The UK Government is rolling out its Plan to Make Work Pay (MWP)  to modernise employment law and extend workplace protections to millions more workers. Anchored by the Employment Rights Act 2025 , the reforms aim to bring UK employment legislation into line with contemporary working practices, while maintaining flexibility for businesses. To support effective adoption, the government is implementing the changes in phases, giving employers and workers time to plan, adapt policies, and prepare for compliance. From February and April 2026 , the reforms introduce significant changes, including strengthened trade union rights, enhanced protection for workers taking industrial action, Day 1 paternity and unpaid parental leave , improved whistleblowing safeguards, expanded statutory sick pay, and tougher obligations on employers to prevent sexual harassment. The establishment of a new Fair Work Agency , simplification of trade union recognition, and enhanced redundancy protections further signal a shift toward stronger enforcement and accountability across workplaces. Looking ahead to late 2026 and 2027, the roadmap includes reforms such as tighter tipping laws, extended tribunal time limits, fire-and-rehire protections, reduced qualifying periods for unfair dismissal, mandatory gender equality and menopause action plans, regulation of umbrella companies, and the planned end of exploitative zero-hours contracts. Together, these measures represent one of the most far-reaching employment law reforms in decades, making early preparation essential for employers seeking to manage risk, maintain compliance, and support a fairer workplace. This update is based on publicly available guidance issued by the UK Government and is provided for informational purposes only. Employers and businesses should seek professional legal or HR advice to assess applicability, compliance obligations, and operational impact.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that National Apprenticeship Week 2026 will take place from April 26 to May 2 , shifting the annual nationwide observance to the spring season. National Apprenticeship Week is a long-standing initiative designed to spotlight the role of Registered Apprenticeship programs in strengthening career pathways for workers while supporting employers’ long-term talent and productivity needs. Since the program’s launch in 2015, participation has exceeded 2 million individuals across more than 10,000 events nationwide , reflecting growing employer adoption across sectors. 2026 Theme: Skills, Industry, and Workforce Readiness The 2026 theme, “America at Work: Making America Skilled Again Through Registered Apprenticeship,” underscores apprenticeships as a strategic workforce development tool during a period of renewed industrial growth and technological advancement in the United States. With the country approaching its 250th anniversary and continuing efforts toward reindustrialization, the Department of Labor has positioned Registered Apprenticeship as a core mechanism for preparing workers for today’s and tomorrow’s skilled roles . Planned events across all 50 states and U.S. territories will highlight how apprenticeship models support: Skilled trades and construction Advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies Nuclear energy and other critical infrastructure sectors Why This Matters for Employers and HR Leaders From an employer perspective, Registered Apprenticeship programs offer a structured pathway to: Build job-ready talent pipelines Reduce long-term recruitment and skills-gap risks Align workforce development with business and industry needs Strengthen early-career and technical talent strategies The Department of Labor continues to encourage employers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, unions, and apprentices themselves to actively participate by hosting or supporting National Apprenticeship Week events. This article is based on a public announcement issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), through the Qiwa platform, has introduced new restrictions affecting expatriate job classifications and increased Saudization requirements in selected private-sector roles. Restriction of “General Manager” Role The “General Manager” profession has been removed from Qiwa for expatriate workers and is now reserved exclusively for Saudi nationals. Employers with expatriates currently registered under this title are required to reclassify the role to an alternative designation—such as CEO or Chairman of the Board—provided the individual is registered under the same title in the company’s commercial registration and no duplicate roles exist within the establishment. In parallel, Qiwa has begun suspending profession-change services for certain roles held by expatriates. Affected positions include: General Manager Sales Representative Marketing Specialist Purchase Manager When restrictions apply, establishments will receive a system notification indicating that the profession cannot be changed. Increased Saudization Requirements: Marketing & Sales MHRSD has also announced higher localization targets to strengthen national participation in specialized roles. Marketing Professions Saudization target: 60% Effective date: 19 January 2026 Applicability: Establishments with 3 or more marketing employees Minimum salary: SAR 5,500 Roles covered include marketing managers, advertising specialists, graphic designers, public relations professionals, and related positions. Employers are granted a three-month preparation period before enforcement. Sales Professions Saudization target: 60% Effective date: 19 January 2026 Applicability: Establishments with 3 or more sales employees Targeted roles include sales managers, retail and wholesale sales representatives, sales specialists, IT and communications equipment sales roles, and freight brokers. A similar three-month grace period applies. What This Means for Employers Review expatriate job titles registered on Qiwa for compliance Align commercial registrations with updated executive role classifications Assess workforce composition in marketing and sales functions Plan recruitment, role redesign, or localization strategies ahead of 2026 enforcement This update is based on publicly available guidance issued by Saudi authorities and is provided for informational purposes only. Employers should seek local professional advice to assess applicability and compliance obligations.