For more than 1,000 years, the Roma (still more commonly known in the English-speaking world as “Gypsies,” although this term is now outdated and considered to be derogatory) have lived on the fringes of the societies of the European nations in which they reside.  This is true in spite of the fact that the Roma, also known as the Romani, are the single largest minority group in Europe.  Indeed, in some countries Roma (which for the purposes of this article is meant to inclu...

On March 3, 2013, voters in Switzerland approved a referendum providing one of the world’s most onerous restrictions regarding executive compensation.  The referendum entitled, “Eidgenössische Volksinitiative ‘gegen die Abzockerei’” or, in English, “Federal popular initiative ‘against the rip-off’” (the “Referendum”) was approved by 67.9% of those who voted in all of the country’s 26 cantons (Switzerland’s me...

On April 5, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had received enough petitions to meet the statutory H-1B cap of 65,000 new H-1B visas to be issued each year.

The United Kingdom (“UK”), comprised of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, has a population of over 62 million people, is culturally diverse and remains one of leading financial and service centers of the world. It is often considered the entry way to the rest of Europe and is a major international trading power. For these reasons, many companies decide to do business in the UK. This article will provide a brief overview of some of the basic employment and labor laws in t...

In March, China’s leadership announced that the Ministry of Health and the National Population and Family Planning Commission will merge. This has been widely seen as a downgrade in authority for the latter commission, which oversees the implementation of China’s one-child policy. In fact, this governmental action has raised questions about whether China’s one-child policy itself will be eventually phased out. China’s one-child policy was established in 1979. This policy...

  Since the landmark 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision in NFIB v. Sebelius, largely upholding President Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”), the U.S. government has been moving full-steam ahead on implementation of healthcare reform mandated by the ACA. The ACA places a number of new regulations, restrictions, and requirements on employers, including U.S. companies employing foreign workers, and potentially foreign companies, depending on various...

With the Catholic Cardinals’ election of their fellow Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Pope (Francis I), a spotlight has been cast in recent days upon his native Argentina.  The white smoke announcing the Cardinals’ decision had barely begun to dissipate, when news media outlets began publishing stories and articles not only lauding the “revolutionary” selection of the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope, but also profiling the new Pope’s relationship to his ...

On March 8, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the release of the new I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form.  All employers are required to use the new I-9 immediately to verify the identity and employment authorization eligibility of their employees. Although USCIS requires employers to use the new Form I-9 beginning March 8, 2013, USCIS has provided a 60-day grace period for employers to continue to use the current version of the form issued 08/...

Malaysia is both exotic and magical, and we want to ensure that the management of your global workforce in Malaysia is in compliance with all employment and labor laws.  The key statutory authorities governing employment and labor law in Malaysia include Employment Act  of 1955 (“Employment Act”) in peninsular Malaysia and territory of Labuan, the Industrial Relations Act of 1967, Labor Ordinances (in Sabah and Sarawak areas), Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1952, Trade...

Last week’s resignation of Bulgaria’s government highlights the economic and political struggles plaguing Europe’s eastern flank, and the risks for investors and companies looking to do business in emerging economies.  Unemployment in the eastern European countries is generally high, and recent data show no relief is in sight.  Making matters worse, the austerity programs put in place to woo foreign investment have led to social unrest, such as in Bulgaria, making inv...