The Global Legislative Update for January 2022 provides insights from Mercer consultants around the globe about key legal developments affecting employers’ benefit and human resource programs in various countries. Download the 85-page print-friendly PDF to read the full issue. Here are some highlights of the latest coverage:

Global

• COVID-19 pandemic: Countries address workplace issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
• Remote working: Countries address remote-working issues

Americas

• Argentina: Employers’ contribution to occupational disease fund to increase
• Canada: Employers required to provide paid sick in British Columbia
• Colombia: Minimum wage increased
• Dominican Republic: Minimum wage increased
• Ecuador: Basic minimum monthly salary increased
• Guatemala: Minimum wage rates for announced for 2022
• Mexico: Minimum wage increased
• United States: Final rule implements $15 minimum hourly wage for federal contractors

AsiaPac

• Australia: Final guidance on climate change risks issued
• China: Some preferential employee taxation arrangements extended
• Hong Kong: Gender board diversity, corporate governance required
• Japan: Maximum period for payment of injury and sickness benefit changed
• Singapore: Listed companies face new climate, diversity reporting requirements
• South Korea: Default investment options introduced for defined contribution plans

EMEA

• European Union: Gender equal pay, transparency proposal advances
• Bahrain: VAT tax increases will impact medical insurance services
• Belgium: Salary ceiling increases to negatively impact second pillar plans
• Czech Republic: Minimum wage significantly increased
• Denmark: New early retirement option now effective
• Egypt: Private-sector minimum wage established
• Finland: Survivors’ pension scheme revised
• Germany: Maximum life insurance and ‛Pensionsfonds’ interest rates reduced
• Greece: New mandatory individual retirement account introduced
• Israel: Normal retirement age for women to increase
• Jersey, Channel Islands: Rest break established, paid leave increased
• Netherlands: Gender balance duty for companies introduced
• Poland: Tax reforms will impact health insurance contributions, highly paid employees
• Portugal: Employers prohibited from contacting employees after hours
• Russia: Requirements for foreigners’ medical examination, fingerprint registration clarified
• Spain: 2022 budget changes impact pension contributions
• Sweden: Income cap for sickness benefit increased
• Turkey: Re-enrollment process for auto-enrollment pension system abolished       
• United Arab Emirates: Weekend changed and shorter working week introduced for federal sector
• United Kingdom: Consultation on large employers’ disability reporting invites input