Spain: minimum salary level raised 8% National legislation The minimum wage floor has risen to €1,080 gross per month over 14 months, representing 60% of the average wage in Spain, as recommended by the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages. The minimum level has thus been raised by 47% over the last five years as the gap narrows compared to the legal minima applying across the rest of the European Union.
The Netherlands: Senate adopts bill amending Whistleblowers Act National legislation On 24 January 2023, after more than a year’s delay, the Dutch Senate finally adopted the bill protecting whistleblowers. The European Commission had launched an infringement procedure against the Dutch state because of the late implementation of the EU Directive 2019/1937.…
Portugal: 20 days of bereavement leave for the death of a spouse National legislation On 23 January 2023, Portugal’s parliamentarians approved an amendment to the country’s labour code that increases paid bereavement leave for the death of a spouse from an original 5 days to 20 days.…
EU: EU Commission launches plan to strengthen European social dialogue European legislation On 25 January 2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a recommendation comprising a series of measures to encourage the EU Member States to strengthen social dialogue at national level. The EU Commission also published a communication listing future initiatives to reinforce and promote European social dialogue, while employers continue to block several of them.
Great Britain: consultation launched to finalise the code of practice combatting the wave of ‘fire and rehire’ National legislation On 24 January 2023, the UK executive opened a 12-week consultation aimed at finalising its Draft Code of Practice on dismissal and re-engagement. The code,…
EU: minimum wage increases not able to compensate for rising prices National legislation As of 01 January 2023, seventeen out of the twenty-two EU Member States with a statutory minimum wage have implemented an increase in their basic salary level. The aim is to protect low-wage earners in the face of record inflation. However, even though some of these increases exceed 20%, they are struggling to compensate for the erosion occurring in employees’ purchasing power.
Croatia: substantial changes to the Labour Law National legislation On 01 January 2023, amendments to Croatia’s Labour Act came into force. The text adopted on 16 December 2022 limits to three the number of successive fixed-term employment contracts allowed over a maximum period of three years and it also gives employees the opportunity to request an permanent employment contract after they have spent six months on a fixed-term contract.…
Germany: Berlin wants to introduce a one-year leave period for further education and training National legislation Germany is preparing to introduce a system of continuing education for employees that has at its centre a one-year training leave opportunity, during which time the employee’s salary will be partially covered by the state. Opinion across the social partners is divided with some arguing that 12 months is too long for SMEs to be able to apply the leave and others arguing that 12 months is too short a time period to meaningfully accommodate a career change.
United States: new Federal protections for pregnant women Legal developments On 22 December 2022, the US Senate passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act as part of the 2023 budget vote.…
UK: executive seeks to make holiday pay calculations consistent for temporary workers Legal developments After the Supreme Court ruled in July 2022 that the calculation of holiday pay for a contract teacher should be similar to that used for permanent employees,…
