EU mulls over new protections for gig workers.
Procter & Gamble India extends benefits to partners of LGBTQ+ staff. The EU proposes protections for independent workers. Virgin Hyperloop lays off half its workforce. Australian companies eye foreign talent to meet the skills shortage. Coal miners fear for their jobs.
Procter & Gamble India extends benefits to partners of LGBTQ+ employees
The consumer goods company will extend medical support, emergency financial assistance, flex subsidy allowance and relocation benefits to partners of LGBTQ+ employees with effect from 1 April 2022 according to People Matters.
Procter & Gamble’s vice president and head of human resources, Indian sub-continent, PM Srinivas, says this latest initiative builds on top of the company’s “Share the Care” inclusive parental leave policy that they launched last year. The company will also continue to strengthen awareness and training programmes that sensitise staff on LGBTQ+ diversity.
EU reviews new protections for gig workers
The European Commission recently published a proposal that would dramatically shift how digital platforms must manage their gig workers. The commission estimates that if passed, the proposal could affect about 4four million people, changing their classification from self-employed to employee.
Under the new proposal, gig workers in the EU would gain the status and rights of employees, rather than being considered self-employed.
Virgin Hyperloop lays off half of its employees
The Financial Times reports that Virgin Hyperloop laid off more than 100 employees in a move that will allow it to focus on cargo transport instead of passenger travel.
The company is now changing direction due to global supply chain issues and all the changes due to Covid-19, stating that there is a strong customer interest in a cargo-based service.
Australian employers plan to hire international talent
In order to overcome the rising skills shortage in its labour market, HR leaders in Australia plan to attract international talent, says Business Insider.
In the latest research conducted by Robert Half, 71 percent of Australian employers are planning to hire international talent on a permanent basis and 61 percent are planning to hire global talent on a contract basis. This is most prominent in the technology and financial sectors, with 82 percent of Australian CIOs planning to hire permanent IT talent from overseas.
“In order to compete on the global playing field, Australian companies need to match the industry standards of the markets they’re seeking to recruit from,” says ning, senior managing director for Robert Half Asia Pacific.
Coal miners fear for their jobs as world shifts
According to oilprice.com thousands of workers in fossil fuel-related jobs are worried about their future employment as governments start the transition to renewable energy. This is particularly true for those working in the coal industry, as several countries aim to shut down their existing coal plants over the next decade, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands unemployed.
