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Global Legislative Update, January 2026
January 15, 2026
The Global Legislative Update for January 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)
- Minimum wage roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Remote working roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Reproductive rights roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Right to disconnect roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
Americas
- Brazil: Payroll tax to increase
- Canada: New leave entitlements for federally regulated employees available
- Chile: Female board representation boosted
- Mexico: Minimum wage increased
- United States: Final rule significantly changes H1-B visa selection process
- Uruguay: Two-phase minimum wage will increase in 2026
AsiaPac
- Australia: Australian Securities and Investments Commission announces 2026 enforcement priorities
- China: Changes to National Drug Catalog to improve coverage level take effect
- Hong Kong: Working time threshold for ‘continuous contracts’ reduced
- India: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority changes to National Pension System announced
- Indonesia: Minimum wage increase formula for 2026 confirmed
- Japan: Pension tax reforms introduced
- Philippines: New social security system card replaces Unified Multi-Purpose ID
- South Korea: Plans to increase pension premiums, expand coverage announced
- Taiwan: Parental leave flexibility increased
- Thailand: Monthly taxable wage ceiling for contributions increased
- Vietnam: Unemployment insurance participation expanded
EMEA
- Albania: Increased minimum wage announced
- Austria: Eligibility criteria for early retirement adjusted
- Bahrain: Wage protection system expanded
- Belgium: Maximum value of meal vouchers increased
- Croatia: Pension Act revised
- Czech Republic: Simplified employee reporting introduced
- Denmark: Bereavement leave for spouses, cohabitating partners expanded
- Egypt: Salary thresholds for social insurance calculations increased
- Finland: Health insurance contribution rates take effect
- France: Social security changes enacted
- Germany: Employer notification requirements for certain foreign employees take effect
- Greece: Launch of employee digitization platform, Ergani II, planned for February
- Hungary: Minimum wage increased
- Ireland: Minimum contributions for pension auto-enrollment introduced
- Italy: Leave for employees with disabling or chronic diseases expanded
- Kuwait: Health insurance and visa fees increased
- Lithuania: Changes to taxation of benefits announced
- Moldova: Minimum wage increased
- Netherlands: Employer disability and sickness benefit premiums increased
- Norway: Company-specific age limits abolished
- Oman: Annual salary increment scheme revised
- Poland: Employers must disclose pay to job candidates
- Russia: Minimum wage increased
- Saudi Arabia: Health insurance disclosure form for smaller employers introduced
- Slovakia: Meal allowances for business trips increased
- Spain: Birth and child care leave expanded
- Tanzania: Minimum wage for private sector increased
- United Kingdom: Introduction of mandatory payrolling of benefits-in-kind postponed
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