Global Legislative Update, April 2025 

The Global Legislative Update for April 2025 provides insights from Mercer consultants around the globe about key legal developments affecting employers’ benefit and human resource programs in various countries. Download the 54-page print-friendly PDF to read the full country-by-country coverage.

Here are some highlights from the latest issue:

• Artificial intelligence: Global employer resources (updated)
• Minimum wage rates: Global employer resources (updated)
• Remote working: Global employer resources (updated)
• Reproductive rights: Global employer resources post Dobbs ruling (updated)

• Canada: Federal minimum wage increased
• Panama: Employer social security contributions increased
• United States: Guidance on unlawful DEI-related discrimination issued

• Australia: Cyber security rules effective
• China: Family-friendly policies promoted to address demographic challenges
• Japan: Unemployment insurance contribution rates reduced
• New Zealand: Protection against wage theft strengthened
• Singapore: Work permit schemes to be revised

• Belgium: Minimum wage increased
• Channel Islands: Minimum wage increased in Jersey
• Czech Republic: Sickness insurance increases for employees under agreements to perform work
• Greece: Significant reduction in social security contributions planned for overtime, night shifts, and holidays
• Hungary: Vision test required for certain employees
• Kenya: Permitted pension contributions increased
• Netherlands: Updates on occupational pension reforms
• Poland: Parents now entitled to neonatal leave
• South Africa: Earnings threshold increased
• Sweden: Employers must report employees’ absence due to parental and sick child care leave
• United Arab Emirates: Revised employment terms apply in Abu Dhabi Global market
• United Kingdom: Financial regulators will not move forward on diversity and inclusion proposals