Market Intelligence

Employers navigating collective redundancy exercises across the Netherlands, Ireland, and Poland face distinct legal frameworks governing redeployment obligations. While Dutch law mandates thorough documentation of alternative role searches as a condition for termination, Irish employers must integrate redeployment considerations into consultation and fair dismissal procedures, and Polish law treats redeployment primarily as a workforce preservation measure implemented through consensual or formal variation

Belgium is set to implement mandatory working time registration by January 2027, following a 2019 European Court of Justice ruling that requires EU Member States to establish objective and reliable systems for measuring employee working hours. A draft bill has been submitted to the National Labour Council, outlining requirements for employers across all sectors while providing specific exemptions for certain employee categories and offering flexibility in implementation methods.

Traditionally, legislation on employment contracts stipulated different notice periods for blue-collar and white-collar workers. The notice periods for blue-collar workers were far shorter...

The OECD projects that by 2054, there will be 55 people aged 65 or over for every 100 people aged 20 to 64, fundamentally reshaping workforce dynamics and employment patterns. As retirement ages rise to 74 in some countries and the working-age population shrinks by 13%, employers face critical decisions about retaining experienced workers, investing in lifelong learning, and adapting workplace practices to support longer careers.

Belgian employers approaching the 50- or 100-worker threshold face a critical decision point: the 2028 social elections may seem distant, but the reference period for calculating workforce averages has already begun. Every hiring and departure between October 2026 and September 2027 directly impacts whether your company must organize mandatory employee representative elections. Understanding these calculations and their strategic implications is essential for workforce planning in the coming months.

Managing workforce restructuring across international borders requires careful navigation of diverse legal frameworks and practical considerations. This comprehensive guide examines the critical dos and don'ts that employers must understand when implementing organizational changes affecting employees in multiple jurisdictions.