On July 30, 2024, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law S.B. 3646 (the “Act”), repealing the state’s prior child labor law, and replacing it with the “Child Labor Law of 2024.” The stated intent of the Act is to “safeguard all...more
8/19/2024
/ Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Child Labor ,
Compliance ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Illinois ,
Minors ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules
This summer, the European Union is expected to finalize and pass a law – albeit in a materially different form from previous versions – that will place substantial human rights obligations on global employers. On March 15,...more
On September 1, 2023, lawmakers in South Korea proposed a bill entitled the “Act on Human Rights and Environmental Protection for Sustainable Business Management” (the “Bill”) to the National Assembly. This Bill aims to...more
On August 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2023-3 (FAB) to provide guidance to field staff on the prohibition against the shipment of “hot goods,” found in...more
10/12/2023
/ Child Labor ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Field Assistance Bulletins ,
Goods or Services ,
Interstate Commerce ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Minor Children ,
Wage and Hour
On September 26, 2023, the Bureau of Internal Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its 2022 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report, analyzing the state of child labor in 131 countries...more
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
In the past several years, South Korea has taken significant steps towards strengthening its employment anti-discrimination law. Although no comprehensive anti-discrimination law has yet passed, employers in Korea must take...more
7/6/2023
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Confidential Information ,
Damages ,
Fines ,
Gender Discrimination ,
Investigations ,
LGBTQ ,
New Amendments ,
Noncompliance ,
Penalties ,
Professional Disciplinary Actions ,
Same-Sex Harassment ,
Same-Sex Marriage ,
South Korea ,
Workplace Bullying
On May 11, 2023, Canada passed An Act to enact Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (the “Act”). As we reported previously, the Act will create supply chain...more
5/17/2023
/ Canada ,
Child Labor ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Reform ,
New Legislation ,
Slavery ,
Supply Chain
On February 21, 2023, the City of Seattle, Washington became the first U.S. city – or any U.S. jurisdiction for that matter – to add caste to its list of categories protected against discrimination. As described below, this...more
National and supranational legislatures continue to develop laws requiring employers to conduct due diligence of their operations and those of their business partners in order to address human rights risks such as forced...more
10/12/2022
/ Child Labor ,
Corporate Liability ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
EU Directive ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
International Labor Laws ,
Japan ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Supply Chain ,
Switzerland
Since we last reported on this topic, the war in Ukraine has persisted and Western countries have continued to ramp up sanctions against Russia. In light of this unfolding situation, employers with workforces in Ukraine and...more
3/16/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Policy ,
Foreign Workers ,
Military Conflict ,
Russia ,
Ukraine ,
Vladimir Putin ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wages
The Russian military’s recent invasion of Ukraine, and the related sanctions against Russia have many companies asking: how does this chaos impact our workforces in those countries? This broad question is answered below,...more
3/1/2022
/ Belarus Sanctions ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Economic Sanctions ,
Expatriates ,
Export Controls ,
Financial Transactions ,
Foreign Relations ,
Foreign Workers ,
International Labor Laws ,
Military Conflict ,
Russia ,
SWIFT ,
Ukraine ,
Wage and Hour
In January 2022, the New York State Senate introduced a bill that seeks to impose significant human rights and environmental due diligence and disclosure obligations on fashion retail sellers and manufacturers operating in...more
2/14/2022
/ Child Labor ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Fashion Branding ,
Fashion Industry ,
Forced Labor ,
Goods or Services ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Retail Market ,
Risk Mitigation ,
Slavery ,
Supply Chain ,
Sustainable Business Practices
On December 23, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (the “Act”), which bars the importation into the United States of products made from forced labor in the Xinjiang region of...more
1/3/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Imports ,
Manufacturers ,
Multinationals ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Supply Chain ,
US Trade Policies
This year has seen a number of international and regional legislative efforts imposing human rights due diligence and transparency obligations on multinational employers. ...more
10/28/2021
/ Canada ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Liability ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
International Labor Laws ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Multinationals ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Supply Chain ,
Transparency
In September 2020, the Indian legislature passed multiple laws that, taken together, constitute the most significant reforms of employment law in decades. Broadly speaking, these reforms expand the coverage of health and...more
Like many countries, India is grappling with the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
The central and state governments have responded to this evolving situation by imposing curfews, travel restrictions, and closing down certain...more
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
Since it was established in 2014, a United Nations Inter-Governmental Working Group (“IGWG”) has met annually to develop a multilateral treaty to attempt to hold businesses legally accountable for harms that may be related to...more
11/6/2019
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Liability ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
International Labor Laws ,
Multinationals ,
Supply Chain ,
Transparency ,
UN Guiding Principles ,
United Nations ,
Working Groups
Human rights issues increasingly require the assistance of experienced counsel who can help employers navigate very fluid and complex legal, business and societal considerations. ...more
10/16/2019
/ Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
Extraterritoriality Rules ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
International Labor Laws ,
Multinationals ,
Supply Chain ,
Transparency ,
United Nations ,
Working Groups
In February 2019, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (“Development Ministry”) introduced a draft law (the “Draft Law”) that seeks to mandate human rights due diligence for German companies...more
4/26/2019
/ Anti-Corruption ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
Germany ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
Internal Controls ,
National Action Plan ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Supply Chain ,
Voluntary Compliance
On November 29, 2018, the Australian Government passed the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (the “Act”), which requires all companies operating in Australia and meeting a threshold of AU$100 million in total annual global revenue to...more
12/4/2018
/ Australia ,
Child Labor ,
Cooperative Compliance Regime ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
International Labor Laws ,
Modern Slavery Act ,
New Legislation ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Slavery ,
Supply Chain
Since 2015, a United Nations working group has met annually to negotiate and draft a multilateral treaty that addresses human rights violations committed by businesses. The most recent of these annual meetings was held from...more
Two new California laws seek to combat human trafficking through required training and mandatory notice postings. These steps are intended to provide education and resources for employees who believe they, or someone they...more
10/3/2018
/ Child Labor ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Social Responsibility ,
Employee Training ,
Forced Labor ,
Human Rights ,
Human Trafficking ,
New Legislation ,
Posting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Slavery ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Supply Chain ,
Transparency
Four key recent developments in Indian employment law will impact diversity and inclusiveness policies of companies operating in India. The first is the enhancement of maternity leave benefits. ...more
9/25/2018
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employee's Childcare ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Protection ,
Freedom of Expression ,
Health and Safety ,
India ,
LGBTQ ,
Maternity Leave ,
New Legislation ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
Special Committees ,
Wage and Hour ,
Worker Protection Standard ,
Working Conditions ,
Workplace Safety