ARTICLE · 19 MAY 2025

Global HR Law Guide Update: Working Hours

Ius Laboris

Explore more from Ius Laboris

Our Global HR Law Guide takes you through the legal aspects of the entire employment journey, with 16 chapters covering recruitment...

WorldwideEmployment and HR

Ius Laboris

Our Global HR Law Guide takes you through the legal aspects of the entire employment journey, with 16 chapters covering recruitment through pensions in over 50 countries. It is a valuable tool for HR and in-house counsel.

Stay informed and compliant with the latest Working Hours regulations in over 50 countries outlined in Chapter 2 of our Global HR Law Guide.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Related Articles

Getting Restructuring Right In Australia And New Zealand: FAQs For Employers

WorldwideEmployment and HR

Americas Quarterly Newsletter, August 2026

WorldwideEmployment and HR

APAC Quarterly Newsletter, August 2026

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Youth In The Digital Age: Challenges And Opportunities

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Falling Asleep At Work After The World Cup Final: Could This Justify Disciplinary Action?

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Read more about

Employment and HR
- Employee Benefits & Compensation
- Retirement, Superannuation & Pensions

Related Comparative Guides

Comparative Guide

Employee Incentives

Comparative Guide

Technology Outsourcing

See more popular content from

Employment and HRIus Laboris

Getting Restructuring Right In Australia And New Zealand: FAQs For Employers

Employers planning workforce reductions in Australia and New Zealand face distinct legal frameworks that require careful navigation. While both jurisdictions mandate genuine business reasons and employee consultation, critical differences in timing, process requirements, and redeployment obligations can significantly impact restructuring outcomes. Understanding these nuances is essential for organizations managing cross-border redundancy programs to minimize legal risk and operational disruption.

WorldwideEmployment and HR

Americas Quarterly Newsletter, August 2026

This regional report examines recent labour law changes across the Americas, highlighting key developments in workforce planning, employment status classification, and regulatory reforms. From Argentina's new hiring incentives to working time reductions in Brazil and Mexico, discover how these legislative shifts are reshaping employment practices and compliance requirements throughout the region.

WorldwideEmployment and HR

APAC Quarterly Newsletter, August 2026

Explore key employment law updates shaping the business landscape across the APAC region, including labour reforms, AI regulation, expanded employee protections, and significant court decisions that are transforming workplace practices throughout Asia-Pacific.

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Youth In The Digital Age: Challenges And Opportunities

As digital transformation accelerates and AI reshapes the workplace, young workers face mounting challenges in acquiring relevant skills and securing entry-level positions. This analysis examines how technological evolution, remote work dynamics, and AI-driven recruitment are creating new barriers for youth employment, while highlighting innovative government initiatives across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific that are helping bridge the digital skills gap.

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Falling Asleep At Work After The World Cup Final: Could This Justify Disciplinary Action?

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup captivates fans worldwide, employers across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg face a unique workplace challenge: employees arriving exhausted after late-night matches. This analysis examines whether falling asleep at work due to World Cup-related fatigue constitutes grounds for immediate dismissal, exploring the legal frameworks and thresholds for gross misconduct in each jurisdiction. The article also addresses critical data protection risks that arise when fatigued employ

BelgiumEmployment and HR

New Flemish Fee For Single Permit Applications From 1 September 2026

Starting September 1, 2026, employers in the Flemish Region will face a new EUR 180 fee for each single permit application, adding to the existing federal charge and bringing the total cost to EUR 332 per application. This regional retribution covers administrative processing costs and applies to both initial applications and renewals, with no refunds for refused applications. Employers planning to submit applications should consider doing so before the September deadline to avoid the additional expense.

BelgiumEmployment and HR

Extreme Heat At Work: What Global Employers Need To Know

Extreme heat is becoming a regular workplace risk across many jurisdictions, creating both operational and legal challenges for employers. This comprehensive guide consolidates insights from a four-part series examining maximum working temperature limits, practical employer measures, dress code adaptations, and employee rights to refuse work in dangerous heat conditions.

BelgiumEmployment and HR

EU Pay Transparency Directive: Which Countries Have Transposed?

The EU Pay Transparency Directive mandates that employers with over 100 workers regularly report detailed gender pay gap information, with strict timelines to address disparities of 5% or more. The Directive also grants employees and job candidates significant pay transparency rights, including access to salary ranges and comparative pay data. This interactive map tracks the transposition status of the Directive across European Member States as the June 2026 deadline approaches.

European UnionEmployment and HR

Productivity Drops During The World Cup: What Can Employers Do?

