UK public sector net borrowing hit £23.3bn in May, significantly higher than the £18.5bn forecast by economists. This surge, attributed partly to the economic impact of the Iran war and increased interest costs, presents fiscal challenges for potential Labour leader Andy Burnham.
France will invest €655 million in AI and launch a unified chatbot across public services to lead technological change and ensure independence from foreign tools. The initiative aims to expand AI use in government operations.
Sweden's parliament has approved new laws allowing residency permits to be revoked for "bad behaviour" and requiring public sector workers to report undocumented individuals. Critics decry the measures as arbitrary and harmful to human rights.
UK minister Kemi Badenoch plans to abolish the public sector equality duty, a law requiring public bodies to consider equality impacts. Critics argue this will legalize discrimination, while experts say the duty is misunderstood and not the cause of controversial diversity policies.
The Conservative Party proposes to repeal the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), citing its inefficacy and claims it promotes inequality by favoring certain groups over others. The move contrasts with Labour's focus on increasing working-class representation in the civil service and differs from Reform UK's push to scrap the Equality Act entirely.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch will pledge to scrap the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), arguing it promotes divisive identity politics. The move aims to position the Tories as a responsible alternative to both Labour’s approach to equality and Reform UK’s more radical stance.
France's public sector workforce is increasingly reliant on contract employees, who grew by 2.6% in 2024, while civil servant numbers remained stable. A Cour des comptes report warns this trend, driven by recruitment challenges, could see contract staff form one-third of public agents by 2033.
The Orenburg Region government signed agreements with Beeline and MegaFon at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to integrate AI technologies into the region's public sector and healthcare. The deals also cover cloud infrastructure development, domestic software adoption, and enhanced communication resilience for emergency services.
A UK parliamentary committee report names Palantir Technologies as a prime example of the UK public sector's over-reliance on US firms, calling it an "unacceptable weakness." The report specifically highlights Palantir's £330 million contract with the NHS, warning of "vendor lock-in" risks and urging the government to consider early termination.
Two letters debate public sector defined-benefit pension schemes. One argues the £1tn liability figure is misleading and that good pensions help attract staff, while the other suggests raising pay to allow workers to fund their own pensions.
South Australia's anti-corruption watchdog has identified extravagant claims for professional development funds by public medical officers, including luxury watches, gold-plated stationery, and expensive work bags. ICAC Commissioner Emma Townsend called for better governance and clearer guidelines.
India's public sector oil companies have reduced Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for international flights by nearly 27%, while increasing commercial LPG cylinder prices by Rs 42. ATF for international airlines now costs $1,103 per kilolitre.
France will provide a differential allowance to 862,000 public sector employees to ensure their base pay meets the minimum wage (SMIC), which increased on June 1 due to inflation. The maximum monthly allowance will be €65.28.
Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai indicated that a pay raise for civil servants and teachers could exceed the usual 3-4% range, citing strong economic growth. He also urged private companies to increase wages and integrate pay raises into ESG metrics.
A report by ARAN shows public sector salaries in Italy grew 13% between 2021-2023, exceeding the 7% expected from contract renewals. This growth is attributed to career progression and productivity bonuses, particularly in central government functions like ministries and tax agencies.
UK public sector net borrowing hit £24.3bn in April, £4.9bn higher than last year and £3.4bn above forecasts. High inflation increased pension and benefit costs, while political uncertainty and global market jitters raised debt interest payments to a record £10.3bn for April.
UK public sector net borrowing hit £24.3bn in April, £4.9bn higher than last year and £3.4bn above forecasts, driven by inflation-linked benefits and pensions. Rising debt interest payments and market jitters over the Iran war and political uncertainty are increasing borrowing costs.
A proposed merger of Emergency Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria could cut State Control Centre staffing from 88 to 31 full-time equivalents, according to the CPSU. The union warns this impacts disaster response, while the government claims 24/7 staffing will be maintained.
The Community and Public Sector Union claims Victoria's State Control Centre will see staffing cut by two-thirds. The government refutes this, stating 24/7 operations will continue with no net reduction in staff, though the union argues this rolls back crucial reforms.
Public sector non-managerial pay rose 14.9% between 2016-2025, less than the private sector's 16.2%. Despite recent growth exceeding inflation (22.6% over the period), public sector wages haven't recovered pandemic-era losses, lagging by over 7%.
New Zealand plans to cut nearly 9,000 public sector jobs, or 14% of the workforce, by mid-2029 to reduce government spending. Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated the move is expected to save NZ$2.4 billion and aims to make the public sector more efficient.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Microsoft for potential anti-competitive practices in its business software suite, including Windows, Office, and AI-powered tools, to determine if bundling and default settings hinder customer switching and interoperability with rival products.
Public sector oil companies are facing daily losses of Rs 1,000 crore, potentially forcing fuel price hikes soon. Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted significant under-recoveries, warning that companies cannot sustain these losses indefinitely. While elections are not the reason for the freeze, a drop in crude prices or reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could offer relief.
India's Public Sector Banks (PSBs) reported a record net profit of Rs 1.98 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, driven by improved asset quality, robust credit growth, and increased income, marking their fourth consecutive year of profitability.
