Canada
Introduces additional sick leave
Within Nova Scotia, the Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act under the Labour Standards code was amended from 1st January 2025.
Employees will now be entitled to an additional 5 days of unpaid leave for their own sickness meaning they will be entitled to a maximum of 8 days of unpaid leave.
Employees who are diagnosed with a serious illness or injury will be entitled to up to 27 weeks of leave within any 52-week period. Employees are required to have a minimum of 3 months’ service with their employer. The leave does not have to be taken consecutively, however must be at least 1 week in length.
Source: novascotia.ca
Introduces additional leaves within Ontario
The Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 received royal assent on 19th December 2024.1
This act provides a number of changes that impact statutes within the Employment Standards Act 2000, The Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act 1997. Key highlights include:
- Unpaid parental leave for 16 weeks is introduced for employees who become parents via adoption or surrogacy
- Long-term illness leave of up to 27 weeks for employees with a serious medical condition diagnosed by a medical practitioner. This applies from 19th June 2025.2
Sources: ola.org1 / news.ontario.ca2
China
Introduces two additional public holidays
Effective from January 2025, two additional public holidays have been added annually in China.
The Spring festival will be extended from 3 day to 4 days, encompassing the Chinese Lunar New Year. 2nd May will also be added to extend the May Bank Holiday from 1 day to 2 days.
Source: gov.cn
Singapore
Increases the Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions and thresholds
From 1st January, the salary ceiling used to calculate CPF contributions of ordinary wages (OW) will increase to SGD 7,400 per month.
Contributions for those aged over 55 will also increase:
- Those aged 55 to 60 will increase by 0.5% for the employer, taking the contribution to 15.5% and 1% for the employee, raising the contribution to 17%
- Those aged 60 to 65 will increase by 0.5% for the employer, raising the contribution to 12% and increasing the employee contribution by 1% will see a raise to 11.5% being contributed
Source: cpf.gov.sg
France
Increases the social security ceiling
From January 2025, the social security ceiling will increase.
The monthly limit will be EUR 3,925, meaning the daily limit will be EUR 216. These are the maximum amounts that will be used to calculate social security contributions.
Source: legifrance.gouv.fr
Hungary
Introduces changes to the Széchenyi Recreation (SZEP) Card
Announced following a government decree on 9th December 2024, changes are being made to the SZEP card for 2025.
Some of the high-level changes for 2025 include:
- An increase in the annual limit of HUF 120,000 to allow another sub-account to be opened for sports and lifestyle services
- The annual limit of HUF 450,00 will apply to the accommodation section of the card and up to 50% of this can be used for house renovations from 2025
From January 2025, SZEP cards must be issued as a plastic payment card and in a digitised format that can be used on a mobile device which allows payments.
Source: rsm.hu
Slovakia
Introduces sports activity contribution for employees’ children
A new law has been introduced from the 1st January 2025.
Employers with over 49 employees will be required to provide contribution for their employee’s children’s sport activities. The annual contribution will be capped at EUR 275 per employee, regardless of the number of children and is to cover 55% of the expenses.1
Should the employee work part-time, their benefit will be pro-rated. Employers with less than 50 employees have the option to voluntarily provide this contribution.
To ascertain if an employer is required to provide the contribution, the previous calendar years average headcount is used.2
Sources: enrsi.rtvs.sk1 / shoenherr.eu2
Minimum wage increases from January 2025
Colombia
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Columbia increases to COP 1,423,500 from COP 1,300,000. This is a 9.5% increase.
Source: presidencia.gov.co
Ecuador
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Ecuador is increasing from USD 460 to USD 470.
Source: orbitax.com
Mexico
Effective from 1st January, the daily minimum wage in Mexico will increase to MXN 278.80 across most of the country. In Mexico’s northern border free zone, the minimum daily wage will increase to MXN 419.88.
Source: gob.mx
South Korea
Effective from 1st January, the following minimum wages apply in South Korea:
- Hourly – KRW 10,030
- Daily – KRW 80,240
- Monthly – KRW 2,096,270
Source: minimumwage.go.kr
Estonia
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Estonia will increase to EUR 886, and the hourly minimum wage will increase to EUR 5.31.
Source: news.err.ee
Germany
Effective from 1st January, the hourly minimum wage in Germany will increase to EUR 12.82.
Source: bundesregierung.de
Luxembourg
Effective from 1st January, Luxembourg has increased the monthly minimum wage in the following age groups:
- EUR 2,637.76 (EUR 15.25 per hour) for employees aged over 18
- EUR 2,110.23 (EUR 12.20 per hour) for employees aged 17 to 18
- EUR 1,978.35 (EUR 11.44 per hour) for employees aged 15 to 17
For qualified employees whose profession fulfils the criteria of Article L. 222-4 of the Labour Code, the social minimum is set at EUR 3,165.35 per month.
Source: luxtoday.lu
Malta
Effective from 1st January, the weekly minimum wage in Malta will increase to:
- EUR 221.78 per week for employees aged 18 and over
- EUR 215.00 per week for 17 year-olds
- EUR 212.16 per week for those aged under 17
Source: dfkmalta.com
The Netherlands
Effective from 1st January, the hourly minimum wages in the Netherlands will increase to:
- EUR 14.06 for those aged over 21
- EUR 11.25 for 20-year olds
- EUR 8.44 for 19-year-olds
- EUR 7.03 for 18-year-olds
- EUR 5.55 for 17-year-olds
- EUR 4.85 for 16-year-olds
- EUR 4.22 for 15-year-olds
Source: rijksoverheid.nl
Poland
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Poland will increase to PLN 4,666 or PLN 30.50 per hour.
Source: poland-accounting.eu
Portugal
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Portugal will rise to EUR 870, increasing from the previous wage of EUR 820.
Source: portugal.gov.pt
Romania
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Romania will increase from RON 3,700 to RON 4,050. This is a 9.5% increase.
Source: romania-insider.com
Minimum wage increases from April 2025
Jersey
Effective from 1st January, the monthly minimum wage in Columbia increases to COP 1,423,500 from COP 1,300,000. This is a 9.5% increase.
Source: gov.je
Reminders
France
Applicable from 1st January 2025, profit share is introduced for businesses with headcounts of 11 or more.
NFP's guide to international employee benefits
With more benefits, reward and HR professionals taking on multinational responsibilities, our team of experienced international benefits consultants have created this guide to share their insight into the key aspects of running a successful international benefits programme.
In the comprehensive guide, you'll learn
- What to consider when designing your global benefits strategy
- How to identify the right benefits and provider(s) to deliver them
- How to efficiently run your global benefits programme
- How to review and maintain oversight of your programme
Helping you cut through the complexity of global employee benefits management
Our specialists make streamlining your global employee benefits strategies simple. Our network of trusted partners on the ground understand how to work with the local decision makers and our consultants will help you keep pace with local employee benefits benchmarking within your industry as well as the ever changing market in each country you operate.