New minimum wages for permit holders will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Key Points:

  • The national monthly minimum wage for highly skilled migrants and key personnel intra-corporate transferees who are 30 and older will be increased to 4,840 EUR.
  • Highly skilled migrants and key personnel intra-corporate transferees who are younger than 30 must be paid at least 3,549 EUR.
  • Foreign nationals who have graduated in the Netherlands must be paid at least 2,543 EUR.
  • Blue Card holders must be paid at least 5,670 EUR.

Additional Information: The minimum salary requirements for highly skilled migrants and intra-corporate transferees exclude an 8% mandatory holiday allowance.

BAL Analysis: Businesses may see a slight increase in labor costs because of the new minimum wage. Employers should take the new wage minimums into account when planning their 2022 budgets.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

President Joe Biden issued an official proclamation Tuesday rescinding travel restrictions for foreign nationals “physically present” in eight countries in Southern Africa.

Key Points:

  • Beginning at 12:01 a.m. EST on Dec. 31, 2021, foreign nationals who have been in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe in the past 14 days will no longer be subject to the temporary entry ban the U.S. imposed on Nov. 29, 2021.
  • A White House spokesperson announced last week that the U.S. would lift the restrictions on Dec. 31. In the official proclamation, Biden said he rescinded the ban consistent with a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • Inbound international air travelers will remain subject to COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements.
  • The State Department said consular sections in the eight countries would resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services “to the extent they are able.” Applicants whose cases were refused solely due to their presence in a country covered by a regional COVID proclamation are encouraged to contact the embassy or consulate where they made the application to request reconsideration.

BAL Analysis: The lifting of restrictions will ease travel from the countries covered by the ban; however, other COVID-19 travel restrictions and entry requirements remain in place and may change with little notice. Services at consulates abroad remain limited, and the State Department said that the lifting of restrictions “does not necessarily mean” that local embassies and consulates will be able to “immediately schedule all affected applicants for visa interviews.” Applicants should check the relevant embassy or consulate website for information on what services are available and for information on how to apply for a visa. Employers and employees should continue to consult their BAL professional before planning international travel.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The State Department has extended a temporary policy that allows some U.S. citizens to return to the U.S. on an expired passport. The policy was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2021, and will be extended until March 31, 2022.

Key Points:

  • Under the policy, U.S. citizens currently aboard whose passports expired on or after Jan. 1, 2020, may be able to return to the U.S. using their expired passport.
  • Certain criteria may apply, and travelers are encouraged to confirm their eligibility on this website before finalizing travel arrangements.
  • Travelers cannot use expired passports to travel from the U.S. to a foreign country. They also cannot use expired passports to travel from one foreign country to another for any length of stay longer than an airport connection en route to the U.S. or a U.S. territory.
  • The policy was first implemented in May 2021.

BAL Analysis: While the extension will ease travel procedures for some U.S. citizens returning to the U.S., it only applies to a limited number of travelers. BAL continues to urge individuals to consult their BAL professional before planning international travel, as this policy may change with little notice and could affect travelers’ ability to re-enter or return to the U.S.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Czech government has announced that it will increase the minimum wage by just under 6.2% in 2022.

Key Points:

  • The Czech Republic’s national monthly minimum wage will increase by 1000 Czech koruna from 15,200 CZK to 16,200 CZK.
  • The new minimum wage will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
  • The 2022 national minimum wage has no effect on EU Blue Card salary requirements.

BAL Analysis: Businesses may see a slight increase in labor costs because of the new minimum wage. Employers should take the new minimum into account when planning their 2022 budgets.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Polish government has announced that it will increase the minimum wage by 7.5% in 2022.

Key Points:

  • Poland’s national minimum wage will increase by 210 Polish Zloty from 2,800 PLN to 3,010 PLN.
  • The equivalent hourly minimum wage will increase by 1.40 PLN from 18.30 PLN to 19.70 PLN.
  • The new minimum wage will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

BAL Analysis: Businesses may see a slight increase in labor costs because of the new minimum wage. Employers should take the new minimum into account when planning their 2022 budgets.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com

The Hungarian government has announced that it will increase the minimum wage by almost 20% in 2022.

Key Points:

  • Hungary’s monthly national minimum wage will increase on by 32,600 Hungarian forint from 167,400 HUF to 200,000 HUF.
    • The monthly minimum wage for skilled workers will increase by 41,000 HUF from 219,000 HUF to 260,000 HUF.
  • The new minimum wage will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

BAL Analysis: Businesses may see a slight increase in labor costs because of the new minimum wage levels. Employers should take the new minimums into account when planning their 2022 budgets.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com

The Slovakian government has announced that it will increase the minimum wage by just over 3.5% in 2022.

Key Points:

  • Slovakia’s national monthly minimum wage will increase by 23 EUR from 623 EUR to 646 EUR.
  • The new minimum wage will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

BAL Analysis: Businesses may see a slight increase in labor costs because of the new minimum wage. Employers should take the new minimum into account when planning their 2022 budgets.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com

The Kuwaiti government has updated its COVID-19 entry requirements.

Key Points:

  • As of Dec. 26, individuals must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure and undergo a 10-day quarantine.
    • Individuals can end their quarantine if they receive a negative PCR test taken at least 72 hours after arrival.
  • Beginning Jan. 2, individuals who have not received a booster dose within nine months of completing their first vaccination cycle will no longer be considered fully vaccinated.
    • Such individuals will no longer be able to travel internationally or enter businesses that require individuals to be fully vaccinated.

Additional Information: Those traveling to Kuwait must register their health and travel information through the Kuwait Mosafer platform and the Shlonik application before traveling. Foreign nationals who have been in or traveled through Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe within 14 days of intended arrival are barred from entering the country.

BAL Analysis: Authorities may change entry requirements with little to no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Thai government has suspended the “Test and Go” quarantine exemption program until further notice.

Key Points:

  • Travelers are no longer able to register under the “Test and Go” quarantine exemption program unless they are using the Phuket Sandbox scheme.
    • Travelers who were previously approved to enter the country under the program will be able to enter the country.
  • Travelers continue to be able to enter the country via the Phuket Sandbox or State Quarantine schemes.
    • Phuket Sandbox scheme. To be eligible, travelers must have received the last applicable dose of an approved COVID vaccine 14 days before intended arrival and present a vaccination certificate upon arrival. Travelers must quarantine for seven days in Phuket at a government-designated hotel or state quarantine hotel before traveling throughout the country.
    • State Quarantine scheme. Those who are fully vaccinated and have a vaccine certificate must quarantine for seven days and take two PCR tests. Travelers who are arriving by air and are not fully vaccinated or do not have a vaccine certificate must quarantine for 10 days and take two PCR tests. Travelers who are arriving by land and are not fully vaccinated or do not have a vaccine certificate must quarantine for 14 days and take two PCR tests.

BAL Analysis: The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus will make travel to Thailand more difficult in the days and weeks ahead. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The South Korean government has increased its quarantine requirements for all international travelers entering the country until at least Jan. 6, 2022.

Key Points:

  • Travelers, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status, must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival.
    • South Korean citizens and long-term foreign residents are able to quarantine at their own residence.
    • Short-term foreign residents must quarantine at a government-managed quarantine facility at their own cost.
    • Short-term foreign residents can quarantine at home if they can prove that they are a family member of a long-term foreign resident or South Korean citizen.
  • Until at least Jan. 6, 2022, previously issued Quarantine Exemption Certificates are no longer valid.

BAL Analysis: The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus will make travel to South Korea more difficult in the days and weeks ahead. Travel restrictions and health requirements may change with little or no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.