Over the last decade, a patchwork of national and supranational “business and human rights laws” has emerged requiring employers to conduct due diligence of their global operations to address human rights risks such as forced...more
This summer many Japanese companies took their first legally required steps toward joining the growing global movement to address gender inequality and promote equal opportunities in the workforce. The Act on Promotion of...more
This year’s Women’s World Cup, which kicked off on July 20, 2023, has been drawing record viewers both in person and on television. As viewers watch these teams compete, many wonder whether these athletes receive pay equal to...more
New Paternity Leave Law -
New Legislation Enacted -
The Child and Family Member Care Leave Act has been revised mainly to create more accessible leave for fathers. The revisions include: (i) a leave of four weeks that can...more
The new crown epidemic situation COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on individuals and businesses around the world. Governments have closed borders, issued health guidelines, implemented social segregation measures,...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on individuals and businesses across the globe. Governments closed their borders, issued health advisories, implemented social distancing, shutdown all but essential...more
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Japanese government is considering a new law to enable the government to declare a state of emergency, cancel public events, and instruct people to stay indoors. The government is...more
3/16/2020
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Best Practices ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Health and Safety ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Japan ,
Medical Leave ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
As the coronavirus situation continues to evolve, so do companies’ and governments’ approaches to monitoring and helping avoid the spread of the virus. The intensity and anxiety over this issue is extremely high in Asia,...more
2/13/2020
/ Asia Pacific ,
China ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Emergency Response ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
India ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Japan ,
Labor Regulations ,
Malaysia ,
Public Health ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Salaried Employees ,
Sick Leave ,
Singapore ,
South Korea ,
Wage and Hour
Employment Security Up to the Age 70 -
Proposed Bill or Initiative -
On December 25, 2019, Labor Policy Council has proposed to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare to take legislative actions to provide measures...more
1/27/2020
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Disparate Impact ,
Employee Benefits ,
Harassment ,
Independent Contractors ,
International Labor Laws ,
Japan ,
Labor Regulations ,
New Legislation ,
Paternity Leave ,
Retirement
Australia -
Wage Theft Investigations. The Australia Fair Work Ombudsman’s (FWO) 2018-2019 Annual Report, published by the government agency on October 20, 2019, found significant wage theft in the country over the past...more
12/5/2019
/ Australia ,
China ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee's Childcare ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Workers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Hong Kong ,
India ,
International Labor Laws ,
Japan ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Regulations ,
New Zealand ,
Paternity Leave ,
Pension Funds ,
Political Speech ,
Protests ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
Retirement Plan ,
Russia ,
Singapore ,
Social Credit System ,
Temporary Work Visas ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft
Japan sets both regional minimum wage and industrial minimum wage. The regional minimum wage is reviewed and revised, as needed on an annual basis. Each prefectures in Japan (i.e., total 47 prefectures) sets its own minimum...more
New Anti-Power Harassment Law (Anti-Bullying Law) in Japan -
New Legislation Enacted -
On May 29, 2019, a new anti-bullying law, known as “Anti-Power Harassment Law,” was enacted and will take effect within one year...more
On March 8, 2019, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) submitted a draft proposal to Congress, to amend the Act to Promote Women in Workplace....more
Japan is known as a country that prizes and exemplifies hard work. While there are significant benefits to this worth ethic, excessive work habits create problems for the country as well. ...more
2/13/2019
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Equal Pay ,
Exempt-Employees ,
International Labor Laws ,
Japan ,
Leave of Absence ,
Managers ,
Non-Exempt Employees ,
Over-Time ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Visas ,
Wage and Hour
Work Style Reform Legislation Has Been Passed -
New Legislation Enacted -
On July 6, 2018, various amendments to the employment laws were enacted to reform work style and will become effective gradually (some provisions...more
Japan has a reputation for being a difficult jurisdiction for firing employees. Accordingly, the use of fixed-term employment contracts has been a regular strategy for employers to maintain more discretion in whether to...more
Effective May 30, 2017, Japan amended its omnibus data protection law, the Personal Information Protection Act (“PIPA”), to add new compliance requirements that will have an immediate impact on many U.S. multinational...more
7/6/2017
/ Amended Legislation ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Collection ,
Data Protection ,
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ,
Information Technology ,
International Data Transfers ,
Japan ,
Multinationals ,
Personally Identifiable Information ,
PIPA ,
Popular ,
Small Business
Social Security -
Enacted Legislation -
Effective January 1, 2017, Slovakia removed the ceilings for mandatory health insurance contributions, which affects high-earning individuals and employer costs. ...more
Amendment of Act Expands the Benefit of Employees with Child or Family Member who Needs Care -
Enacted Legislation -
The revision of Act on Child Care Leave and Family Care Leave, which becomes effective on January...more
Public Sector Minimum Wage -
New Order or Decree -
The minimum gross wage in Romania increased from RON 1,250 to RON 1,450 (EUR 322) on February 1, 2017 as stated in January report. ...more