Panama
Increases employer social security contributions
Effective from 18th March 2025, Law No. 462 introduces reforms to the CSS – Panama’s Social Security Fund.
Employer social security contributions are set to increase to 13.25%, followed by further rises to 14.25% in March 2027 and 15.25% in March 2029. The employee contribution will remain at 9.7% during this reform.
Source: morimor.com
Germany
Introduces miscarriage leave
Effective from 1st June 2025, employees who suffer a miscarriage after the twelfth week of pregnancy will be entitled to take leave.
Previously, employees who suffered a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy were required to apply for medical leave. Under the new bill, a new paid leave will be introduced to allow female employees to take leave depending on the gestation of the pregnancy:
- Weeks 13 to 16: two weeks of paid miscarriage leave
- Weeks 17 to 19: six weeks of paid miscarriage leave
- Weeks 20 to 23: eight weeks of paid miscarriage leave
During this leave, 13.00 EUR per day is covered by statutory health insurance, with the remaining salary paid by the employer, who can subsequently reclaim this cost from the statutory health insurer.
Source: dip.bundestag.de
Singapore
Amends work permit requirements
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) have introduced changes to it’s Work Permit framework for 2025.
The changes will be tiered as follows:
1st July 2025
- Removal of the maximum employment duration
- Increase of maximum employment age
1st September 2025
- Expansion of the NTS-OL (Non-Traditional Sources Occupational List)
- Minimum qualifying salary will increase for S Pass holders
Sources: heysara.sg / mom.gov.sg
Japan
Lowers Unemployment Insurance contribution
Effective from 1st April 2025, the contribution made for Unemployment Insurance via the Japanese Social Security system will reduce, as declared by the Japan Labor Bureau.
The new rates are as follows:
- Employee: 0.55% down from 0.6%
- Employer: 0.9% down from 0.95%
Source: i-admin.com
Poland
Introduces neonatal care leave
Effective from 19th March 2025, a new law was introduced to provide additional leave for babies born prematurely or are hospitalised following delivery.
The new leave is available in the following situations:
- Babies born before the end of the 28th week of pregnancy or with a birth weight of no more than 1,000 grams – leave of up to 15 weeks is provided.
- Babies born after the 28th week of pregnancy and before the 37th week of pregnancy and with a birth weight of more than 1,000 grams - leave of up to 8 weeks is provided.
- Babies born at full term gestation but hospitalised afterwards – leave of up to 8 weeks is provided.
An additional week of leave will be granted for each week the child spends in hospital.
Leave would need to be requested, and applies to mothers, fathers, legal guardians and also foster and adoptive parents.
Source: gov.pl
Spain
Reduces maximum working hours
A new labour reform has been approved by the Spanish Government to reduce the maximum working hours.
Currently, employees can work a maximum of 40 hours per week. The new reform will cap this to 37.5 hours per week.
Employees will not have to compress working hours or be subject to a reduction of salary. This change is due to take effect by the end of 2025.
Source: euroweeklynews.com
Minimum wage increases from April 2025:
Greece
Effective from 1st April 2025, the minimum salary increases to EUR 880 per month for white collar workers.
Sources: keeptalkinggreece.com / ypergasias.gov.gr
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