Month: March 2019

Turkey amends Labor Act

Amendments to the Labor Act increased both the minimum wage and the severance payment rates. The gross monthly minimum wage rate for 2019 increased from TRY 2,029.50 to TRY 2,558.40. The new rate applies to all industries except for the […]

Thailand adds additional public holiday

The Thai cabinet has approved two additional paid public holidays for 2019: The Songkran (Thai New Year) holiday for 2019 is extended from four days to five days, from 12-16 April, due to 13 April falling on a Saturday. 6 […]

Sweden parental leave right to be expanded

The Swedish government amended the Parental Leave Act to expand the definition of parents entitled to take a parental leave. Starting 1 July 2019, the parental leave right will extend to a parent’s cohabitant who is permanently living with the […]

Spain ensures right to disconnect from work

A new act on Privacy and Digital Rights entered into effect on 7 December 2018. This new law ensures that employees have the right to “digitally” switch off from work, meaning they can disconnect to fully enjoy their designated rest […]

Nigeria introduces new voluntary pension contribution guidelines

Currently, employers and employees in companies with at least three employees are mandated to contribute a combined 18 percent of pay to a Retirement Savings Account (10 percent and 8 percent, respectively). The Nigerian Pension Reform Act of 2014 introduced […]

Luxembourg adds additional public holidays

The government of Luxembourg will introduce one additional paid public holiday and one additional day of paid annual leave per year. The paid public holiday, Europe Day, will be celebrated in Luxembourg on 9 May. With the additional day of […]

Italy amends employment law

The 2019 budget law, which entered into force on 1 January 2019, introduced the following changes: Paid paternity leave was extended from four days to five days. Pregnant employees can now work until the ninth month of their pregnancy if […]

Georgia introduces new pension plan

A mandatory pension plan referred to as the “Accumulated Pension System” (APS), was introduced on 1 January 2019, for workers under age 40. Previously, pension plans for those living in Georgia and reaching retirement age were limited to a public […]

Finland income reporting requirement

Since 1 January 2019, employers have been required to report all salaries directly to the national Incomes Register (Tulorekisteri) through an online database maintained by the Finnish Tax Administration (incomesregister.fi e-service). Employers must report employees’ wages no later than five […]

Singapore

Singapore to increase retirement and re-employment ages

On 5 March 2019, the Minister of Manpower announced that a tripartite workgroup on older workers consisting of government, trade unions and employers have finally agreed that the retirement and re-employment ages should be raised beyond age 62 and age […]