Here the IOE&IT’s content team sifts through the morning news headlines to bring readers a digest of stories relevant to international trade.
1. Freight forwarder DSV cuts 3,000 jobs
Danish transport firm DSV Panalpina, the world’s second largest airfreight forwarder, announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs to offset the negative impact of coronavirus epidemic on global trade, at the same time as the publicly-quoted firm reported it had beaten first-quarter expectations.
The news of job cuts came three months after the firm, the result of a merger between DSV and Panalpina in 2019, said it would cut between 3,000-4,000 roles to take out duplication between the two companies.
2. UK trade talks with US restart in earnest this week
The much-vaunted but delayed negotiations for a trade deal between the UK and the US restart tomorrow, Tuesday 5 May, the Sunday Times reported yesterday. The timing is critical, the paper reports, as greater certainty that America is willing to play trade ball will help the UK in its negotiations with the EU.
A total of 100 officials will take part in video conferencing this week, with the UK side led by Liz Truss, the international trade secretary. In March, the UK’s planned approach to the talks were published here.
3. With Boris back to work, firms plan how to get their staff to follow suit
Later this week, the Sunday Times also reported on 3 May, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will finalise how different types of workplaces will be able to function safely, with a mooted return of Monday 25 May.
Ahead of publishing its lockdown-easing blueprint, the government has asked businesses to begin planning how to return their staff to physical offices regardless.
The Daily Mail reported that companies are preparing a series of seven workplace guides, covering environments such as factories, offices and construction sites.
The article adds that Standard Chartered bank may keep its staff at home after the lockdown, while Vauxhall will use red tape hanging from ceilings to maintain social distancing.
4.Unemployed ‘beaten to jobs by those on furlough’
People who haven’t been able to claim from the government’s coronavirus help schemes are struggling to get jobs as furloughed workers are pipping them to the post for jobs in supermarkets, delivery companies and on farms.
So reported the Daily Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/cant-find-work-people-furlough-taking-second-jobs/ which wrote that furloughed staff have answered food minister George Eustice’s call for workers to pick the summer harvest to plug gaps in migrant labour. Campaigners say the rules around state aid during the pandemic have caused this anomaly.
