Jackson Lewis’ International Employment practice group regularly assists clients with global employment and mobility issues in well over 100 countries.

In support of its international employment practice, Jackson Lewis is a founding member of L&E Global, a worldwide alliance of independent law firms providing advice and counsel on employment law matters. We are pleased to present you with with this special edition of our monthly employment law tracker: 2026, Looking Ahead, compiled by L&E Global.

Argentina | Allende & Brea

2026, Looking Ahead: Bill for a New Labor Reform In December 2025, the Executive Branch submitted to the National Congress a bill proposing several labour law reforms. The President is confident that the bill will be enacted between late 2025 and early 2026.

Australia | Harmers Workplace Law

2026, Looking Ahead: Changes Coming to Employment Law The regulatory landscape for employers continued to change significantly in 2025, driven by emboldened Unions and a raft of election promises from the Albanese government. As legislators and regulators struggle to keep up with an increasingly casualised and insecure workforce, and governments continue to focus on mental health in the workplace, sexual harassment reform, and the looming threat and opportunity of AI, we look forward to some of the changes we know are coming, as well as some anticipated changes, and share our key insights for HR professionals and in-house Counsel to ensure employers are ready for, and indeed ahead of, the changes.

Belgium | Van Olmen & Wynant

2026, Looking Ahead: Key Employment-Law Measures in Belgium’s 2025 Autumn Agreement Belgium’s Autumn Agreement introduces several significant reforms to labor law. The package aims to modernize working conditions, improve the sustainability of employers’ labor costs, and support a more efficient framework for reintegration and working time. This article summarizes the main employment-law elements: the cap on wage indexation, the reform of the reintegration procedure, mandatory time registration, the expansion of flexi-jobs, the reform of voluntary overtime, the easing of night work rules, and the abolition of the minimum one-third work-time requirement.

Canada | Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti

2026, Looking Ahead Significant changes to the world of work have been on the horizon and 2026 is the year that many impending legal developments will finally come into effect in Canada. With new legislative obligations and contradictory lines of emergent case law, employers in Canada must remain proactive in order to keep up with the rapidly evolving labor and employment law landscape.

Chile | Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos

2026, Looking Ahead: Our Vision for Employers Along with the change of government and the renewal of the National Congress, a new Minister of Labor and Social Security, a new National Labor Director, and a new Director of the National Migration Service will be appointed for the 2026–2030 term.

China | Zhong Lun

2026, Looking Ahead As we step into the year 2026, several legislative developments have either come into effect or are set to take effect in China.

Colombia | López & Asociados

2026, Looking Ahead Several regulatory and policy developments are expected to significantly shape the Colombian employment landscape in 2026. Employers should anticipate increased labor costs, material procedural changes in labor litigation, and the continued implementation of the 2025 Labor Reform, all of which will require proactive planning and timely adjustments to employment structures and compliance strategies.

Czech Republic | Havel & Partners

2026, Looking Ahead The year 2025 was abundant with crucial new developments in Czech labor law. Major landmarks include the Flexible Amendment to the Czech Labor Code, which came into effect as of June this year, and the adoption of the Act on Uniform Monthly Employer Report which represents a further step in making the administrative system for employers´ reporting obligations more efficient. Moreover, a lot of attention has been paid to the problem of disguised employment and the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive.

France | Flichy Grangé Avocats

2026, Looking Ahead The continuing unstable political situation in France and upcoming local elections makes it difficult to anticipate future legislative changes in 2026. Following the fall of the government formed under former Prime Minister François Bayrou in September 2025 and the nomination of the new government under Sébastien Lecornu, the new government still does not hold a majority in Parliament. Whether it will be able to survive will depend on its capacity to pass a new budget through Parliament in the next few weeks.

Germany | Pusch Wahlig Workplace Law

2026, Looking Ahead In Looking Ahead 2026, the most important trends and developments related to labor and employment law in Germany are explored.

