Global Legislative Update, July/August 2026
July 16, 2026
The Global Legislative Update for July/August 2026 provides insights from Mercer consultants around the globe about key legal developments affecting employers’ benefit and human resource programs in various countries. Here are some highlights from the latest issue.
Global
- International Labour Organization: Global labor standard on rights of platform/gig workers adopted
- Artificial intelligence roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Employees’ right to disconnect roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Minimum wage roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Remote working roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Reproductive rights roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
Americas
- Bermuda: Parental leave to parents adopting a child expanded
- Canada: Base Canada pension plan rate to reduce in 2027
- Colombia: Certain labor law provisions now effective
- Costa Rica: Time-off for breastfeeding at workplace expanded
- Jamaica: Minimum wage increased
- United States: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rescinds longstanding affirmative action guidance
- Uruguay: Minimum wage increased
AsiaPac
- Australia: Regulators announce simplification of financial accountability regime changes
- China: Employment rights of older workers expanded
- Hong Kong: General holidays for 2027 published
- India: Revised social security schemes announced
- Malaysia: Tax incentive for certain employers who implement flexible work arrangements
- Singapore: New conditions for health plan riders introduced
- South Korea: Paternity and childcare leave to expand
- Taiwan: Protections against workplace bullying enacted
- Vietnam: Maternity, paternity leaves to increase
EMEA
- European Union: Provisional agreement reached on a regulation to enable e-declarations for posted workers
- Belgium: Temporary wage indexation introduced in two phases
- France: New paid birth leave introduced
- Germany: Pension reform recommendations published
- Greece: Application of Digital Work Card to more industry sectors expanded
- Ireland: Employees allowed to work beyond contractual age
- Italy: Fair wage framework introduced
- Netherlands: Senate approves pension lump sum legislation
- Romania: Minimum wage increased
- United Kingdom: Government to gradually introduce real-time reporting of benefits-in-kind
- Uzbekistan: Employers no long pay maternity and sick benefits
Download the print-friendly PDF to read the full GRIST.
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