5 October 2022
On 29 September Belgium’s parliament approved the ‘job deal’ bill that aims to adapt how work is organised in order to better suit current developments and to help achieve an employment rate of 80% by 2030. Among the bill’s main measures is the introduction of the four-day working week, the recognition of a right to disconnect, and the establishment of workplace accident protection for online platform workers.
5 October 2022
Starting 01 January 2023, workers commuting between France and Luxembourg will be able to telework free from any double taxation onus for a maximum of 34 days per year, instead of the current 29. Some 117,000 French nationals working in Luxembourg will be concerned by the decision. “I would like to thank my French counterpart for this agreement, which has been eagerly awaited by many employees and businesses, and which offers greater flexibility, particularly with regard to teleworking,” said Yuriko...
4 October 2022
While on 21 September Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the partial mobilization of Russian army reservists, the government is in the process of organizing itself amid discontent and the impact of sanctions on the national economy. Two measures illustrate this in the area of labour and employment. First is the guarantee of continued employment for those conscripted to the forces and second is the extension of the system that allows the temporary transfer of employees from companies that have suspended...
4 October 2022
On 02 October UK Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a change in the rules for companies publishing their gender pay gap that will take immediate effect. Going forward only companies with 500 or more employees will be required to report their gender pay gap numbers on an annual basis, whereas previously the exemption threshold had been set at 250 employees. This change also concerns other forms of regulatory reporting and all new regulations under development, the government said, as it hopes relieve thousands of...
4 October 2022
The law of 08 April 2022, published on 01 July 2022 in the Belgian Official Gazette, provides that as of 01 January 2023, Saturdays will no longer count as a working day. The change directly impacts the time limit employers have to respect when notifying employees of employment dismissals by registered letter. The letter is deemed to have been received by the employee on the third working day following the day the letter was posted. Employers will therefore have to adapt their HR practices accordingly. For...
3 October 2022
The Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registry, the new body responsible for settling labour law disputes, which also functions as a registry for trade unions and collective agreements, is operational throughout Mexico with effect from 3 October. The body is independent from Mexico’s executive branch and replaces the former conciliation and arbitration boards, which will be disbanded. From now on, the conciliation and arbitration processes, as well as the registration of the internal regulations of...
29 September 2022
The European Work-life balance directive for working parents and carers introduced a specific 5-day leave period per year for workers providing personal care or support to a relative or person living with disability or severe illness in the same household. Although 24 EU Member States have now introduced carers’ leave, their individual application conditions vary widely and they do not always meet the EU Directive’s requirements.
28 September 2022
Spain’s bill addressing startups, which parliament is due to start debating in the coming weeks, provides for a ‘telework visa’ tailored to digital nomads. The aim is to encourage the temporary location in Spain of those seeking the country as a base for their remote activities, with attractive streamlined procedures for those wishing to ultimately settle there. The bill’s scope includes employees and freelance workers operating remotely for companies located outside Spain.
28 September 2022
On 22 September, Belgium’s Parliament plenary session adopted the ‘return to work’ bill, which is designed to support employees returning to work following long term sick leave (one year or longer). The goal is for these employees to re-join the ranks of the employed ‘under the best conditions’ possible. This text, approved by the Council of Ministers on 13 May 2022 (c.f. article No.13058), will come into force on 01 January 2023. It institutes a pre-return visit, the purpose of which is to inform...
27 September 2022
Law No. 14.442 of 02 September 2022 defines the concept of telework, which can be undertaken both inside and outside the country. The law specifies that an employee working remotely is not obliged to respect working hours but instead must carry out a certain number of tasks and report on his/her/their productivity. Teleworking employees are also entitled to luncheon vouchers, regardless of the number of days spent working remotely, and can now use them in any establishment.
