Health & Welfare

Oman

Oman updates compulsory health insurance policy

Oman’s mandatory universal health insurance policy for private sector employees, domestic workers and visitors was initially expected to be rolled out late 2019. In September 2019, the vice president of the insurance sector at Oman’s Capital Market Authority announced that […]

Japan

Japan amends Labor Standards Act compliance deadlines

Update: Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has set different compliance deadlines ranging from 1 April 2019, to 1 April 2023, for various requirements of the amended Labor Standards Act. While most provisions have already been implemented for large […]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong to increase maternity leave

UPDATE Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has passed the Employment Bill of 2019 introducing additional maternity benefits for female employees. Read more. The government of Hong Kong announced that statutory maternity leave under the Employment Ordinance (EO) will increase from 10 […]

Zambia

Zambia to implement a new universal health insurance

In April 2018, the government of Zambia passed a National Health Insurance Act, 2018 (the “Act”), which aims to provide mandatory universal access to healthcare for all citizens and residents age 18 and older. The commencement orders of the new […]

Canada

British Columbia launches a new employer health tax

On 1 January 2019, the government of British Columbia (BC) launched a new Employer Health Tax (EHT) to shift the health care system financial burden from employees to employers. The EHT is a tax levied on an annual payroll for […]

UAE

UAE introduces a new employment law

On 30 May 2019, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) enacted a new employment law which introduces statutory paternity leave and amends several provisions of the existing 2005 employment law, including sick leave pay and paid time off. The 2019 […]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong introduces individual voluntary health insurance scheme

On 1 April 2019, the government of Hong Kong introduced a new individual Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS). This legislation aims to offer consumers additional choices through private healthcare services, alleviate the burden on the public healthcare system and encourage […]

Mexico

Mexico addresses work-related psychological risks

The government of Mexico adopted a new regulation to identify, prevent and address psychological risk factors in the workplace. Regulation NOM-035-STPS-2018 was published in the Federal Official Gazette on 23 October 2018, and will enter into force on 23 October […]