Our January update covers the following: We look at the changes in immigration policies as Mainland China downgraded COVID-19 from a Class A to a Class B infection with effect from 8 January 2023. Click here for a summary of the changes. We also continue to receive queries arising out of the new COVID-19 rules … Read more

Our December update covers the following: An update on the draft law to regulate remote working in Thailand. See here for an overview of the proposed changes. In Hong Kong, the Court of Appeal recently confirmed that standby days are not rest days; employees on standby must still be granted proper rest days even if … Read more

Our November update covers the following: an update on the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 in India. As the name suggests, the bill only covers processing of digital personal data. Consider the implications of the bill on employee data here. in Mainland China, we take a look at some examples of non-compete clauses which … Read more

On 5 May 2022, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced its endorsement of the Guidelines on the Mandatory Reference Checking Scheme (respectively, Guidelines and MRC Scheme) issued by the Hong Kong Association of Banks and the DTC Association – just one year after issuing the Consultation Conclusions Paper (covered in our previous bulletin). The MRC Scheme has been launched as an effort … Read more

Our October update covers the following: an update on equal employment regulations in the PRC, including the recent circular addressing discrimination against employees who recovered from COVID-19. Read the update here. in Singapore, the High Court in Kallivalap Praveen Nair v Glaxosmithkline Consumer Healthcare Pte Ltd [2022] SGHC 261 dismissed an employee’s breach of contract … Read more

The Hong Kong District Court has re-confirmed that ‘internal’ injuries suffered by employees are not compensable under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282) (ECO) if they are not caused by an accident that happened at work. This issue arose in a recent Hong Kong District Court decision 馮应培 v CHINA STATE – SHUI ON JOINT … Read more

Our September update covers the following: an update of the visa and travel policies in the PRC. As businesses re-commence international travel, read the latest requirements here.  in Indonesia, we look at the new data protection bill, and what employers need to be grappling with. Click here for that update. in Singapore, we provide an … Read more

An employer agrees to a clause in an employment contract requiring it to pay an employee two years’ salary if it terminates the employee’s employment within the first three years of the contract. Can that employer later terminate the employee and seek to avoid paying the two years’ salary by claiming that the clause is … Read more