Global benefits insights: March 2026

A summary of the latest employee benefits changes from around the world | 5 minute read

Nicaragua

Introduces new public holidays¹

On 20th January 2026, Article 66 of the Labour Law was amended with Law No. 1272.

This law states that four new public holidays have been granted. The dates of these holidays are:

18th January
2nd February
21st February
8th November

Any employees who are required to work (except in exceptional circumstances) are compensated by an additional 100% of salary on top of their standard daily wage.

Taiwan

Enhances parental policies²

On 1st January 2026, the Ministry of Labour amended the Regulations for Parental Leave Without Pay, Labor Leave Rules, and Enforcement Rules of the Employment Insurance Act.

Parental Leave

Previous legislation required unpaid parental leave to be taken in six-month blocks or in up to two periods of at least 30 days.

Under the new rules, each working parent can also opt to use up to 30 days of parental leave in single-day increments.

These 30 days are included within the overall entitlement of two years of unpaid parental leave and do not add extra days.

Family Care Leave

Previously, employees were eligible for seven days of unpaid leave to care for family members, which had to be taken in full-day increments and deducted from the fourteen days of unpaid personal leave available each year.

Effective 1st January 2026, employees will have the option to take this leave in hourly increments.

Vietnam

Increases maternity and paternity leave³

Effective from 1st July 2026, both leaves have been increased.

Following the birth of their second child, mothers are now eligible for seven months of maternity leave, representing an increase from the previous allowance of six months. Fathers are entitled to ten days of paternity leave, which has been extended from the prior provision of five days.

Italy

Expands parental leave entitlement⁴

Effective from 1st January 2026, parental leave applicable to both parents is amended.

The amendment extends parental leave eligibility until the child is 14, up from the previous limit of 12 years old.

Minimum wage increases from 1st January 2026

Poland

From 1st January 2026, the monthly minimum wage increased to PLN 4,806. The minimum hourly wage increased to PLN 31.40.⁵

Portugal

From 1st January 2026, the monthly minimum wage increased to EUR 920.⁶

Minimum wage increases from 1st May 2026

Hong Kong

From 1st May 2026, the hourly minimum wage in Hong Kong will increase to HKD 43.10.⁷

NFP’s guide to international benefits

Whether you’re a new start-up, a growing enterprise or an established international organisation, operating globally comes with its own set of unique challenges; from navigating legal and tax legislation to understanding local cultures, creating compliant and competitive benefits packages can be complex.

Our team of experienced international employee benefits consultants have written this guide to help you:

Achieve consistency in your international benefits strategy
Identify benefits to implement in each of your locations
Choose the right international benefits providers
Manage your international benefits efficiently
Monitor your strategy’s success

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If you’d like to explore how these legislation changes could affect your organisation, and what practical steps you can take to protect and support your people - speak to us today.

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This insights article is not intended to address any specific situation or to provide legal, regulatory, financial, or other advice. While care has been taken in the production of this article, NFP does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of the article or any part of it and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. Any recipient shall be responsible for the use to which it puts this article. This article has been compiled using information available to us up to its date of publication.

NFP contributors

Emma Bryant
International Technical Specialist, Employee Benefits

References