Global Legislative Update, November 2026 

November 2, 2026

The Global Legislative Update for November 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.

• 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)

• Argentina: Severance liability fund’s starting date delayed
• Brazil: Working time rules changed
• Peru: Minimum wage increased
• United States: Significant changes to Transparency in Coverage regulations finalized

• Cambodia: Minimum wage to increase
• Malaysia: Minimum wage to increase
• South Korea: Measures to strengthen retirement pension plans proposed
• Taiwan: Marriage leave expanded
• Thailand: Employee Welfare Fund contributions postponed

• European Union: Simplified sustainability reporting standards issued
• Belgium: Caregiver leave expanded
• Czech Republic: Taxation of employee benefits expanded and changed
• France: Top court strikes down 2026 mandatory price freeze on supplementary health insurance providers
• Germany: Social insurance calculation amounts for 2027 adopted
• Ireland: 2027 budget includes employee benefit and employment measures
• Netherlands: Maximum tax-free travel allowance retroactively increased
• Oman: Compulsory leave insurance for expatriate employees required
• Romania: First day of sick leave now paid in certain circumstances
• Saudi Arabia: Insurance Authority requires medical insurance policies to waive prior approval limits
• United Kingdom: Budget 2026 includes employment-related measures
• Uzbekistan: Minimum wage increased

Download the print-friendly PDF to read the full GRIST.