International Manual Updated for 10 Countries

Author: Michael Cardman, XpertHR Legal Editor

The following changes were recently made to several country guides in our International Manual:

• Belgium: Updated and new information added on work permits required by Bulgarian, Romanian and Croatian nationals.
• China: Updated information on minimum and maximum amounts for social insurance contributions in Beijing.
• Denmark: New information added on temporary agency workers.
• France: Updated information on: foreign nationals; variation of contracts; informing and consulting employees generally and prior to redundancies; and dismissal on economic grounds. New information added on: collective policies reimbursing employee supplementary medical costs; right to request a period of "secured voluntary mobility"; future rules on part-time work; "personal training accounts," which will replace the DIF scheme in 2014; prohibited conduct because of employee refusal to transfer to a country where homosexuality is a criminal offense; requirement to hold negotiations on GPEC in certain circumstances; board-level employee representation; and employment-maintenance agreements.
• Germany: Updated information on: minimum thresholds for certain deductions from pay; and minimum wage rates for workers (including posted workers) in elderly care services.
• Greece: Updated information on new National General Collective Agreement for 2013.
• Ireland: Updated information on the status of Registered Employment Agreements.
• Netherlands: Updated information on the statutory minimum wage rate.
• Poland: Updated information on maternity and pregnancy rights.
• South Africa: Updated information on the earnings threshold.