International

New and Updated

• Type:

  International

  Canada: Health and safety

  From 1 September 2026, employers in Manitoba must make menstrual products available to employees in workplace toilets or other accessible locations.

• Type:

  International

  Germany: Pay and benefits

  New information has been added on active pensions. Further, from 1 January 2027, employees may draw an early occupational pension whilst simultaneously receiving a partial statutory pension.

• Type:

  International

  Luxembourg: Updates - key employment law developments

  A new Bill proposes a reform of Luxembourg's external professional redeployment (reclassement professionnel externe) system.

• Type:

  International

  Belgium: Updates - key employment law developments

  Two draft bills would introduce an additional five days’ leave for fathers and co-mothers and create a new annualised hours option for employees.

• Type:

  International

  Belgium: Employee rights

  Gross monthly state benefit amounts payable during parental leave and under the general time credits scheme increase from 1 September 2026.

• Type:

  International

  Global parental leave and pay comparative table

  From 20 August 2026, South Korea allows parents to take short-term parental leave. 

• Type:

  International

  South Korea: Employee rights

  From 20 August 2026, eligible employees can take one or two weeks’ short-term parental leave where childcare is unavailable, with requests generally protected from refusal.

• Type:

  International

  South Korea: Updates - key employment law developments

  South Korea's new short-term parental leave took effect on 20 August 2026, and new proposed reforms cover enhanced fertility treatment leave, the expanded scope of workplace sexual harassment provisions, an exception to rest break requirements, the right to take annual paid leave in hourly units and a new employment equality wage disclosure system.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Employee rights

  Updated following the Supreme Court's decision in Augustine v Data Cars Ltd, which clarifies when part-time workers are protected from less favourable treatment under the statutory rules.

• Type:

  International

  UK: Contracts of employment

  Revised to highlight upcoming "fire and rehire" reforms under the Employment Rights Act, under which many dismissals and re-engagements will become automatically unfair from 1 January 2027.