In an effort to encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated, the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Colombia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have passed legislation to provide employees with paid leave to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus during working hours.
The Irish government passed a law extending the government-paid parent’s leave from five weeks to seven weeks. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2022 entered into force on 2 July 2022.
On 20 May 2022, the Nicaraguan government passed new legislation (Law No. 1118) making Mother’s Day a mandatory paid national public holiday. The new national public holiday will be celebrated on 30 May every year starting from 2022.
The Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC) has increased the national minimum wage by 5.2%, effective 1 July 2022. Modern Award minimum wages also increased by 4.6% per week, effective from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2022, or 1 October 2022, based on industry.
The Japanese government passed legislation amending the Child and Family Care Act by introducing a four-week paternity leave and adding more flexibility to existing parental leave entitlements to ensure a better work-life balance for working parents. The new legislation entered into effect 1 April 2022, with many provisions entering into effect over the following months.
In September 2020, the Indian Parliament passed three federal employment law codes on social security, industrial relations, and occupational safety, health and working conditions.
Along with the Code of Wages passed in 2019, which has not yet been implemented, the new codes consolidate and simplify existing laws and introduce changes to multiple federal labor laws, including those impacting employers’ retirement benefits costs and liabilities toward gratuity.
While the Indian government hasn’t announced an implementation date yet, the four codes are likely to be made effective by April 2021.
On 1 July 2021, the Australian government increased the superannuation guarantee contribution rate by 0.5% to 10% on earnings up to the new maximum contribution base of AUD 58,920 per quarter. The concessional contribution cap has also increased to AUD 27,500. The increases will help stimulate Australia’s post-pandemic economy and support a better retirement for eligible workers.
The Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica recently approved a reform to the labor code creating paid paternity leave for a total of eight days and special paid leaves including an adoption leave, a care leave and breastfeeding breaks.
The bill is expected to be enacted into law once signed by the Costa Rican president and published in the official gazette
The Norwegian government passed new legislation introducing the right for all employees (including low-paid workers and part-time employees) to participate in their employer’s existing private occupational pension scheme.
The legislation entered into effect on 1 January 2022, with an adjustment period to allow for gradual implementation by 30 June 2022.
The Hong Kong government recently introduced a new bill abolishing the use of employers’ mandatory contributions under the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) to offset severance payments and long service payments payable to employees upon termination of employment.
The Employment and Retirement Schemes Legislation (Offsetting Arrangement) (Amendment) Bill 2022 has not passed into law yet and is not expected to enter into effect before 2025. The offsetting arrangements will be abolished from a date (“transition date”) to be appointed after the bill is passed into law (no retroactive effect will apply).
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