On 9 December 2020, the Supreme Court issued Administrative Matter No. 20-12-01-SC. Among others, the Videoconferencing Guidelines allow non-resident foreign nationals to participate or testify in a case before a Philippine court, through videoconferencing conducted from a Philippine embassy or consulate.
On 4 June 2021, the Philippine National Privacy Commission (NPC) announced that it will be holding off the launch of its eRehistro system in order “to make way for a complete solution that integrates all the services related to data privacy compliance.”
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Employment Compensation Commission (ECC) recently issued two separate guidelines (collectively, the “Issuances”) in connection with COVID-19. The Issuances provide guidance to covered employers and employees regarding the promotion of COVID-19 vaccination in the private sector as well as the classification of COVID-19 as an occupational and work-related disease.
Our Asia Pacific Employment & Compensation Team is pleased to provide you with our first quarterly update for 2021 highlighting key employment law changes across the Asia Pacific region. Please feel free to visit our Building a New Workforce Reality and FutureWorks sites designed to guide global employers on how to future-proof your workforce and to stay competitive in innovating and revolutionizing your working practices.
In the first episode, Nandakumar Ponniya, chair of the Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Group, Cynthia Tang, head of the Hong Kong Dispute Resolution team, and Yoshiaki Muto, head of Tokyo’s Dispute Resolution team, discuss developments in commercial litigation around four key areas: (1) technology, (2) mediation, (3) international commercial courts, and (4) class actions in Asia Pacific.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued Department Order No. 221, s. 2021 (“DO No. 221, s. 2021”), or the Revised Rules and Regulations for the Issuance of Employment Permits to Foreign Nationals (access here). Companies that will be applying for or renewing alien employment permits (AEP) for their foreign employees will have to comply with the new requirements under DO No. 221, s. 2021
With COVID-19 vaccinations finally here, organizations looking to protect their workforces and promote business continuity must navigate a fast-evolving framework of national protocols and regulatory regimes. An increasing number of jurisdictions across the globe are publishing guidelines and legislation governing the legal and practical aspects of workplace vaccination programs.
The Philippine National Privacy Commission (NPC) highlighted in its official Facebook page the main distinctions between the current registration process and the upcoming eRehistro system, specifically with regard to (1) the registration form, (2) the registration of data processing systems (DPS), (3) the certificate of registration, and (4) addressing deficiencies and concerns.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that on 9 April 2021, Singapore deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and became the first country to complete the official process for ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.
On 26 March 2021, the president signed into law Republic Act No. 11534 or the CREATE Act, which is the reconciled version of the Bicameral Conference Committee. It settled the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 4157 and Senate Bill No. 1357. The CREATE Act was previously known as the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act (CITIRA) bill. The law will become effective on 11 April 2021.