Employment law 5 in 5: March 2025

At a glance

• Access our 2025 Global Employment Law Manuals.
• Focus on recent US Developments.
• Focus on changes in the Middle East.
• Focus on the Nordics.
• Join our inaugural global employer briefing.

Access: 2025 Global Employment Law Manuals

The 2025 edition of our Global Employment Law Manual is now available to GENIE subscribers. The manual highlights key legal obligations throughout the employment relationship and covers jurisdictions across EMEA, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Subscribers can also use the manual to create tailored comparison reports for specific countries and topics of interest.  If you are not yet a GENIE subscriber, please speak to your usual DLA Piper contact about an account.

Focus: US Developments 

At the federal level, enforcement of President Trump’s DEI Executive Order continues. The EEOC and DOJ also issued technical assistance documents regarding unlawful discrimination related to DEI in the workplace. The Federal Trade Commission moved to hold the appeal of its non-compete rule banning most non-competes in abeyance while it considers whether it is in the public interest to continue defending the rule (while also reaffirming its commitment to address unfair and anti-competitive labour practices that restrict worker mobility). Meanwhile, several states (eg Virginia and Wyoming) enacted new laws restricting non-competes while others, including New York, joined those states with proposed laws.

Focus: On the Middle East

There have been many recent regulatory developments in the Middle East. In Bahrain stricter verification requirements for expat accountants and auditors have been introduced; proposals have been made for Bahrainisation in the medical sector;  a new work permit option for expatriate workers has been introduced;  and lowering fines for hiring expat workers has been approved.  There are also proposals to offer further protections to working mothers and underpaid workers can undertake wage checks and challenge employers.   In Saudi Arabia, a forced labour policy has been implemented and the UAE has introduced a 30-day registration rule for Emirati workers.

Focus: On the Nordics

In the Nordics, the focus of recent proposals for employment law reform is varied. In Sweden, plans include the expansion of criminal liability for use of trade secrets and action in relation to work-related crime.  In Denmark, new legislation proposes increased freedom of speech protection for public sector employees. Meanwhile, in Finland, draft legislation has been introduced to ensure  the continuance of essential work during industrial action and a recent consultation proposes changes to the grounds for termination for reasons relating to the employee.

Join:  Global employer briefing

Join us on 9 April for the inaugural session of our Global employer briefing: Quarterly trends and developments webinar series where our global employment attorneys will break down the most significant legal and regulatory employment law developments from the past quarter and look at what’s ahead.