France – Employment rises at fastest pace in a decade, temp jobs up

Employment in France rose by 89,700 in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 0.4% which was the fastest rise in a decade, according to figures from the national statistics agency INSEE.

The figures also showed that temporary work posted 17,000 more jobs in the first quarter, a quarterly increase of...

Netherlands – New social security premium measure could increase cost of agency workers

As of 25 May, staffing companies in the Netherlands may no longer pay social security premiums (for example for unemployment benefits) equal to the percentage applicable to hiring employers in the sector to which they supply staff.

Prior to this date, staffing companies could apply to be allocated to...

UK – Capita provides trading update as it aims for a turnaround in second half of 2017

Capita (CPI:LSE), the provider of business process outsourcing solutions and professional support services, provided a trading update in which the company announced that it hopes to improve profitability in the second half of 2017 following last year’s results in which they dropped out of the FTSE....

Netherlands – False self-employment legislation postponed

The execution and the enforcement of the controversial DBA Act to deal with false self- employment has been further postponed until 1 July 2018. The DBA was supposed to replace the Declaration of Independent Contractor Status (VAR), a standard contract required for all independent contractors in the...

Netherlands – Staffing growth remains steady

According to the Dutch Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU), hours worked by temporary workers stayed the same and turnover did not change either for the fifth period (weeks 17-20) compared to the same period last year.

ABU divides the year into four-week periods reported, with period 5 the...

UK – REC announces commission to help recruitment industry prepare for the future

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has today announced the ‘Future of Jobs commission’, a strategic review to help recruiters and employers prepare for emerging labour market challenges.

The commission is to be chaired by former employment minister and now Member of Parliament for...

UK – Call centre worker wins paternity discrimination case against Capita (Telegraph)

A call centre employee working for Capita has won a landmark discrimination case against the outsourcing firm for failing to give him paternity leave, reports the Telegraph. The worker, Madasar Ali, was told by Capita that he would get two weeks pay, whereas women are entitled to 14 weeks. The case is...

UK – Family who ran umbrella payroll company and stole £45 million jailed for 27 years

A family who ran an umbrella payroll company Central Payroll Specialists, which was later rebranded as Quality Premier Services, have been jailed for a total of 27-and-a-half years for stealing more than £45 million in a UK payroll fraud.

The family’s umbrella company provided payroll services to recruitment...

UK – Servoca half-year revenue up 19%

Specialist recruitment and outsourcing firm Servoca (SVCA: LSE) reported revenue for the six months ending 31 March 2017 of £40.9 million, an increase of 18.8% compared with £34.4 million during the same period last year.

World – Shareholders object to PageGroup remuneration policy

Over a third of shareholders at PageGroup’s AGM last week voted against the proposed directors’ remuneration policy. Nevertheless, the remuneration policy was passed as it received the requisite majority vote. 

The new plan provides annual awards of up to 375% of base salary for each executive...