In this first edition of 2023, a double edition, we examine international developments on widely debated topics, such as sustainable development, platform work, work-life balance and teleworking, minimum wages, and health and well-being at work.
Among the issues highlighted are findings from recently published reports from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Eurofound, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Their key findings and outcomes collectively provide an overall assessment of the trends mentioned earlier, their development and possible actions that labour market actors can take.
In other news, the social partners in the Arab countries confirmed their commitment to support the transition from the informal to the formal economy within the Solifem Project. In Portugal, a tripartite agreement was signed to improve wages and strengthen the competitiveness of companies.
Numerous legislative innovations are included in this edition: the so-called Labour Deal has been published in Belgium. In Australia, a Bill to protect human rights and discrimination has passed, and legislation has been enacted in the USA to extend workplace protection for pregnant and breastfeeding workers.
Also, in France, the legislative process for the labour market operation law was completed. At the same time, Hungary took the opportunity to carry out a broader reform in labour law, transposing the European directives on transparency and work-life balance. Finally, in Indonesia, the Job Creation Law, already ruled unlawful by the Constitutional Court, was replaced by a new law.
The reported case-law decisions cover topics ranging from sexual harassment and the employer's obligations to using GPS data for disciplinary purposes to the legal and fiscal nature of vouchers paid to employees.
At the national level, resolutions were adopted on the management of work-related accidents in the United Arab Emirates and guidelines on the monitoring of employees in the case of remote work in Israel.
In Ireland, a survey reveals the level of dissemination and awareness of environmental, social and governance policies and company remuneration systems. In Italy, the Ministry of Labour has clarified the gender equality certification process for companies and access to related benefits. In Uganda, the employers' association surveyed pandemic-induced changes in the workplace, and we examine the results and possible strategies for the future.
We also report on several corporate initiatives, including a new integrative contract with a significant expansion of work-life balance measures, a job-sharing app in Europe, developing employees' digital skills, and adopting company Work Councils.