South Africa’s employment laws are viewed as more rigid than those in various other developing markets, but they are also not as stringent as those in many other markets. In addition, the country’s labour dispute resolution landscape is considered to be more effective than those in many other developing markets. Elements of stricter labour laws are needed when considering the country’s history of inequality, warranting a heightened need for measures to protect employees’ rights.
Through Resolution No. 161/2023, published in the official gazette on 4 September 2023, the Agency for Access to Public Information (AAIP) created the Program for Transparency and Protection of Personal Data in the Use of Artificial Intelligence and entrusted its execution, monitoring and evaluation to the National Directorates of Evaluation of Transparency Policies and Protection of Personal Data.
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new online content hub, the Product Risk Radar. The hub includes the latest important legal developments in product regulatory and liability risk impacting the UK and EU and we will post regular updates to help you navigate this increasingly challenging landscape. The areas covered include regulatory requirements, product liability and market surveillance and general product safety.
South Africa’s trade relationship with China is growing, resulting in several announcements regarding trade at the BRICS Summit in August 2023. Among the announcements was the news that Chinese companies had signed deals to buy South African products worth around USD 2.2 billion. Also announced were plans for China to import more South African beef and other South African agricultural products, as well as the donation of Chinese energy equipment worth USD 8.9 million to South Africa, in addition to a grant valued at USD 26.9 million to assist the country with its energy crisis.
As the constant changes in the region can affect companies’ operations, for effective decision making, it is vital to have updated information about the employment landscape in each of the jurisdictions.
In this quick overview, the Employment & Compensation group presents the main recent regulatory developments in Latin America, highlighting critical issues to consider.
On 17 August 2023, the law transposing the EU Directive 2019/1158 of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers was published in the Luxembourg official gazette.
On 18 August 2023, the law amending the legal provisions on paternity and adoption leave was published in the Luxembourg official gazette.
On 17 August 2023, the EU Commission adopted the implementing regulation regarding the reporting rules applicable during the transitional phase of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
The CBAM formally entered into force on 17 May 2023. It requires importers to report the so-called ’embedded emissions’ of certain (mostly industrial) products and of electricity imported into the EU in order to ensure equivalent carbon pricing for imports and domestic (i.e., EU) products and electricity.
On 2 August 2023, the Financial Services Authority or Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) issued its Rule No. 14 of 2023 on Carbon Trading on Carbon Exchange (“OJK Rule 14/2023”). OJK Rule 14/2023 is issued as one of the implementing regulations of Law No. 4/2023 on Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector.
OJK Rule 14/2023 sets out the standard criteria for carbon units that will be traded on a carbon exchange, as well as the licensing requirements for any company that will apply to become a carbon exchange.
In an article for PLC Magazine, Monica Kurnatowska explores recent case law around conflicts of belief in the workplace and how employers can approach these situations in practice.
The Final Report of the Independent Review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) (Biodiversity Act) dated August 2023 (Report) was tabled in the NSW Parliament on 24 August 2023.
The Report is critical of the credibility of the Biodiversity Act and the offsets secured under that Act’s regime, and disapproving of the status and trajectory of biodiversity in NSW. The Report recommends a refocusing of the Biodiversity Act towards a nature positive strategy with improved protections for ecosystems.