August 19, 2022 By: Gwenneth O’Hara, Jonathan Kendrick, Mercedes Martin, and Aaron Elster Over the next decade, the United States, through enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), is primed to make a $369 billion investment in clean energy and climate change programs ...
Dear valued clients, colleagues and friends, On 12 August 2022, the much-anticipated Employment (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2022 was gazetted and it will come into force with effect from 1 September 2022. These amendments are far reaching as the scope of the Employment Act 1955 will now cover all employees, regardless of their monthly wages ...
August 17, 2022 By: Gwenneth O’Hara, Nora Sheriff and Christopher Parker President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (HR 5376) (the Act) into law on August 16, 2022. This update provides a high level overview of the Act’s incentives for the energy sector. We have published a separate update regarding the Act’s energy storage incentives. The Act provides $750 billion for a range of issues, including $400 billion for energy and climate ...
According to Thai labour laws, an employer is empowered to terminate an employee’s employment at its will, except for members of the Employee Committee which requires a court order for dismissal. However, the consequences of dismissal with and without statutory causes under the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (the “Labour Protection Act”) will be different in terms of the statutory payments for which the employer is legally required to pay the employee ...
August 16, 2022 By: Gwenneth O’Hara and Samir Hafez President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (HR 5376) (the Act) into law on August 16, 2022, after the Senate-passed bill sailed through the House of Representatives last week on August 12. The Act includes a range of incentives and tax credits aimed towards accelerating the production of emissions-free energy, and is largely seen as a win for the energy storage sector ...
Our latest article provides a useful checklist to help in-house legal teams consider potential implications when dealing with employment claims arising from the pandemic, which are linked to civil and/or criminal claims and the COVID-19 public inquiry. Companies have been receiving Employment Tribunal claims arising from the pandemic – ranging from unfair dismissal (no jab, no job) to whistleblowing and bullying claims relating to alleged employer breaches during the multiple lockdowns ...
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") recently updated its guidance in July of 2022. According to the new guidance, the COVID-19 pandemic no longer automatically meets the business necessity requirement for medical examinations i.e. COVID-19 testing. This means that employers are now required to conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether COVID testing is warranted based on "evolving pandemic circumstances ...
Peerasanti Somritutai, partner was invited to be a speaker at the Legal Vision Asia Pacific on the topic of Thailand During the Pandemic: Employers’ Consideration, a vlog series organized by the World Services Group (WSG). He provides insight on measures employers have implemented to protect employees and minimize redundancy in Thailand. And, address procedures for remote and in-office work arrangements based on latest government and legislative changes ...
The Supreme Court has ruled that any worker or employee who works for part of the year but has been employed on a continuing contract must receive 5.6 weeks’ leave at full pay. This means they will likely receive proportionately more annual leave and pay than their full-year counterparts. Employers cannot pro-rate a worker’s statutory holiday allowance to reflect the number of weeks they actually work ...
With the next August public holiday on the horizon, we look at what can be a complicated area in calculating bank holiday entitlement for individuals who work part-time and/or on compressed hours. Under the Working Time Directive (WTD), which is now retained EU law, a worker has the right to a minimum of 4 weeks’ annual leave (or 20 days for a full-time worker). The Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR), which implement the WTD into UK law, provide an additional 1 ...
On August 2, Law No. 21,472 was published, which creates a tariff stabilization fund and establishes a new transitional electricity price stabilization mechanism for customers subject to price regulation. This new law complements the stabilization mechanism established in Law 21.185 (known today as PEC 1), whose stabilization fund of US$1.35 billion was exhausted ahead of schedule ...
Year 2022 has included several significant legislative reforms in the field of employment law. Now is the time to look at some of these legislative changes that are coming our way ...
On July 19, 2022, the Court of Claims ordered that the current Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (minimum wage) and Michigan Paid Medical Leave Act (paid leave) are void and reinstated the original ballot initiatives. However, employers do not need to overhaul their policies just yet because the ruling is stayed until February 19, 2023. Pending the outcome of appeal, these changes may not go into effect at all ...
This seminar included panel discussions with Labor attorneys covering federal and state case updates and new laws since January 2022. The introduction and "housekeeping" for the seminar can be viewed here. Download the full PowerPoint presentation for all sessions » Eyes Wide Shut: Seeing Past Unconscious Bias » Most people think that if they are smart or aware, they can avoid unconscious bias entirely—but this is the wrong approach ...
On June 21, 2022, the government adopted Resolution No. 702 , which regulates the procedure for receiving partial unemployment benefits. From now on , self-employed persons and employees who have lost part of their income can count on assistance from the state. However, it should be noted that it is not the employee, but the employer who should seek help ...
A summary of the key takeaways from a recent webinar on reducing scope 3 emissions: Fuel and Energy-Related Activities. Shoosmiths is delighted to be sponsoring United Nation Global Compact Network (UNGC) UK’s series of webinars on ‘Reducing Scope 3 Emissions’ ...
We would like to share with you the most recent updates regarding the draft Power Development Plan (“PDP”) VIII, a mechanism for wind, solar power projects in transition and future, and the police investigation into 62 wind power projects. PDP VIII UPDATE Following the report of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (“MOIT”) to the Prime Minister under official letter no ...
Dr Christine Calleja and Dr Warren Ciantar, in collaboration with 21 Malta, delivered a one hour presentation on the new rights introduced by the Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers Regulations, on Wednesday 20th July 2022. The main rights to be introduced by the Regulations will be paid paternal leave, partly paid parental leave and unpaid carer’s leave ...
The Supreme Court has handed down its decision in the claim of Harpur Trust v Brazel, which may have a significant impact on employers of part-year workers. Background Under the Working Time Regulations (“WTR”), workers are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks’ annual leave and to be paid holiday pay at a rate of a week’s pay ...
Law 12/2022 of 11 July Law 12/2022 of 11 July (the “New Electricity Law”) has now been published and it establishes the new general organisation of the electricity sector and the legal rules for electricity supply activities ...