India | Khaitan & Co

2026, Looking Ahead As we arrive in 2026, India’s labor and employment landscape stands at one of its most critical junctures. The introduction of the four Labor Codes represents the most ambitious and significant overhaul of India’s employment law regime since independence. While the Labor Codes were brought into effect on 21 November 2025, the real test lies in 2026 as employers now prepare for its implementation. In addition to the Labor Codes, some other areas of development are also anticipated in India’s labor and employment regime.

Indonesia | Nusantara Legal Partnership

2026, Looking Ahead The following are labor-related matters in Indonesia to watch out for in 2026.

Ireland | Byrne Wallace Shields

2026, Looking Ahead The following are labor-related matters in Ireland to watch out for in 2026.

Italy | Zambelli & Partners

2026, The Year Ahead for Employers The year 2025 is marked by important developments in the field of labor law with significant repercussions also expected in 2026.

Mexico | De La Vega & Martinez Rojas

2026, Looking Ahead As Mexico moves into 2026, its labor and employment framework continues to evolve toward a model characterized by intensified enforcement, digital oversight, and an expanded concept of employer responsibility. Recent regulatory and legislative developments reflect a clear policy direction: compliance is no longer assessed solely through formal documentation, but through the effective implementation of preventive measures, operational consistency, and demonstrable risk management.

The Netherlands | Palthe Oberman

2026, Looking Ahead In 2026, a series of legislative proposals will either be awaiting approval from Dutch Parliament or set to be implemented. The following topics can be distinguished and will be discussed.

Norway | Helmr

2026, Looking Ahead In 2026, Norway will see a few changes to the Working Environment Act. In addition, clarifications are expected regarding overtime pay for part-time employees, following recent rulings by the European Court of Justice. Attention will also turn to when and how the EU Pay Transparency Directive will be implemented into Norwegian law, a development that could have significant implications for businesses and employees.

Peru | Estudio Muñiz

2026, Looking Ahead The following are labor-related matters in Peru to watch out for in 2026.

Philippines | Villaraza & Angangco

2026, Looking Ahead This case law is set to redefine Philippine labor litigation in 2026 and beyond, particularly by clarifying the precise moment an employment relationship between employer and employee begins.

Poland | Sobczyk & Partners

2026, Looking Ahead The year 2026 will bring numerous labor law reforms in Poland. Changes will affect both employer obligations and employee rights — from pay transparency, new rules for calculating length of service, and administrative reclassification of civil-law contracts, to an increase in minimum wage, reform of collective agreements, and clarification of provisions on mobbing and discrimination. Employers can also expect simplifications in HR documentation and new regulations concerning sick leave.

Portugal | SRS Legal

2026, Looking Ahead As we enter 2026, several legislative changes and initiatives are expected to influence employment and labor law in Portugal. Here is an overview of the of relevant upcoming developments.

Singapore | Clyde & Co Clasis

2026, Looking Ahead The following is a labor-related matter in Singapore to watch out for in 2026.

Spain | Suárez de Vivero

2026, Looking Ahead As Spain enters 2026, its labor and employment landscape is defined by a dual dynamic: ongoing legislative modernization and accelerated compliance. Several reform initiatives launched in 2024–2025 are expected to progress, while EU transposition deadlines will drive structural changes in documentation, pay transparency and platform work regardless of domestic political tempo. Overall, 2026 is shaping up as both a monitoring year (for reforms still under negotiation) and a compliance year (for measures with defined implementation periods or inspection focus), with multinational employers facing increasing expectations in terms of reporting, governance, traceability, and alignment with EU standards.

Sweden | Cederquist

2026, Looking Ahead The following are labor-related matters in Sweden to watch out for in 2026.

Türkiye | Moroğlu Arseven

2026, Looking Ahead The following is a labor-related matter in Türkiye to watch out for in 2026.

United Kingdom | Clyde & Co

2026, Looking Ahead: Workplace Law Changes

A Look Back at Key UK Workplace Law Changes in 2025

United States | Jackson Lewis P.C.

The Year Ahead 2026 As the administration enters its second year, employers face a fast‑shifting mix of federal priorities and the state‑level and market responses they prompt. The Year Ahead 2026 connects the dots across agencies, multijurisdictional legislation, litigation, technology and workforce trends — equipping organizations to anticipate risks, seize opportunities and act with greater confidence