This guide serves as a practical reference for companies looking to hire employees in multiple countries.
As businesses increasingly operate across multiple jurisdictions, whether through direct market entry, international expansion, or remote work arrangements, they face an intricate web of employment law requirements. This comprehensive guide provides detailed practical guidance for managing employment relationships, addressing the full lifecycle of employment from hiring through termination.
Core Coverage Areas
- Operational Requirements: Corporate presence requirements, payroll setup, immigration compliance
- Employment Lifecycle: Hiring practices, contracts, benefits, working time, leave entitlements
- Risk Management: Terminations, business transfers, mass layoffs, post-termination restrictions
- Compliance Framework: Data privacy, whistleblower protection, discrimination laws
- Employee Relations: Works councils, union relationships, collective bargaining requirements
Jurisdiction-Specific Guidance
The guide focused on 63 different jurisdictions. For each country, the guide provides detailed analysis of local requirements including:
- Legal system, currency, language
- Corporate presence requirements & payroll set-up
- Pre-hire checks
- Immigration
- Hiring options
- Employment contracts & policies
- Language requirements
- Working time, time off work & minimum wage
- Discrimination & harassment
- Whistleblowing
- Benefits & pensions
- Data privacy
- Rules in transactions/business transfers
- Employee representation
- Termination
- Post-termination restraints
- Waivers
- Remedies
- Criminal sanctions
- Key contacts
- Mandatory benefits and minimum employment standards
- Leave entitlements and working time regulations
Particular attention is given to areas of heightened risk such as business transfers, mass layoffs, and post-termination restrictions.
This resource is particularly valuable for in-house counsel and HR professionals who need to understand both the legal framework and practical implications of employment decisions across multiple jurisdictions. It provides the necessary detail for strategic planning while remaining accessible for day-to-day operational reference.
The guide goes beyond mere legal requirements to address practical business considerations, such as the implications of different hiring models (direct employment, independent contractors, or agency workers), the requirements for valid employment contracts, and the management of post-termination restrictions. It also covers critical compliance areas such as works councils, union relationships, and collective bargaining requirements where applicable.
This edition has been updated to reflect recent legislative changes and emerging trends in international employment law, making it an essential resource for any organization managing a multi-jurisdictional workforce or planning international expansion.
Sample Guide
The guide can be downloaded for any of the 63 countries covered. Below is a sample showing South Africa