As 2026 unfolds, employment law is undergoing significant transformation across the globe.

Quick Hits

• Expanded worker protections are becoming the norm across nearly all jurisdictions.
• Reduced working hours are trending globally.
• AI regulation in HR is accelerating, from the EU AI Regulation affecting Germany, to Ontario’s AI disclosure rules in Canada, to the UAE’s use of AI for enforcement.
• Compliance and reporting standards continue to rise, including enhanced pay transparency requirements and contractor classification rules.

From sweeping labor code consolidations to new AI disclosure requirements, employers operating internationally will want to stay ahead of these critical changes. Below are the top ten employment law developments for global employers to watch.

1. Belgium: Notice Period Cap Reduces Termination Costs

A draft act, which is expected to pass soon, has been submitted to the Belgian Federal Parliament that would cap the notice period for employer-initiated terminations at fifty-two weeks (one year), even for very long-tenured employees. Previously, long-tenured employees could accrue notice periods of more than a year, creating substantial financial exposure for employers during workforce reductions or restructurings. This cap represents a meaningful reduction in termination costs, particularly for employees with fifteen or more years of service who historically would have qualified for much longer notice periods. However, because this cap would apply...

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