Global Legislative Update, October 2026
October 6, 2026
The Global Legislative Update for October 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
- 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
- Argentina: Minimum wage increased
- Canada: Employment insurance premium rates for 2027 issued
- United States: 2027 retirement plan limits projected
AsiaPac
- Australia: Minimum gig worker standards introduced
- China: Sick leave pay rules discontinued in Shanghai
- India: Employee Provident Fund Organization wage ceiling increased
- Japan: Minimum wage to increase in 15 prefectures
- Singapore: Proposal to raise childcare leave and fully fund statutory child-related leave
- Thailand: Employee Welfare Fund begins
EMEA
- European Union: Agreement on changes to social security coordination rules finalized
- Austria: Pension reforms encourage older workers to stay employed and strengthen retirement provision
- Egypt: Employers must prepare and submit internal workplace regulations
- France: Reform of permanent disability compensation to change
- Guernsey: Minimum wage increased in Channel Islands
- Mauritius: Certain leave entitlements expanded
- Netherlands: Tax advantage of 30% expat ruling to decrease
- Qatar: Labor market modernization measures enacted
- South Africa: Additional public holiday for November 2026 announced
- Spain: Employers face new reporting obligations for pension schemes
- United Kingdom: Statutory bereavement leave to be introduced in Great Britain
Download the print-friendly PDF to read the full GRIST.
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