On 22 February 2024, the Supreme Court of New South Wales dismissed a negligence claim in a workplace slip incident.
The Court found that the company had taken reasonable precautions to ensure safety and that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the accident resulted from their negligence. This emphasizes the importance of evidence in establishing negligence and the inherent safety of workplace conditions.
On 24 May 2024, the Council of the European Union (EU) finalised the adoption of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, which the European Commission initially proposed on 23 February 2022.
The Directive mandates that companies identify and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts within their operations and global value chains.
It applies to EU and non-EU companies, including parent companies with a turnover exceeding EUR 450 million.
On 27 March 2024, Austria published legislation transposing the European Transparency Directive into national law after some delay from the original EU deadline of 1 August 2022.
This new legislation came into force on 28 March 2024 and applies to employment relationships established after that date.
It introduces changes to existing labour laws to enhance transparency and employee rights.
These revisions respond to recent technological advancements and address challenges related to privacy, intellectual property rights, safety, and information integrity.
International Organisation of Employers recently published a policy review providing employers’ organsations with guidelines on issues to assess when integrating this technology into business operations.
On 6 March 2024, South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced significant amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA Enforcement Act).
The amendments, effective 15 March 2024, introduce new rights for data subjects, stricter requirements for Chief Privacy Officers (CPOs), and enhanced obligations for data processors regarding overseas transfers and liability insurance.
On 12 March 2024, the PIPC published guidelines for the PIPA Enforcement Decree amendments.
These changes aim to strengthen data protection and ensure that companies processing personal data adhere to higher standards of transparency and accountability.
On 30 April 2024, the Hong Kong government announced significant changes to the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) review mechanism, marking the first substantial update since its introduction 13 years ago.
This change follows a comprehensive study conducted in January 2023 to enhance protection for grassroots employees.
The government seeks to balance fair wages and economic stability, ensuring that the lowest-paid workers benefit from economic prosperity without compromising job security.