News Flash

Turkey: Door closes on free movement

Although the Turkish government has introduced a new-style passport containing a chip holding an individual’s fingerprint and facial image it has not led to visa free travel into the EU’s Schengen area. Earlier this year agreement was reached with the

EU: Transient IPs are personal data

A long running battle about whether an individual’s dynamic IP address constitutes “personal data” and thus comes under Data Protection law has finally been resolved by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The Court came to the view that it

Spain: Severance pay for fixed-term jobs

The right of temporary workers to receive severance payments has always been a cloudy issue. Now the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has cast a huge blow against the attractiveness of Spain as a location for job growth – and

Nepal: No work, no pay

The Industrial Enterprises Bill has been approved by Nepal’s parliament and is awaiting Presidential ratification. It contains a controversial provision which allows employers to withhold pay from employees for periods when they do not actually work. But even if it

Argentina: Youth scheme unlawful

A national Labour Appeals Court in Argentina has annulled an agreement between the Labour Ministry and the McDonalds fast food company. Under the terms of the arrangement McDonalds would hire 5,000 young people temporarily as interns, being paid 4,500 pesos

Canada: New GM fixed-bonus deal

Up until a week ago, General Motor’s vehicle assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario was earmarked for closure in 1919. However, a four-year wage deal ratified by members of the trade union Unifor has now secured $544 ($US 412 M) investment

USA: Hairstyle ban lawful

The United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled that employers may ban employees from wearing the dreadlocks hairstyle. The lawsuit had been backed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission because it related to a policy that

Australia: Default notice period

Up until now, in the state of South Australia, the absence of any reference to notice in an employment contract has led the courts to calculate an implied term of ‘reasonable notice’. This practice has, however, been rendered inappropriate (subject

France: French Labour Code

The latest text of the much revised French Labour Code is now available to FedEE members online

Isle of Man: Companies beware

The latest government statistical agency to get their statistics seriously wrong is the UK crown dependency of the Isle of Man. The error could cost companies operating on the island a considerable amount as it involves the Retail Price Index.

UAE: Public holiday called

UAE This year the combined Eid Al Adha and Arafat public holidays In UAE for private sector workers will begin on Sunday, September 11th and then run on for a further two days until September 13th. Although private sector workers

Greece: Pay in construction remains low

An analysis of records by the social security organization IKA for January 2016 reveals the true state of the Greek pay market. Each month employees worked for 21.38 days, although this fell to 12.22 days for those in the construction

United Kingdom: In lieu payments to be taxed

The UK government proposes to remove income tax and National Insurance (Social Security) exemptions from all notice payments in lieu with effect from April 2018. The current £30,000 tax exemption applies where there is no express provision for an employer

European Union/USA: TTIP talks fail

Germany’s Economics Minister Sigmar Gabriel has revealed that talks between the European Union and US government over a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade agreement have broken down. This is because EU negotiators have refused to give way

India: Opening up the industry sector

New rules have been brought into force in India that modify the Industrial Disputes Act 1947. These introduce a new facility for hiring fixed-term workers, allow additional overtime hours and relax notice on termination requirements in Indian textile and garment