Month: January 2020

Australia

Australia ends salary sacrifice superannuation loophole

On 28 October 2019, the Australian parliament approved new legislation intended to end the current loophole that allows employers to use their employees’ salary sacrifice contributions to reduce their minimum compulsory Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions. The bill entered into effect […]

South Korea

South Korea to implement universal corporate pension system

The Korean government passed a bill mandating all companies established in South Korea contribute to a compulsory corporate pension plan, including defined contribution, defined benefit and individual retirement pension plans. The new law is expected to enter into force in […]

Netherlands

The Netherlands increases health insurance premiums

The Netherlands’ 2020 budget, which passed on 1 January 2020, slightly increased health insurance premiums for the basic package by approximately EUR 37 per year. In addition, the 2020 budget lowered the discounted health insurance premium that insurance providers could […]

Japan

Japan amends Labor Standards Act compliance deadlines

Update: Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has set different compliance deadlines ranging from 1 April 2019, to 1 April 2023, for various requirements of the amended Labor Standards Act. While most provisions have already been implemented for large […]

Brazil

Brazil to implement a national pension reform

On 23 October 2019, the Brazilian Senate approved the final constitutional amendment of a pension reform which would: Increase workers’ pension contributions rates and requirements Create a minimum retirement age Introduce a new mechanism for benefits calculation While most provisions […]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong to increase maternity leave

UPDATE Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has passed the Employment Bill of 2019 introducing additional maternity benefits for female employees. Read more. The government of Hong Kong announced that statutory maternity leave under the Employment Ordinance (EO) will increase from 10 […]

South Africa

South Africa signs Labor Laws Amendment Bill

On 23 November 2018, the Labour Laws Amendment Bill was signed into law and finally entered into effect on 1 January 2020. The amendment bill introduces new parental leave entitlements for fathers, adoptive and surrogate parents, as well as introducing […]