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Headline news

France: Gender pay gap decree published A decree confirming the methodology for gender pay gap reporting came into effect on 9 January 2019. The gender pay gap is measured using 5 different criteria (4 in companies with between 50 and 250 employees). Each indicator represents a number of points and companies obtaining less than 75 points out of 100 must take corrective measures or implement financial measures to adjust pay.

China: Important new rules on gender discrimination in force The Chinese Government issued a notice on 18 February 2019, which came into force with immediate effect, setting out important new rules on gender discrimination and the protection of women in the workplace.

Brazil: New President closes the Ministry of Labor On his first day in office on 1 January 2019, Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, issued a provisional measure announcing, among other things, the closure of the Ministry of Labor.

Belgium: Increased dismissal costs as sectors fail to implement employability measures Payment of special social contributions is required on a portion of notice pay with effect from 1 January 2019 in the absence of sector-level employability measures having been implemented.

Italy: Finance Bill 2019: Labour measures in force from 1 January 2019 The Finance Bill introduces various measures which impact on employers including increased penalties aimed at preventing undeclared work and incentives for hiring young employees with higher qualifications.

Germany: Law on right to work part-time and return to work full time in force Under the new law in force from 1 January 2019, employees have the right to work part-time for between 1 and 5 years and return to full-time after the part-time period has expired.

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