News Flash
Malta: New maternity leave fund launched
The government of Malta has launched a new maternity leave fund. Employers now have to contribute 0.3% of the basic pay of every worker they employ — irrespective of the worker’s gender — to this fund. The fund will then
USA: Tax credits for employers contributing to educational savings plans
The state of Nevada in the USA has passed a law which introduces a 25% tax credit for employers who match the contributions made by employees participating in a qualified Nevada 529 college savings plan. The aim of the legislation
Russia: New data protection law raises questions for international employers
On September 1st 2015 a new data protection law will enter into force in Russia. This law will impose a new duty on data operators to record, classify, accumulate and store personal data of Russian nationals on servers and
India: National floor minimum wage increased
On July 1st 2015, the central government of India increased the national floor level minimum wage from 137 rupees (approximately 2.16 US dollars) per day to 160 rupees (approximately 2.53 US dollars) per day. The national floor level minimum
Poland: Reforms to rules on fixed-term contracts
Amendments to the Polish Labour Code which alter the rules regarding fixed-term contracts have now been endorsed by parliament.
The amendments limit the length of time an employee may be engaged on a fixed-term contract to 33 months. This 33-month
Mexico: Law on young workers amended
A number of amendments to the Federal Labour Law have now come into force in Mexico, enhancing the protection afforded to young workers.
Importantly, the labour law has been amended to change the minimum working age from 14 to 15
Europe: Latest statistics on accidents at work
According to the latest statistics provided by the European Union’s statistical office, Eurostat, there were 3,515 fatal occupational accidents in the EU in 2012. Malta had the highest incidence of fatal accidents (8.81 deaths per 100,000 persons employed) whilst the
Singapore: New wage guidelines published
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has published the National Wages Council (NWC) Guidelines for 2015-2016. The NWC recommends that employers should provide wage increases to employees taking into consideration the company’s business performance, prospects and sustainability. They also recommend that workers
France: Employee burnout to be recognised as occupational disease
The French National Assembly has approved an amendment to the draft law on social dialogue, which would ensure psychological illnesses could be recognised as an occupational disease. This would mean that employee burnout could be recognised as an occupational disease
Reform of employment dispute resolution system
The Workplace Relations Act has now been signed into law in the Republic of Ireland. The Act, which is expected to come into force on July 1st 2015, will substantially reform the way in which employment and equality disputes
Company maternity leave policy trends
Multinational companies are currently displaying a trend to offer their employees maternity leave rights that significantly exceed minimum requirements set under statute.
Earlier this year, Accenture, the multinational management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, doubled its maternity leave benefits
China: Smoking ban in Beijing commences
Today, June 1st 2015, a law prohibiting smoking in public places in China’s capital city, Beijing, came into force. The smoking ban includes offices and workplaces. If a company’s premises are found to not comply with the new law, they
Employers to enjoy five-year tax freeze
The new UK government has announced plans to implement a tax freeze. The National Insurance Contributions and Finance Bill will ensure that tax rates will not rise over the next five years. This includes VAT, income tax and employers’ and
Employee and former employee found in breach of duty of confidentiality
In a recent case, Singapore’s High Court found both a current and former employee of a company to have breached their duties of good faith, fidelity and confidence towards the company.
In this case, an employee of the company Tempcool
Increase in trade union membership
According to the latest report by Statistics Norway, trade unions had 1,780,000 members on December 31st 2014. This is 33,200 more than on the same date in 2013. In contrast, membership of employers’ associations in 2014 changed only marginally