Asia: Probationary Periods

On 3 March 2026, Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng announced that Singapore will raise its statutory retirement age to 64 and re‑employment age to 69 with effect from 1 July 2026.

Singapore's Employment Claims Tribunal has published its first twelve written decisions since 2019, establishing five fundamental principles that reshape employer obligations beyond mere contractual compliance.

On 3 March 2026, Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng announced that Singapore will raise its statutory retirement age to 64 and re‑employment age to 69 with effect from 1 July 2026.

Singapore's rapid economic development since it gained independence in 1965 is well documented. This economic success, combined with the country's lightly regulated business environment...

This change announced by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MoM), is applicable to new Employment Pass applicants.

Multinational employers managing payroll across Asia face significant compliance complexity due to varying social security frameworks. This comparative analysis examines the key differences in worker coverage, contribution rates, and compliance requirements across five major jurisdictions. Understanding these distinctions is essential for organizations navigating cross-border employment obligations in the region.

Sick leave entitlements across South-East Asia vary significantly by jurisdiction, creating compliance challenges for regional employers. This analysis examines the contrasting statutory frameworks governing paid sick leave in Malaysia and Singapore, highlighting critical differences in how entitlements accrue, when they apply, and what employers must track to ensure compliance with each country's employment laws.

The Shared Parental Leave (SPL) scheme in Singapore allows both parents to share the responsibility of caregiving for a newborn child.

Singapore has taken a significant step toward strengthening protections against workplace discrimination with the passing of the second Workplace Fairness bill on 4 November 2025.

It is not uncommon for employers to offer prospective employees flexible remuneration schemes in addition to base salary.

As a result of operational constraints related to the enhanced social media vetting of H-1B and H-4 visa applicants that will go into effect on December 15, 2025, U.S. consulates in India have begun automatically...

On January 12, 2026, President Trump announced via Truth Social: "[e]ffective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay...

On September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump signed into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (Act), a significant package of sanctions, trade restrictions and related measures...

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today issued Russia-related General License 135 (GL 135), “Authorizing Transactions Related to the Sale, Delivery...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that will shift the H-1B cap registration selection process from a random lottery to a weighted selection process...

China has a VAT rebate system that reduces the 13% domestic value-added tax (VAT) on certain exported goods.

On August 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule that would impose a $103,265 fee on all cap-subject H-1B petitions.

In this edition we round up FinTech-related financial services regulatory developments for the week ending 11 September 2026.

Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an order granting a five-year exemption from registration as a national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934...

SIAC Annual Report 2025: Key Statistics, Trends, and Takeaways for International Arbitration Practitioners