Against the backdrop of climate change and the increasing health and safety challenge of preventing heat-related risks at work, France has introduced a new decree reinforcing the obligations on employers to prevent these risks. We explore the new framework below. The Decree was published on 27 May 2025 and reflects the intentions of the French government for increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves to form an integral part of the risk assessment and prevention measures that…
Employers in Poland have a duty to uphold employee dignity and maintain an ethical work environment. Tolerating discriminatory behaviour at work violates those obligations. Not only could this be reputationally damaging, but it could also result in criminal liability. We explore the key issues below. According to a 2019 survey conducted by CBOS, 12% of people experienced hate speech at work. This is defined as a statement that offends others…
The use of workplace artificial intelligence (‘AI’) is becoming increasingly commonplace for employers in Germany. It can bring significant benefits to HR by increasing efficiency and saving costs. However, it is essential that any AI system does not discriminate against applicants or employees, otherwise employers could be liable. We explore the issues below. An AI system is defined under the EU’s AI Act as a “[…] machine-based…
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme contains mandatory refusal grounds triggered by criminal convictions and other factors. Refusal can have significant implications for both applicants and organisations and so legal advice may be required. We take a look at these complex ETA cases below, and set out how the alliance can assist with our UK law firm’s new ETA service. The UK’s ETA scheme…
Summer is nearly here and so it is important for employers in Norway to start planning for their team’s holiday, if they haven’t already. It can be costly for employers if employees do not take their statutory holiday entitlement. We explore the details below. Holiday planning and management The clear starting point according to the Norwegian Holiday Act (the ‘Act’) is that the employer has…
On 16 April 2025, the so-called ‚Stop the Clock‘ Directive was published. It postpones the application dates of certain provisions contained in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (‚CSRD‘) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (‚CS3D‘). We explore the details below. The purpose of the Stop the Clock Directive is to make the implementation of EU regulatory obligations regarding environmental and social sustainability more gradual and realistic, taking into account the operational needs and timeframes of companies for implementation. Member States must transpose the Directive by 31…
Collective dismissal, particularly the involvement of trade unions in the process, has long been controversial in Brazil. Following recent labour reforms and court decisions, the Supreme Court is set to rule again, with a new proposal addressing AI concerns potentially altering the framework further. We explore these key developments and compare insights from other countries on collective redundancies. When it comes to the involvement of…
India’s Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 (and its many amendments) seeks to secure social justice to workmen but are there ways in which it can be misused? We take a look at Section 17B and the duty to pay wages during appeals. Section 17B gives protection to workmen who have obtained an award from the Labour Court, Industrial Tribunal or National Tribunal that sets aside…
On 21 March 2025, the New Federal Law for the Protection of Personal Data in Possession of Private Parties came into effect, superseding and repealing the prior data protection law. The new data protection law revises a number of definitions and makes several important changes to how the data protection rules will be administered and enforced. Below are some of the key modifications. Consent requirements The new law mandates that consent for data processing…
The minimum wage in Greece has increased, effective from the beginning of this month. We take a look at the exact amount of the increase, together with its broader impact on the Greek employment system. In the spirit of the key minimum wage provision in Greek law and taking into account the state of the Greek economy and its prospects for growth, the Ministry of…