Industrial Relations and Labour Law

The Filipino House of Representatives approved a series of Bills related to the pandemic and having important repercussions on employers

• The largest free-trade area in the world was launched on January 2021 after only 5 years from the beginning of negotiations
• The agreement is expected to favour investments, decrease poverty and increase jobs

• The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) promotes the economic recovery
• UCCAEP advocates for the approval of the loan from the IMF, to be accompanied by measures that allow for economic recovery, support for the private sector, job creation and a reduction of informality levels

• Following allegation of corruption in a public health insurance company, a bipartite institution requested the Government to halt the annual increase on the health contribution;
• It also requested the Government for the suspension in the rise of social security contributions. 

• The German Federal Labour Court (No. 9 AZR 102/201, 1 December 2020) re-classified the crowdworker as an employee
• It determined also that for remuneration purposes, the company shall not be bound by pre-established fees that the worker received as a self-employed worker. 

• The European Union and the UK were able to conclude a trade and cooperation agreement to regulate their future relationship
• This agreement will have important repercussions on employment law. It has also consequences on the social security regimes and bilateral agreements

• Changes to the labour codes aim at promoting harmonious industrial relations, higher productivity and employment creation, and increase the workers coverage by social security.
• They also aspire to facilitate businesses in terms of licensing and permit requirements.

• A new “corridor” is established with the National Social Security institution to better support CGEM members on specific problems related to social security