On 14 March 2023, the Dutch House of Representatives passed the "Supervision of Equal Opportunities in Recruitment and Selection Bill," which aims to address and reduce employment discrimination, especially on the basis of origin, gender, race, colour, age, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
On 12 March 2024, the discussion around the bill continued in the Dutch Senate, building on the plenary debate initiated on 27 February 2024.A critical vote and accompanying motions took place on26 March 2024 and and the Bill was not adopted in the Senate after a majority voted against it.
Following the publication of the new Labour Law, Law No. 13/2023, in the Official Gazette on 25 August 2023, businesses and workers alike are gearing up for significant changes in the labour market.
This Law, which repeals the previous Law No. 23/2007, signals a crucial moment in Mozambique's commitment to modernising its workforce regulations in line with current socio-economic and technological advancements.
On 21 February 2024, Mexico introduced new provisions for the registration and renewal process for individuals and legal entities for specialised services and works.
The latest amendments to Mexico's Federal Labour Law, specifically Article 15, are designed to tighten the oversight of specialised services and works within the country.
On 20 December 2023, the Argentine government introduced Decree 70/2023, aimed, among others, at reshaping the employment landscape.
This reform was, however,halted. Trade unions obtained injunctions against the enforcement of the labour chapter and a partial ruling by a labour court has suspended the effects of the new law.
The decision now lies with the national Supreme Court of Justice.
The FPAA Repeal Bill repealed the Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) legislation, was introduced into Parliament on 29 March 2022 and received Royal Assent on 1 November 2022.
On 5 January 2024, the Government enacted the so-called Karin Law (in honour of Karin Bolaños, a worker who tragically took her own life after falling victim to workplace harassment) against workplace harassment.
The law applies to all companies, regardless of size, and includes regulations relevant to the State Administration and its multiple agencies.
It aims to set a legal framework for a safe and healthy work environment, not only punishing workplace and sexual harassment but also preventing them with education and protocols.
Last year, the House of Representatives Member Susana Prieto presented a Bill to constitutionally amend working hours from 48 to 40 hours a week.
In November 2023, members of the Board of the Chamber of Deputies made a series of recommendations and changes to the Bill that returned to the Constitutional Points Committee.
On 15 December, the Mexican Congress closed its final ordinary session for 2023. The Bill will be discussed when the next ordinary session opens in February 2024.
On 17 November 2023, the New York Governor signed Bill S4516 into law.
It amends Section 5-336 of the New York General Obligations Law with immediate effect and further restricts the use of nondisclosure agreements concerning the resolution of employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.
It applies to all agreements signed or entered into after 17 November 2023.
As we reported last May, British Colombia adopted the Pay Transparency Act, which addresses systemic discrimination in the workplace and aims to reduce pay gaps affecting women, people of colour, people with disabilities, and non-binary people.
According to the Act, employers can no longer ask job applicants about what they were paid in previous positions.
From 1 November 2023, all employers in British Columbia must include pay ranges in job postings, prepare reports identifying systemic pay discrimination, and disclose pay information to employees and applicants upon request.
The Pay Transparency Regulation (BC Reg 225/2023) was released on 23 October 2023 and is now in force. It provides details on the mandatory contents of the remuneration transparency reports.
On 18 September 2023, the Government issued Decree No. 70/2023/ND-CP, amending, with immediate effect, Decree No. 152 on foreign employees working in Viet Nam, aiming to streamline the recruitment process of foreign workers.
The bill proposes new provisions in the Employment Rights Act 1996 aiming to give workers on atypical contracts and agency workers the right to request more predictable terms and conditions of work.
In August 2023, the Singapore government accepted the final recommendations of the Tripartite Committee on the proposed Workplace Fairness Legislation (WFL).
The WFL seeks to settle disputes via mediation rather than litigation, maintaining a workplace culture that is harmonious and not litigious.
The government will work with tripartite partners to implement the recommendations into law, which is expected in 2024.
On 4 July 2023, Brazil enacted Law n. 14,611/2023 on equal pay for equal work between women and men.
It is part of a package of gender equality measures announced by the government in March 2023 to tackle discrimination and inequalities in the workplace.
