Saudi Arabia: Focus on Occupational Health and Safety

Saudi Arabia, together with the other members of The Gulf Cooperation Council, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, are shifting their focus on the importance of occupational health and safety.

Recently, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Labor and Social Development announced a new guideline that will ensure the occupational health and safety of workers. In compliance with the National Strategic Program for Occupational Safety and Health, the new resolution provides employers with a framework to manage all the occupational health and safety issues affecting their employees.

Malaysian Government to Standardize Minimum Wage at RM 1,050

As of January 2019, the minimum monthly wage in Malaysia will be RM 1,050 per month or RM 5.05 per hour. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, the set increase in the minimum wage comes as a result of the country’s economic situation and the figure that was decided upon was proposed by the National Wage Consultative Council.

Vietnam: Foreign Employees Required to Participate In Compulsory Social Insurance

The Vietnamese government issued a ruling on October 15^th, 2018 that highlights a new regulation on compulsory social insurance applicable to all foreign employees, decree No. 143.  Initially, the 2014 Social Insurance Law indicated that international workers only be permitted (not required) to participate in Vietnam’s Social Insurance as of 1^st January 2018.

The vagueness of this regulation is what raised concerns as to the scope of Social Insurance by foreign employees- is it compulsory or is it optional?