Ius Laboris conducted a survey of EU and non-EU countries to understand how key jurisdictions grant rights and protections to caregivers in the workplace. In the landmark 2008 Coleman case, the European Court of Justice expanded EU anti-discrimination protections to include caregivers. Today, national legislation and case law (in the EU and elsewhere) grant varying protections to caregivers in the workplace.
The government of Saudi Arabia recently approved amendments to Saudi Labor Law which include expanding bereavement leave entitlements and increasing maternity leave, among others.
To reduce the tax complexity faced by individuals whose registered pension savings or life insurance benefits reached the Lifetime Allowance (LTA), the United Kingdom has eliminated the LTA and introduced two other allowances with more favorable tax treatment for those who exceed them. The Finance (No.2) Act 2023 removed the Lifetime Allowance charge with effect from 6 April 2023, and the subsequent Finance Act 2024 removed the Lifetime Allowance in its entirety but introduced the Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (LSDBA) and the Lump Sum Allowance (LSA).
In light of the ongoing war, the Israeli government passed legislation expanding reservists’ employment protections and introducing employment protections against dismissal and discrimination for the spouses of reservists.
The new amendment is effective immediately. While most provisions apply through 31 December 2024, others apply until December 2025. The new changes may be extended further or expanded depending on the progression of the events in the region.
The Belgium government passed legislation introducing employment protections against dismissal and discrimination for male and female employees undergoing infertility treatment or engaged in medically assisted reproduction (MAR).
Amendments to the Labor Act of 16 March 1971 and the Gender Act of 10 May 2007 entered into effect on 28 April 2024.
The Japanese government passed legislation requiring employers to offer flexible working options to employees caring for young children and expanding existing work-life balance entitlements for working parents.
Amendments to the Childcare and Family Care Leave Act and to the Development of the Next-Generation Children Act were enacted on 24 May 2024. While most of the changes will come into effect on 1 April 2025, some provisions will be effective at a date yet to be determined by the government.
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 Lower House of the Colombian Congress recently approved a controversial government proposal (Bill 339 of 2023) to shift the financing of the healthcare system from private providers to the government.
The reform has faced political challenges and opposition, resulting in the resignation of the former Minister of Health and a reshuffling of the cabinet. Despite these hurdles, the Colombian legislature continues to debate the reform. It is still unclear if or when the bill will pass into law.
The Netherlands has embarked on sweeping pension reform that will affect most employer-sponsored and industry-wide pension plans and require significant effort from employers, employee representatives, pension providers, and asset managers over the next several years to amend schemes by the 1 January 2028 deadline. Employers should begin their transition planning now.
Cyprus has extended maternity leave entitlements for first-time birthing mothers, first-time adopting mothers, and mothers whose newborn is hospitalized for 14 or more days for health reasons. The extended leave provisions enacted by the Protection of Maternity (amendment) Law of 2024 apply to female employees who are on maternity leave or commencing maternity leave from 1 March 2024.