salaries rose in five out of six major industries, according to the new trends report produced by SIA for APSCo based on data from November. It also found permanent jobs across the professional staffing sectors rose 4% year over year, although there is evidence of a slowdown compared to previous months....