Published on 10th April 2025
Amidst the glitz and glamour of the Gala Dinner of the World Employment Conference 2025, we hosted our 2025 Awards Ceremony. The event showcased once again the outstanding contributions that the HR services industry brings to labour markets, individuals and society worldwide. The competition was truly global with submissions coming from the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia, South Africa and Japan. But only one can emerge victorious! Let’s find out who took home the trophy.
Outstanding Advocacy – Assolavoro (Italy) – The Most Impactful Liberalization Of The Italian Agency Work Sector In The Last Years
In 2024, Assolavoro undertook significant advocacy and lobbying efforts that resulted in the removal of several restrictions previously imposed on agency work in the country, such as the elimination of the 24-month limit for fixed-term assignments for agency workers hired under open-ended contracts. This represents the most impactful liberalization of the sector in recent years, a meaningful event in the current European context of stricter regulation of the temporary agency work sector. Additionally, Assolavoro’s advocacy focused on enhancing training opportunities for agency workers, notably through fiscal reform, releasing EUR 140 million for training programs.
Remarkable Initiative – swissstaffing (Switzerland) – Enhancing Quality and Sustainability in the Staffing Industry through ”staffing city”
The staffing industry in Switzerland faces a significant challenge due to the lack of standardized training for internal personnel. To address this issue, swissstaffing has partnered with imc AG, a leader in digital learning solutions, to create “Staffing City”—an innovative and gamified virtual learning platform. Using a 2D/3D city interface, episodic storytelling, and dynamic progress tracking, “Staffing City” offers learners an engaging and practical educational experience. This initiative transforms training within the staffing industry by going beyond traditional e-learning and providing an immersive environment where staffing professionals can acquire industry-specific skills through a narrative-driven approach. By enhancing service quality and reducing errors and financial losses, this initiative helps avoid a negative reputation of the industry and the resulting risk of adverse regulation. These efforts demonstrate swissstaffing’s commitment to innovation, moving beyond routine operations to redefine industry training through technology and creativity.
Social Innovation Award – ABU (the Netherlands) – Perspective Statement: a chance for more temporary workers to get their own house
Since 2017, the Perspective Statement enables temporary workers to apply for a mortgage to buy a house. Vetted by all major banks and insurers in the Netherlands as a fully-fledged alternative to the regular employer’s statement required to apply for a mortgage, this declaration takes a forward-looking assessment of a temporary workers’ capabilities and potential to determine their employability and their long-term labour market position. The introduction of the Perspective Statement responds to a changing reality in which flexible forms of employment play an important role and offers temporary workers opportunities that were previously reserved to workers on permanent contracts. More than 16,000 statements have now been applied for, two-thirds of which have been granted and more than 50% of those granted statements have actually been converted into a mortgage to buy a house.
The Trailblazer Award – RCSA (Australia & New Zealand) – Talent’s Trailblazing Approach to Contractor Care
RCSA nominated Talent, one of its members which designed a multifaceted program to enhance the contractor experience. Based on research amongst their contractor community, Talent crafted an initiative touching across all aspects of contractors’ wellbeing: professional, intellectual, financial, physical, mental and social. This structure underpins a high-touch recruitment process, through the role of “Contractor Experience Manager” which offers a personalised experience at each stage of their journey. Going above and beyond the industry standard, Talent has not only redefined the contractor experience within the company but has also set a benchmark for the industry.
The Work We Want “Best of the Best” – REC (United Kingdom), JASSA (Japan), swissstaffing (Switzerland) & Gi Group
During the ceremony, the WEC Head Office team also commended members who have been particularly active in promoting WEC’s campaign “The Work We Want”. National Federations REC (the United Kingdom), JASSA (Japan), swissstaffing (Switzerland) and Corporate Member Gi Group all went ‘above and beyond’ in publicising the research findings and ensuring they reach a wide audience. This invaluable relay has significantly expanded the project’s outreach and further solidified WEC’s position as a thought-leader in the employment space.
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