As the FIFA World Cup captivates audiences worldwide, employers across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg face a common challenge: maintaining workplace productivity while employees follow the tournament. This analysis examines how employment law in these three jurisdictions addresses World Cup-related workplace disruptions and explores practical strategies for balancing business continuity with employee engagement during major sporting events.

WorldwideEmployment and HR

Managing Restructurings In APAC: Legal, Practical And People Considerations

Restructuring exercises in Malaysia, Singapore and India require careful attention to legal compliance, employee communication and procedural fairness. Through analysis of recent case law including Lazada, AirAsia X and Salunkhe decisions, this article examines how poor execution can trigger regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage and costly reinstatement orders.

WorldwideEmployment and HR

Spain’s Draft Pay Transparency Directive Transposition: What Employers Need To Know

Spain has released its draft Royal Decree to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive, introducing new obligations for employers including employee pay information requests, enhanced pay gap reporting thresholds, and strengthened job evaluation requirements. While the draft goes beyond certain Directive requirements and under-implements others, employers should begin preparations immediately as the legislation could take effect with minimal notice following publication in the Official Gazette.

SpainEmployment and HR

Getting Restructuring Right In Australia And New Zealand: FAQs For Employers

Employers planning workforce reductions in Australia and New Zealand face distinct legal frameworks that require careful navigation. While both jurisdictions mandate genuine business reasons and employee consultation, critical differences in timing, process requirements, and redeployment obligations can significantly impact restructuring outcomes. Understanding these nuances is essential for organizations managing cross-border redundancy programs to minimize legal risk and operational disruption.

WorldwideEmployment and HR

What Should Employers Look For When Choosing A Workplace Investigator? (Video)

When workplace investigations arise, the choice of investigator can determine whether the process builds trust or creates further complications. Understanding the essential qualities that make an investigator effective—from independence and legal expertise to empathy and credibility—is crucial for employers navigating sensitive workplace matters.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Americas Quarterly Newsletter, August 2026

This regional report examines recent labour law changes across the Americas, highlighting key developments in workforce planning, employment status classification, and regulatory reforms. From Argentina's new hiring incentives to working time reductions in Brazil and Mexico, discover how these legislative shifts are reshaping employment practices and compliance requirements throughout the region.

WorldwideEmployment and HR

APAC Quarterly Newsletter, August 2026

Explore key employment law updates shaping the business landscape across the APAC region, including labour reforms, AI regulation, expanded employee protections, and significant court decisions that are transforming workplace practices throughout Asia-Pacific.

BelgiumEmployment and HR

New rules enacted in India as it inches closer to landmark labour reform

India has notified the Central Rules under all four Labour Codes, bringing the country's historic labour law reform closer to implementation. While state-level rules are still being finalised, employers must prepare for new compliance requirements spanning wages, social security, industrial relations, and occupational health and safety.

IndiaEmployment and HR

The world court has spoken: What the ICJ’s ‘Right to Strike’ opinion means for Australian employers

The International Court of Justice has issued a landmark advisory opinion confirming that the right to strike is protected under ILO Convention No. 87, a treaty Australia ratified in 1973. While this opinion doesn't immediately change Australian domestic law, it creates a significant new reference point that unions may leverage in litigation, enterprise bargaining, and industrial relations reform discussions. Australian employers face potential challenges to existing Fair Work Act restrictions on protected

AustraliaEmployment and HR

AI Opportunity Inequality: The Next Gender Pay Gap?

As artificial intelligence reshapes work in the UK and beyond, employers must rethink the gender pay gap as an issue of access to opportunity, not just pay. This analysis explores how unequal access to AI tools, training and career development may widen existing inequalities, and what organisations should do to prevent an emerging 'AI opportunity gap'.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

AI Regulation In The US: The New State Laws Employers Can’t Ignore

As US state legislatures conclude their 2026 sessions, artificial intelligence regulation has transitioned from an emerging policy area to a mainstream compliance obligation. This comprehensive analysis examines the patchwork of enacted AI legislation across consumer transparency, healthcare, and employment sectors, revealing what businesses operating across state lines must prioritize in the second half of the year.

United StatesEmployment and HR

When Crisis Hits: Practical Readiness Tips For Global Employers

International crises demand rapid, values-driven decision-making from employers managing cross-border workforces. Drawing on expert insights from crisis management, geopolitical risk, security operations and communications professionals, this guidance explores how organisations can strengthen their preparedness through strategic planning, clear governance structures and effective stakeholder engagement when facing geopolitical conflicts, civil unrest or security incidents.

United KingdomEmployment and HR