Réglementaire EU: Parliament definitively adopts Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive European legislation The European Parliament today adopted new rules on obtaining a single permit (combined work and residence permit) for third-country nationals. These amend the 2011 directive to make it easier for foreign workers to enter the European Union legally and enable businesses to find the skills they need.…
Réglementaire United States: end of non-compete clauses National legislation On 23 April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a new final rule banning non-compete clauses nationwide.…
Réglementaire EU: Parliament adopts regulation banning products made with forced labour European legislation On 23 April, the European Parliament broadly approved the regulation banning the import of products produced using forced labour. The text gives new investigative powers to the European Commission,…
Réglementaire Czech Republic: bill tabled to increase the ‘flexibility’ of labour relations National legislation Czech labour minister Marian Jurečka has submitted to the chamber of deputies a series of amendments aimed at making the labour code "more flexible". The draft text makes it easier to take parental leave of less than two years, increases the length of probation periods and reduces the notice period for dismissal in the event of employee misconduct. It also proposes salary payments in euros or another currency from next year.
Réglementaire Netherlands: Senate votes against minimum wage increase above regular indexation National legislation In January, the government announced an additional statutory minimum wage increase of 1.2% with effect from 1 July 2024,…
Chile: gradual transition to 40-hour week National legislation From 26 April 2024, companies will have to adhere to the “40-hour law”. The working week will be reduced from 45 hours at present to 44 hours,…
Réglementaire Netherlands: compensation paid to companies hiring older employees to be scrapped National legislation A bill to phase out so-called “labour costs compensation” (Loonkostenvoordelen, LKV) was approved by the Dutch Senate on 16 April.…
EU: declaration to strengthen Social Europe gets almost unanimous backing European legislation At a high-level conference organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, on April 16 in La Hulpe, the Commission, member states and the social partners pledged to continue work on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The event saw the parties set out a work programme for the next mandate. However, in the wake of the difficulties that marred recent European texts on social topics, BusinessEurope did not sign the declaration.
Canada: Sustainable jobs Council to launch with social partners National legislation On 15 April, Canada’s House of Commons approved on third reading a bill to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and growth in a low-carbon economy.…
Portugal: new government aims to improve quality of employment National legislation Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, the centre-right leader who won the parliamentary elections on 10 March, presented his roadmap to parliament on Thursday 11 April. The minority government's programme for the next four years was then approved on 12 April. Among the priorities of the "XXIV Constitutional Government" are several measures to improve employment and working conditions, including a 22% increase in the legal minimum wage by 2028.
