On 30 March 2022, the Malaysian Parliament passed the Employment Bill 2021 introducing several amendments to the Employment Act of 1955, including the extension of the maternity leave from 60 days to 98 days and the introduction of a seven-day employer-paid paternity leave. The new Bill entered into effect on 1 January 2023.
The British government recently announced that the national hourly minimum living wage for all workers aged 23 and above will increase from GBP 9.50 to GBP 10.42 beginning 1 April 2023.
The Mexican National Commission on Minimum Wages has recently approved a significant increase to the national minimum wage. The new wage increase of 20% will be effective on 1 January 2023.
The Belgium government recently passed new legislation transposing the European Union (EU) Directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers into local law. The new rule, which introduces unpaid carer’s leave, entered into effect on 7 October 2022.
The Romanian government recently passed new legislation enacting the European Union (EU) Directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers into local law. The new rules amend requirements for paternity leave, carer’s leave, family emergency leave, and flexible work schedules.
The government of Malta recently passed new legislation transposing the European Union (EU) Directive 2019/1158 of 20 June 2019 (the “Directive”) on work-life balance for parents and carers. The new legislation amends parental leave requirements and introduces paid paternity leave, carer’s leave and flexible working arrangements.
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.