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Date: 2026

This publication is issued by K&L Gates in conjunction with K&L Gates Straits Law LLC, a Singapore law firm with full Singapore law and representation capacity, and to whom any Singapore law queries should be addressed. K&L Gates Straits Law is the Singapore office of K&L Gates, a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located on five continents.

Workplaces worldwide are experiencing rapid transformation as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into recruitment, performance assessment, and workforce management. Governments across multiple regions are responding by developing new frameworks aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and fair outcomes in AI-enabled employment decisions. These shifts coincide with renewed attention to how evolving job functions and the growing use of automated tools, interact with long-standing wage-and-hour standards and exemption criteria.

Global mobility and immigration systems are also adapting, with several jurisdictions reevaluating how talent is selected, assigned, and retained to better align with economic and technological priorities. At the same time, changes in executive policymaking and judicial review in various countries continue to influence employer obligations, adding complexity to cross-border workforce planning.

Collectively, these developments highlight the need for organizations to maintain flexible governance, ensure responsible deployment of emerging technologies, and align internal policies with evolving international standards.

Produced annually since 2015, the Global Employer Guide provides a concise, ready reference of current employment laws across more than 15 countries to help employers navigate an increasingly dynamic workforce landscape. Created to complement our Global Employer Solutions® service, the guide provides a concise, yet comprehensive, summary of the most notable employment laws across the globe.

GLOBAL EMPLOYER GUIDE 2026

Click on the images below to view and download your country of interest.

Global Employer Guide

Australia Employment Guide

Belgium Employment Guide

China Employment Guide

GLOBAL

AUSTRALIA

BELGIUM

CHINA

    

France Employment Guide

Germany Employment Guide

Hong Kong Employment Guide

Italy Employment Guide

FRANCE

GERMANY

HONG KONG

ITALY

    

Qatar Employment Guide

Japan Employment Guide

Korea Employment Guide

New Zealand Employment Guide

QATAR

JAPAN

KOREA

NEW ZEALAND

  

Singapore Employment Guide

Taiwan Employment Guide

UAE Employment Guide

UK Employment Guide

SINGAPORE

TAIWAN

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

UNITED KINGDOM

    

US Employment Guide

UNITED STATES

Eugene C. Ryu
Eugene C. Ryu
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Christopher Tan
Christopher Tan
K&L Gates Straits Law LLC
Singapore

This publication/newsletter is for informational purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be used or relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer. Any views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the law firm's clients.

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