Global Legislative Update, May 2026
May 12, 2026
The Global Legislative Update for May 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 highlights from the latest issue.
Global
- Artificial intelligence roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Employees’ right to disconnect roundup: Global employer resource (updated)
- Minimum wage roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Remote working roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
- Reproductive rights roundup: Roundup: Global employer resources (updated)
Americas
- Argentina: Court reinstates labor reforms, constitutional issues remain under judicial review
- Brazil: Paid paternity leave expanded
- Canada: Significant public and private healthcare reforms introduced in Alberta
- El Salvador: Annual bonus payments mandated
- Mexico: Maximum working week to be gradually reduced
- United States: New joint employer rule proposed
AsiaPac
- Australia: Superannuation bills receive Royal Assent
- China: Long-term care insurance scheme introduced
- Hong Kong: Minimum wage increased
- India: Supreme court strikes down age-based restriction on maternity benefits for adoptive mothers
- Singapore: Local Qualifying Salary increased, Progressive Wage Credit Scheme expanded
- South Korea: May 1 designated as national holiday
EMEA
- European Union: Social security coordination rules revised
- France: Health insurance system investment and changes to ‘key letter AMI’ announced
- Poland: Method for determining length of service for private sector expanded
- Portugal: Leave enhanced for employees who are informal caregivers
- Romania: Sick leave payment rules changed
- Ukraine: Method for calculating employment quotas for persons with disabilities in effect
- United Arab Emirates: Nafis program extended to 2040 to boost Emirati private-sector employment
- United Kingdom: Significant pension scheme changes enacted
Download the print-friendly PDF to read the full GRIST.
About the author(s)
Related insights