On 3 March 2021, the Minister of Manpower, Mrs Josephine Teo, announced (amongst other things) that the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore (“MOM”) will be regularising work arrangements for Dependant’s Pass (“DP”) holders working in Singapore. Currently, dependants of Employment Pass holders, EntrePass holders and Personalised Employment Pass holders will need to apply for a […]
Mar
29
2021
USA: Biden Administration to Review Discrimination Policies and Establish Gender Policy Council
The Department of Education has been directed to review all policies on sex and gender discrimination (including sexual violence) in schools under an executive order issued by the Biden administration on March 8, 2021. The order further reiterates the administration’s position that laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination, […]
Mar
29
2021
Sweden: Employee’s Purchase from Employer creates a Consumer Relationship with the Employer
A recent Labour Court ruling found that an employee, who had purchased heat pumps from his employer, was considered to have acted as a consumer in relation to the employer when he bought the heat pumps. The employee bought the pumps in 2012 and 2013, but did not pay for them. When the employment end-ed in 2018, the employer demanded payment for the pumps. Since the statutory limitation period for con-sumer purchases is three years, the Labour Court ruled that the claim was time-barred.
Mar
29
2021
Mexico: Independent Mexico Expert Board reports on Mexico’s implementation of the Labour Reform
In the USMCA’s Implementation Act, the US Government created the Independent Mexico Labour Expert Board (IMLEB), for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of Mexico’s labour reform and compliance with its labour obligations. On 15 December 2020, the IMLEB issued its first evaluation report on Mexico. In response to this report, the Mexican Government issued an action guide to provide support to employers and employees in the legitimation processes.
Mar
24
2021
UK: Gender Pay Reporting Deadline Postponed to 5 October 2021
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced that employers have an additional six months within which to report their gender pay gap information for the 2020/21 reporting year.
Mar
24
2021
UK: Discrimination and Racial Harassment
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that an employer could not rely on the ‘reasonable steps’ defence in a claim of racial harassment where its equality and diversity training, which took place about two years earlier, had become ‘stale’ and ineffective.
Mar
24
2021
UK: Employment Status – Supreme Court finds that Uber Drivers are Workers
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has upheld an employment tribunal’s decision that the Uber drivers were workers and therefore entitled to national minimum wage (NMW), paid holiday and whistleblower protection.
Mar
24
2021
Saudi Arabia: Government Announces New Professional Verification Programme
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has launched the “Professional Verification” programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.
Mar
24
2021
Saudi Arabia: Nitaqat Adjusts the Percentage of Companies and Establishments in the ICT sector
The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development has revised the Saudisation requirements for companies operating in the communications and information technology industries
Mar
24
2021
Poland: Penalties for Employing Maintenance Evaders Illegally
A major social problem in Poland, is the avoidance by maintenance debtors, to pay the due amounts. One of the ways of avoiding financial responsibility has been illegal, unregistered work or an understatement of the remuneration actually received in contracts, which was supposed to make the enforcement of maintenance claims impossible. New provisions introduced into the Polish Labour Code are intended to limit this phenomenon.