Dubai Health Authority Benefit Changes
From 1st January 2022, the Dubai Health Authority has applied enhancements to the minimum requirement of benefits.
The changes to the benefits are as follows:
| Mental Health/Psychiatric Cover | The inclusion of psychiatric treatment under inpatient, outpatient and emergency coverage with a limit of AED 10,000 per year with 20% co-pay on outpatient, per visit. Co-insurance will not apply if there is a follow-up within 7 days. Exclusions related to this have been removed. |
|---|---|
| Alternative Medicine | The inclusion of alternative medicines, homeopathy and ayurveda coverage up to AED 2,500 per year with 20% co-pay on outpatient visits. Co-insurance will not apply if there is a follow-up within 7 days. |
| Influenza Vaccine | The inclusion of mandatory influenza vaccine once per annum. |
| Maternity | Normal delivery maximum benefit increased to AED 10,000 from AED 7,000. |
| Organ Transplant | Exclusion wording amended to: ‘Health services and associated expenses for organ and tissue transplants for donor. This exclusion also applies to follow-up treatments and complications unless if left untreated will develop into an emergency’ |
| Hepatitis | Exclusion wording amended to: ‘Healthcare services for patients suffering from (and related to the diagnosis and treatment of ) HIV – AIDS and its complications and all types of hepatitis except virus A, B and C hepatitis’ |
Source : 46. Regulatory Update.
Greece Individual Pensions
From 1st January 2022, employers must enrol employees into the new Hellenic Auxiliary Pensions Defined Contribution Fund (TEKA).
The new TEKA regime was voted in on 7th September 2021 and is expected to replace the mandatory supplemental scheme named Unified Auxiliary Social Security and Lump Sum Benefits Fund (ETEAEP) in Greece. The change is aimed to ensure better pensions for retirees in the future as well as help sustain the social security system.
New employees from 1st January 2022 will have to be enrolled and covered by the TEKA scheme.
Active employees who are part of the ETEAEP scheme currently, who are aged 35 or under, are voluntarily able to move to TEKA should they wish from January 2023. Employees older than 35 years of age are not currently allowed to make the move to TEKA.
Each employee covered under TEKA will have their own individual pension account which their contributions and investments are paid into.
Employees will be able to choose their investment plan now that the contributions directly impact their pension fund rather than a general account.
The TEKA fund will pay employees a disability pension, survivor’s pension or old age pension should they have at least 15 years of contributions (or will refund the contributions in lieu of a pension where the employee does not have 15 year’s contributions).
Contributions to the TEKA fund are 3.25% from both the employer and employee currently. From May 2022, this is expected to reduce to 3% each.
Source : e--nomothesia-gr / thenationalherald.com
Ireland Sick Pay Expected Changes
Irish Government issued draft Sick Leave Bill 2021 with changes to introduce statutory paid sick leave from early 2022.
Currently in Ireland, employees have no legal right to be paid whilst they are off on sick, unless their employer has a companywide policy regarding company sick pay.
In 2021, the Irish Government issued a draft bill which introduces statutory paid sick leave for up to 3 days from 2022. This legislation is expected to pass early 2022 and be phased in on a four-year plan. The initial plan phase in starts at 3 days in 2022, increasing to 5 days in 2023, 7 days in 2024 and 10 days in 2025.
Employers will be required to pay 70% of the employee’s salary, up to a maximum of EUR 110 per day.
Employees will need to have a minimum of 6 months continuous employment in order to be eligible and will need to be certified by their GP as unfit to work.
Employers should begin preparing for this change by reviewing their budgets, employment contracts, and internal documentation that will need to be updated to reflect the change.
Source : gov.ie