Canada introduces a new federal holiday: the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Canada has introduced a new federal holiday: the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which will be observed on 30 September. On 3 June, 2021, Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) (the ‘Act’), received royal assent. The provisions come into force on 3 August 2021. The…

Ireland moves one step closer to introducing statutory sick pay

The Irish government has announced more details of its mandatory sick pay scheme. The new law will give employees in Ireland a right to sick pay for the first time from 2022. Currently Ireland is one of three EU member states to have no sick pay at all. In its latest announcement, the Irish government confirmed that it has approved the drafting of the General Scheme of…

India’s labour reforms: what will change and what happens next?

In this article first published in the India Business Law Journal, VIjay Ravi of Ius Laboris firm Kochhar & Co analyses the key provisions of four new Indian Labour Codes relating to wages and employment conditions, social security, trade unions and occupational health. The scales of justice reflect the challenges facing law-makers in the context of labour and employment laws. Balancing the interests of employers…

The new gender pay gap proposals in Brazil: what they may mean for employers

Under new gender pay gap proposals in Brazil, employers would face heavier penalties for failing to pay men and women equally. This article explains. On 30 March, the Brazilian Senate approved a legislative bill applying a new sanction to cases where organisations have a gender pay gap without a non-discriminatory reason. If approved by the President, the bill would increase the penalties but will not…

Paid leave for vaccination: New York’s new Vaccine Leave Law

From 12 March, employees in New York State are entitled to four hours’ paid leave to enable them to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Executive summary On 12 March 2021, New York State enacted an amendment to the New York Labor Law and the New York Civil Service Law, which provides for four hours of paid leave time, per injection, to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination. The…