Lockton Global
Compliance News

Month: February 2023

Ireland

Ireland expands family leave entitlements

The Irish government recently approved the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 which introduces a right to request flexible working arrangements, five days of government-paid domestic violence leave, and five days of unpaid carer’s leave (called “serious medical care leave”).

The Bill is currently in its third reading before the Irish parliament and is expected to enter into force in the near term (the exact date is yet to be determined).

Guernsey to mandate auto-enrollment in an occupational pension scheme

The government of Guernsey recently approved legislation requiring the mandatory, automatic enrollment of employees into either a government-facilitated defined-contribution scheme (Your Island Pension- YIP) or a qualified, employer-sponsored pension plan.

Contributions will start at 1% for both the employer and the employee. The contribution rate will automatically increase annually until it reaches 3.5% for employers and 6.5% for employees in 2030.

The auto-enrollment requirement is expected to enter into effect on 1 October 2023.

Hungary

Hungary expands family leave entitlements

The Hungarian government recently passed significant employment legislation to introduce parental and carer’s leave entitlements, double the number of paternity leave days and introduce a right to request flexible work arrangements. The legislation brings Hungary into alignment with the European Union Directive No. 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers.

The amendments to the Hungarian Labor Code provisions entered into effect on 1 January 2023.

Switzerland

Switzerland establishes paid adoption leave

The Swiss government recently passed amendments to the Swiss Code of Obligations (“CO”) and to the Loss of Earnings Compensation Act (“LECA”), granting ten working days of government-paid adoption leave to employees who adopt children under the age of four. The leave entitlement went into effect on 1 January 2023.

Slovakia

Slovakia reforms its pension system

The Slovak government recently introduced a reform to its pension system to increase retirement savings and benefits. The reform introduces several amendments to the first pillar of the retirement program, including the introduction of a new parental pension supplement, elimination of the normal retirement age cap, and the possibility of early retirement. The reform also introduces several changes to the second pillar of the retirement program, including the automatic enrollment of first-time workers under the age of 40 and a change in the default investment option. The changes are effective 1 January 2023.

Canada

Canada introduced a new federal holiday [updated]

The Canadian government approved Bill C-5 introducing a new federal holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to commemorate the victims and survivors of the indigenous residential schools. The new federal holiday is observed on 30 September each year, with the first being 30 September 2021.