International

New and Updated

• Type:

  International

  UK: Health and safety

  The maximum weekly rate for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit has been increased for the 2026/27 period.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Termination of employment

  The statutory rates for calculating redundancy pay and compensation for unfair dismissal have been increased from 6 April 2026, and the state pension age will gradually rise.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Contracts of employment

  The lower earnings limit for national insurance purposes, which determines the enforceability of exclusivity clauses in zero hours and low-income contracts, and the weekly pay cap for compensation awards relating to failure to provide a written statement of employment particulars, have both been increased.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Training and development

  From 6 April 2026, new increased rates apply for calculating compensation if an employer fails to comply with the statutory rules on an employee’s request for study or training.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Recruitment and selection

  Job applicants have the right not to be subject to a recruitment decision based solely on automated decision-making involving processing special categories of data, with certain exceptions.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Pay and benefits

  Updated to reflect the 2025/26 national minimum wage rates, the accommodation offset, income tax and national insurance thresholds, statutory sick pay and guarantee payment rates. 

• Type:

  International

  Romania: Updates - key employment law developments

  Employers should closely monitor the progress of the proposed legislation transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, as it will introduce new obligations regarding equal pay and transparent remuneration systems.

• Type:

  International

  Belgium: Pay and benefits

  Changes to the pay indexation scheme and national minimum wage have been introduced, with plans to limit index-linked pay for higher earners and raise the minimum wage rate from 1 April 2026.

• Type:

  International

  Japan: Updates - key employment law developments

  Expanded gender pay gap disclosure obligations apply from 1 April 2026.

• Type:

  International

  Japan: Health and safety

  Employers should take proactive steps to establish appropriate systems and measures to ensure that they can respond properly to consultations from workers receiving medical treatment from April 2026.