On 15 August 2023, the Costa Rican Congress approved in the first discussion Bill 21.182 to reform the Labour Code, which proposes to change private sector working hours.
It was approved with 32 votes in favour and, if passed, would allow private sector employees to work a '4-3' schedule - 12 hours a day for four days followed by three days off.
On 3 July 2023, Law 85 converting, with amendments, the Decree Law 48/2023 on "Urgent measures for social inclusion and access to employment" was published in the Official Gazette.
It aims to ensure greater flexibility for personnel management, introduces amendments to the discipline of fixed-term employment contracts and simplifies information obligations under the Transparency Decree.
It includes the reporting obligation for work-related mobility of persons, which is plan of the country’s agreement to reduce CO2 emissions.
As of 1 January 2024, organisations with 100 or more employees, who offer them a mobility facility (a financial allowance, reimbursement for public transport, or vehicle), are obliged to report on the business traffic and commuting. Employers with less than 100 employees can report voluntarily.
On 3 July 2023, Decree-Law no. 53/2023 which regulates de Decent Work Agenda was published in the Official Gazette.
Thee Decent Work Agenda, approved by Law no. 13/2023 of 3 April 2023, provides measures to improve working conditions and the conciliation of employees' professional and family lives.
The Decree entered into force on 6 July 2023 and takes effect retroactively since 1 May 2023.
It requires employers with more than 50 employees will have an obligation to have an internal reporting channel to which employees can report misconduct.
It transposes Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on protecting persons who report breaches of EU law (the Whistleblowing Directive).
On 15 May 2023, a new regulation modifying the protection against retaliation of discrimination and violence, moral or sexual harassment at work was published in the Belgian State Gazette.
The new rules, required to comply with the relevant European directives, came into force on 1 June 2023.
The law is the most significant increase in women's political participation in the country's history and an excellent achievement for gender equality in Sierra Leone.
Approval was possible because of the understanding that emancipated women would contribute economically to the family, the community, and the country.
On 10 January 2023, the National Assembly of Ecuador passed the Organic Law to Promote the Violet Economy, aiming to achieve equal treatment and rights between men and women and to prevent and eradicate gender-based violence.
It came into effect on 20 January after its publication in the Official Register.
On 10 May 2023, the Senate approved the Bill drafted by the Executive, amending the provisions of Act 18.566 on collective bargaining in line with ILO recommendations.
On 13 March 2023, the Ontario Government announced a proposal to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and related regulations that would entitle remote employees to termination notices in case of a mass termination.
On 21 February 2023, Spain published in the Official State Journal Law 2/2023 on protecting persons who report breaches of law and combating corruption.
It entered into force on 13 March, transposing Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of 23 October 2019, known as the Whistleblowing Directive.
On 16 March 2023, the government presented to Congress a labour reform bill, described as an ambitious project to improve the conditions and income of workers.
The bill is part of a raft of reforms: it followed the major tax reform last year, and the pension system reform is expected soon.
Both lawmakers and the Constitutional Court must approve it.
Last September, Law No. 14.457/2022 introduced the “Employ + Women Program,” which sets forth a series of measures to promote the employment placement and retention of women in the labour market and actions to prevent and combat sexual harassment and other forms of violence in the workplace.
It also included the employer’s obligation to constitute a CIPA (now called “Internal Committee for Accident Prevention and Harassment”).
The European Whistleblowing Directive has recently been transposed in the Netherlands with the Whistleblowers Protection Act, and in Italy, with Legislative Decree No. 24 of 10 March 2023.
On 20 February 2023, the Spanish Parliament approved modifications to the law on sexual and reproductive health and abortion. The new law - passed by 185 votes in favour to 154 against - includes a new regulation on sick leave due to 'secondary incapacitating menstruation, becoming the first country in Europe to advance such legislation.
On 6 February 2023, New Jersey Governor signed into law Assembly Bill No. A1474 / S511,1, known as the "Temporary Worker Bill of Rights," concerns the employment and protection of temporary labourers.
It aims to eliminate pay disparities and increase oversight of temporary staffing agencies.
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