Co-funded by the European Union
Newsletter March, 2021

Voluntary vaccination and employers’ responsibilities in Canada

March, 2021
  • Mandatory vaccination policies continue to be a heavily debated topic amongst Canadian employers

Federation of Egyptian Industries presented an advocacy plan to favour industrial growth and encourage foreign direct investment

March, 2021
  • The Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) periodically updates the state of play of national reforms and the related business’ recommendations
  • The plan considers topics such as labour law, social security law, trade union law, SMEs easiness of doing business, among others
  • FEI advocacy plan has been successful in a series of reforms, especially on trade and investments

Italy: a regional government introduces measures to support jobseekers

March, 2021
  • Jobseekers in the Italian Region Veneto are supported with an allowance of a maximum amount of EUR 5.796
  • So far the measure has supported 52,775 unemployed persons
  • It is a form of successful collaboration between public and private employment services

Dutch Courts ruled on the classification of platform workers and government advisory group view

March, 2021
  • The classification of platform workers is unclear in the Netherlands, despite recent Court decisions and a report from the Labour Inspectorate
  • Recently, an advisory bipartite Committee highlighted the “need for a political and policy response in the short term to this discussion”

UK Supreme Court judgment on Uber platform drivers as “workers” and its meaning

March, 2021
  • The long-standing case of Uber and others v. Aslam and others (2016) was finally settled by the UK Supreme Court that confirmed the views of the lower Courts stating Uber’s drivers status of “workers” within the UK legal system
  • The Supreme Court also determined what must be considered as working time for a Uber driver

Australian new Bill introduces a definition of casual worker

March, 2021
  • The Australian Parliament adopted a Bill that defines a casual worker as someone offered work without commitment of continuing and indefinite work.
  • The Bill sheds light on the possibility to convert the casual work contract into a long-term full or part-time employment relationship.
  • The Law also clarifies employers’ economic responsibility in case a casual worker is later on recognised as an employee.

Japan, new law to deal with harassment and abuse of power at work

March, 2021
  • The Comprehensive Labor Policy Promotion Act (CLPPA) (No. 24 of 2019 (Reiwa)) aims at eliminating sexual harassment, harassment against women and workplace bullying (known as “power harassment” in Japan)
  • This Act requires companies to put in place a policy to prevent harassment in the workplace, including taking measures to avoid recurrences
  • Failing to comply with this Law entails reputational risks, as companies’ names may be disclosed

Philippines: legislative changes on Covid-19-related sick leave, social security contributions and unemployment insurance

March, 2021

The Filipino House of Representatives approved a series of Bills related to the pandemic and having important repercussions on employers