The United Kingdom to increase minimum wage
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.
Mexico to increase minimum wage
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.
Belgium expands family leave entitlements
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.
Canada introduces paid sick leave for federally regulated private sector employees
Beginning last November, the Canadian government introduced legislation to amend the Canada Labour Code. The amendments are scheduled to come into force on 1 December 2022 and will entitle federally regulated private sector employees with up to 10 days of paid medical leave per calendar year.
Australia introduces paid family and domestic violence leave [Updated]
The Australian government recently passed an amendment bill to provide employees with 10 days of employer-paid family and domestic violence leave. The Fair Work Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced on 28 July 2022, by the Australian Labor Party following the May 2022 federal election.
Belgium to introduce a four-day workweek option and the right to disconnect [Updated]
The Belgium government recently agreed on introducing a series of reforms aimed at boosting private sector employees’ work-life balance. The most notable changes include the option for employees to ask their employers for a four-day workweek as well as the right to disconnect. Once a draft bill outlining and explaining the new measures is introduced, it will enter into effect after it is passed by the Belgium parliament. This process will likely take months and may alter current provisions.
Ireland to introduce sick pay for 2022 [Updated]
The Irish government recently passed the Sick Leave Act 2022 to provide all employees with up to 10 days of employer-paid sick leave. The Act enters into effect on 1 January 2023, and its implementation is phased over a four-year period from 2023 to 2026.
Bahrain introduces social insurance pension reforms
The government of Bahrain introduced Law No. (14) of 2022, which amends several provisions of the social insurance program including raising social security contribution rates, revising the old-age pension benefit formula, increasing the normal retirement age for women, and revising the payment method of the end-of-service benefits. The new Social Insurance Law was passed and published in the Bahraini Official Gazette on 18 April 2022. However, implementing regulations are still expected to be issued at a later date (still yet to be determined).
Qatar to implement mandatory health insurance for foreign nationals
The government of Qatar recently passed a new law mandating that all foreign nationals visiting, residing or working in Qatar have private medical insurance coverage for the entire duration of their stay. Law No. 22 of 2021 is expected to enter into effect on 4 May 2022.
Canada adds an additional public holiday for 2022
The Canadian government recently announced an additional employer-paid public holiday on Monday, 19 September 2022, for the mourning of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.