Employment Archives

In Asia-Pacific

Singapore: Can employers require employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19?

July 20, 2021 by Zhao Yang Ng and Esther Pang 7 Mins Read

In our earlier article Making it Mandatory to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19: A Framework for Employers1 (“Article”), we considered the issue of whether employers can require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 based on the existing legal framework at the time. Since then, the Ministry of Manpower, National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation released an advisory on 2 July 2021 to clarify the Singapore government’s policy on this issue and to provide guidance to employers regarding COVID-19 vaccination in the employment context (“Advisory”).

In Asia-Pacific

Taiwan: Issues Regarding Office Closure Due to COVID-19

July 19, 2021 by Seraphim Ma 3 Mins Read

As the pandemic alert has been raised to Level 3, companies have upgraded their pandemic countermeasures. Many companies have implemented work-from-home or a remote work plan in response to the pandemic to reduce the potential impact caused by COVID-19 and to ensure continuity of business operations.
One of the critical issues for work-from-home arrangement is how to keep an employee attendance record. According to the latest ruling issued by the Ministry of Labor, companies may follow the ‘Guiding Principles for Employees Work Time Away from the Business Premises’ to determine the working hours and maintain attendance records.

In Asia-Pacific

Philippines: DOLE issues advisories regarding AEP requirements

July 18, 2021 by Miguel Galvez and Rafael Cruz 3 Mins Read

The DOLE issued Advisories 4, 6, 7 and 8-2021 regarding the requirements for the issuance and cancellation of alien employment permits (AEPs) for foreign employees in the Philippines.

In Corporate Compliance

United Kingdom: Government confirms proposal for a new single enforcement body for employment rights

July 18, 2021 by James Brown, Mandy Li and Rachel Farr 2 Mins Read

The government has confirmed in its response to its 2019 consultation that it intends to establish a new single enforcement body for employment rights. The new body will enforce breaches in relation to national minimum wage, modern slavery (including modern slavery statements), employment agencies, statutory sick pay and holiday pay for vulnerable workers.

In Employment

United Kingdom: Managing opposing beliefs in the workplace – what employers need to know

July 18, 2021 by Monica Kurnatowska and Rachel Farr 2 Mins Read

In an article published in Employment Law Journal, Monica Kurnatowska and Rachel Farr assess the impact on employers of the EAT’s decision that ‘gender-critical’ beliefs are protected under the Equality Act 2010.

In Covid-19

Poland: HR Alert

July 16, 2021 by Michał Lisawa 5 Mins Read

The July HR alert features topics such as new rules of remote working, protection of whistleblowers, vaccinated employee privileges, sobriety checks,

In Covid-19

Netherlands: Amsterdam – Employees back in the office – What should employers think about?

July 16, 2021 by Danielle Pinedo and Tijn Valk 3 Mins Read

As of 26 June 2021, new relaxations of COVID-19 measures have entered into force. One of these relaxations is that 50% of employees can work from the office. As an employer, what do you need to think about when returning to the office? In this article, we briefly answer six frequently asked questions.

In Asia-Pacific

Australia: Victorian wage theft laws come into effect from 1 July 2021

July 15, 2021 by Kellie-Ann McDade and Nikita Matchado 5 Mins Read

On 1 July 2021, the Wage Theft Act 2020 (Vic) will come into effect. The Act makes it a crime for an employer to deliberately underpay employees, to dishonestly withhold employee entitlements or to fail to keep proper records of employee entitlements in order to gain a financial advantage. These crimes are punishable by a fine of up to AUD 198,264 or 10 years jail for individuals, and a fine of up to AUD 991,320 for companies.

In Argentina

Argentina: Dismissals and suspensions prohibition extension

July 15, 2021 by Daniel Orlansky 2 Mins Read

Emergency Decree 413/2021, published on 28 June 2021, has extended until 31 December 2021 the prohibition to dismiss without just cause and/or due to lack or reduction of work and force majeure, as long as the occupational emergency continues.

In Employment

United Kingdom: EU right to equal pay for work of equal value has direct effect

July 15, 2021 by James Brown, Rachel Farr and Mandy Li 3 Mins Read

The ECJ has ruled that the EU fundamental principle of equal pay has direct effect in respect of both equal work and work of equal value claims. The ruling has paved the way for Tesco retail store employees to proceed with claims comparing their work to distribution centre colleagues.