Europe – Euro area and EU28 unemployment rates decline in May

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.4% in May 2018, down from 9.2% in May 2017 while the EU28 unemployment rate was 7.0% in May 2018, down from 7.7% in May 2017, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Both the EU28 and euro area unemployment...

Europe – More than a quarter of businesses rely on freelancers to complete core tasks, study finds

Over a quarter of organisations rely on freelancers to complete core business tasks, according to survey data from HR services provider SD Worx and Antwerp Management School.

The survey, conducted across five European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands and the UK, also found that HR...

Germany – ‘Temporary work is not the problem, but the solution’ Staffing Quote of the Week

Federal Employers' Association of Personnel Service Providers (BAP) President Sebastian Lazay defended temporary work during BAP’s Employer’s Day, Temporary Work.

Mentioning Germany’s reformed Labour Leasing Act (Arbeitnehmerüberlassungsgesetz AÜG), which came in to effect April 2017, Lazay...

France – Proman enters US market with acquisition of industrial staffing firm Paramount Staffing

French staffing firm Proman has acquired Paramount Staffing, a US-based staffing firm focused on industrial staffing.

The acquisition of Paramount Staffing will mark Proman’s first acquisition in the US market and strengthens its roster and resources with an additional 5,000+ employees and 16 offices...

Belgium – Temporary workers’ hours increase in May, all regions report growth

The number of hours worked by temporary agency workers in Belgium for May increased by 5.8% when compared to the same period last year, according to Federgon, the Belgian Federation of Staffing Agencies.

The increase in May was led by growth in both the blue-collar and white-collar sector. The number...

Belgium – SD Worx invests in GlobePayroll

Belgian HR service provider SD Worx announced that it has purchased 40% of shares in France-based SaaS (Software as a service) payroll solution company GlobePayroll.

According to SD Worx, the investment creates a partnership that will allow the group to “accelerate its international growth” and provide...

Netherlands – More than 30,000 jobs moved abroad, mostly to reduce salary costs

More than 500 companies with 50 or more employees moved one or more activities abroad, resulting in a move of over 30,000 jobs between 2014 and 2016, according to data from Statistics Netherlands.

Most of the activities that were moved abroad included administrative and management tasks. The industrial...

UK – Deliveroo to pay six-figure settlement to its couriers in employment rights case

Human cloud food courier firm Deliveroo will pay a group of 50 of its riders a six-figure payout in a settlement over employment rights.

The claim, brought forth by law firm Leigh Day, argued that the Deliveroo riders had been unlawfully denied rights, including the legal minimum wage and paid holiday,...

Netherlands – Trade union says not enough being done for the workplace safety of temporary workers

Dutch-based trade union CNV (Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond) wants temporary employees to be better protected against accidents at work.

The CNV said the safety of flex workers does not receive sufficient attention and that self-regulation for safe working conditions also falls short.

The union calls...

Finland – HR Services firm VMP to merge its two recruitment brands

Helsinki-based HR services firm VMP Plc announced that it will merge its recruitment consultancies Romana Management and Personnel into the Personnel brand in September 2018.

Earlier this month the company completed its Initial Public Offering and became listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange’s First...