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ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions: Global QMR Q2 2023 | 11 Eastern Europe Western Europe Strategic Update on EMEA • New legislation amending Poland's Labor Code and other relevant acts was signed by the President and published in the Journal of Laws. This legislation implements two European Union Directives: Directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers and Directive 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions. New provisions came into force on April 26, 2023. The amendments to the Labor Code are intended to increase the predictability and transparency of employees' working conditions, as well as to support and develop the protection and rights of employees in regard of parenthood. • The Czech Government's Draft of Act on Whistleblower Protection is currently in the Chamber of Deputies. The aim of the proposed Act is to protect a wide range of people who carry out their work in the private and public sectors, if they report an unlawful act they become aware of in connection with their occupation. The proposed measures are intended not only to protect whistleblowers but also to prevent wrongdoing in general. In the context of labor law, the most important change is the obligation for employers to set up an internal reporting system. Employers that have to set up an internal reporting system include: ⎻ Employers with 50 or more employees ⎻ Employers that meet one of the other specific conditions regarding its activities under the Draft. • In the United Kingdom, campaigners, trade unions and MPs are calling for stricter oversight of the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, amid growing concerns about its effect on staff rights.. The Trades Union Congress held a half-day conference to highlight the challenges of ensuring that workers are treated fairly, as what it calls "management by algorithm" becomes increasingly prevalent. Separately, the UK government published a white paper on AI in March that set out a series of principles for the use of the technology, including the need for fairness, transparency and "explainability". It suggested that existing regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, could take on the responsibility of ensuring that these principles were followed. • Germany passed a law that will make it easier for skilled workers from outside the EU to move to the country. The German cabinet approved plans to attract skilled foreign workers and combat labor shortages last year, and unveiled draft legislation at the end of March. In June, Germany's coalition government passed the law. The plans to modernize the country's immigration legislation are expected to make it easier for third country nationals to work in Germany. It could increase the number of non-EU workers in Germany by 60,000 per year. The reforms to the Skilled Immigration Act particularly focus on workers with vocational, non-academic training. Existing rules for qualified professionals with university degrees will also be relaxed.