The government of Mozambique passed Labor Law No. 13/2023 introducing several changes, including increases in maternity leave, paternity leave, and annual leave entitlements.
The changes entered into effect on 21 February 2024.
The Hong Kong Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which focuses on progressively increasing statutory annual paid public holidays from 13 days to 17 days by 2030, entered into effect on 5 March 2021. The first of the five additional public holidays, the Birthday of Buddha, became effective in 2022. The second one, which falls on the first weekday after Christmas, will become available to employees in December 2024.
UPDATE: From 1 July 2024, government-paid combined gender-neutral parental leave will increase from 20 weeks to 22 weeks. Parental leave entitlements will increase again to 24 weeks from July 2025 and 26 weeks from July 2026.
The Bahraini government recently introduced legislation (Edict 109 of 2023) requiring private sector employers to participate in a government program to fund and deliver the mandatory End of Service Gratuity (EOSG) payments for expatriate (non-Bahraini) employees.
On 10 January 2024, the government of Karnataka released compulsory gratuity insurance rules, 2024 (the “Rules”), mandating that businesses in Karnataka, covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, obtain an insurance policy to cover their gratuity liabilities.
On 29 November 2023, the French government passed the Profit-Sharing Act requiring companies with 11 to 49 employees to implement a profit-sharing scheme effective from 1 January 2025. This program is set to run as a five-year trial and will then be reassessed by the government to determine if the profit-sharing obligation for these smaller employers will become permanent and in what format.
The Ukrainian parliament recently adopted a new law introducing certain limitations to employment rights as a response to the presidential Decree No. 64/2022, which declared martial law in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
“On Organizing of Employment Relations During Martial Law” (the “Law”) entered into effect on 15 March 2022 and is expected to apply until 13 May 2024, as extended by the Ukrainian President.
The Kenyan Senate recently approved a bill introducing a right for employees to disconnect outside of working hours.
The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2022 is awaiting action before the Kenyan parliament, and the exact implementation date is yet to be determined.
Global telecommuting creates new opportunities for companies to tap into and develop diverse talent, but it often comes with unanticipated challenges. Employers should audit these arrangements to ensure compliance and duty of care issues are accounted for in their policies. This article focuses on the impact of cross-border remote working on employee benefits and additional issues that also require consideration such as host country legislation, payroll, social security, and employment protections.
The government of Israel recently introduced a health insurance reform establishing a comprehensive Private Medical Insurance (PMI) framework that creates a uniform structure for basic health policy.
The new circular entered into effect on 1 May 2023.
The new circular is expected to come into effect on 1 May 2023.
Participate and gain key insights into how multinationals execute their benefit strategies. Results will be shared with participants in May 2024.