ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 LEGAL GUIDE April 2016
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 01 INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 2016 edition of Herbert Smith Freehills Asia Employment Law Guide, which contains an updated summary of the key employment laws across 21 Asian jurisdictions. Understanding the legal and cultural differences across Asia is central to finding solutions to employment law problems that work across the region. Our team has been busy over the last twelve months helping our clients across Asia as they implement policies and procedures, undertake restructures and redundancies and deal with employee performance and misconduct issues in a consistent way that remains compliant with local laws. The geographical location, size, experience and expertise of our employment law team makes our firm unique in the Asia Pacific region, providing a one stop solution for all Asian employment law matters. Updated annually, our Guide has become the go-to publication for inhouse counsel and HR leaders as they navigate the often complicated, constantly changing employment laws across the region. Like many of those who reach to this Guide, our team deals with HR and employment law matters across multiple jurisdictions. Providing local expertise with a regional context, our employment lawyers based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the People s Republic of China, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia are able to help our clients navigate the myriad of employment issues that arise across the region. Where Herbert Smith Freehills does not have a physical presence, we have developed strong relationships with trusted local firms; those firms have kindly assisted in the preparation of this Guide. The Guide provides a detailed overview of the laws in each of the 21 jurisdictions, answering the most commonly asked questions, including those relating to minimum terms and conditions, disciplinary procedures, termination of employment, discrimination and harassment, whistleblowing, occupational health and safety, data protection, out-sourcing and industrial relations. Although the information contained in this Guide is not legal advice, we hope it provides a useful first resource. The contact details of our on-the-ground employment lawyers can be found at the back of the Guide; please reach out to us for further information about the Asia practice or to answer any questions that you have. We look forward to helping your business succeed across the region. April 2016 Alison Brown Global Head of Employment, Pensions and Incentives Herbert Smith Freehills LLP T +44 20 7466 2427 alison.brown@hsf.com
02 ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2015 HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...01 AUSTRALIA...07 Minimum terms...07 Disciplinary procedures...09 Termination of employment...10 Discrimination and harassment...11 Whistle-blowing...12 Occupational health and safety...12 Data protection...12 contracting...13 Industrial relations...13 BANGLADESH...15 Minimum terms...15 Disciplinary procedures...17 Termination of employment...18 Discrimination and harassment...19 Whistle-blowing...20 Occupational health and safety...20 Data protection...20 contracting...20 Industrial relations...20 CAMBODIA...22 Minimum terms...22 Disciplinary procedures...25 Termination of employment...26 Discrimination and harassment...27 Whistle-blowing...28 Occupational health and safety...28 Data protection...28 contracting...28 Industrial relations...29 HONG KONG...31 Minimum terms...31 Disciplinary procedures...34 Termination of employment...34 Discrimination and harassment...36 Whistle-blowing...36 Occupational health and safety...36 Data protection...36 contracting...37 Industrial relations...37 INDIA...38 Minimum terms...38 Disciplinary procedures...40 Termination of employment...40 Discrimination and harassment...41 Whistle-blowing...42 Occupational health and safety...42 Data protection...42 contracting...43 Industrial relations...43 INDONESIA...44 Minimum terms...44 Disciplinary procedures...47 Termination of employment...47 Discrimination and harassment...48 Whistle-blowing...48
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 03 Occupational health and safety...48 Data protection...49 contracting...49 Industrial relations...49 JAPAN...50 Minimum terms...50 Disciplinary procedures...53 Termination of employment...53 Discrimination and harassment...55 Whistle-blowing...55 Occupational health and safety...55 Data protection...55 contracting...56 Industrial relations...56 LAOS...58 Minimum terms...58 Disciplinary procedures...61 Termination of employment...61 Discrimination and harassment...62 Whistle-blowing...62 Occupational health and safety...62 Data protection...63 contracting...63 Industrial relations...63 MACAU...64 Minimum terms...64 Disciplinary procedures...67 Termination of employment...67 Discrimination and harassment...69 Whistle-blowing...69 Occupational health and safety...69 Data protection...70 contracting...70 Industrial relations...70 MALAYSIA...71 Minimum terms...71 Disciplinary procedures...74 Termination of employment...74 Discrimination and harassment...76 Whistle-blowing...76 Occupational health and safety...76 Data protection...77 contracting...77 Industrial relations...77 MONGOLIA...79 Minimum terms...79 Disciplinary procedures...82 Termination of employment...82 Discrimination and harassment...83 Whistle-blowing...83 Occupational health and safety...83 Data protection...84 contracting...84 Industrial relations...84 MYANMAR...86 Minimum terms...86 Disciplinary procedures...88 Termination of employment...88 Discrimination and harassment...89 Whistle-blowing...89 Occupational health and safety...89 Data protection...89 contracting...90 Industrial relations...90
04 ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS NEW ZEALAND...91 Minimum terms...91 Disciplinary procedures...94 Termination of employment...94 Discrimination and harassment...95 Whistle-blowing...96 Occupational health and safety...96 Data protection...97 contracting...97 Industrial relations...98 PEOPLE S REPUBLIC OF CHINA...99 Minimum terms...99 Disciplinary procedures...103 Termination of employment...103 Discrimination and harassment...105 Whistle-blowing...105 Occupational health and safety...105 Data protection...105 contracting...106 Industrial relations...106 THE PHILIPPINES...108 Minimum statutory terms...108 Disciplinary procedures...110 Termination of employment...111 Discrimination and harassment...112 Whistle-blowing...112 Occupational health and safety...113 Data protection...113 contracting...113 Industrial relations...114 SINGAPORE...115 Minimum statutory terms...115 Disciplinary procedures...118 Termination of employment...118 Discrimination and harassment...120 Whistle-blowing...120 Occupational health and safety...120 Data protection...120 contracting...121 Industrial relations...121 SOUTH KOREA...122 Minimum terms...122 Disciplinary Procedures...125 Termination of employment...125 Discrimination and harassment...126 Whistle-blowing...126 Occupational health and safety...126 Data protection...126 Regulation of outsourcing and contracting...127 Industrial relations...127 SRI LANKA...128 Minimum terms...128 Disciplinary procedures...131 Termination of employment...131 Discrimination and harassment...133 Whistle-blowing...133 Occupational health and safety...133 Data protection...133 contracting...133 Industrial relations...133 TAIWAN...134 Minimum terms...134 Disciplinary procedures...137 Termination of employment...137 Discrimination and harassment...139 Whistle-blowing...139 Occupational health and safety...139 Data protection...140
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 05 Regulation of outsourcing and contracting...140 Industrial relations...140 THAILAND...142 Minimum terms...142 Disciplinary procedures...144 Termination of employment...144 Discrimination and harassment...146 Whistle-blowing...146 Occupational health and safety...146 Data protection...146 Regulation of outsourcing and contracting...146 Industrial relations...146 VIETNAM...148 Minimum terms...148 Disciplinary procedures...151 Termination of employment...152 Discrimination and harassment...154 Whistle-blowing...154 Occupational health and safety...154 Data protection...154 contracting...154 Industrial relations...155 EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTORS...157 HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS CONTACTS...158
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 157 EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTORS EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTORS COUNTRY BANGLADESH CAMBODIA INDIA LAOS MACAU MALAYSIA MONGOLIA MYANMAR NEW ZEALAND PHILIPPINES SOUTH KOREA SRI LANKA TAIWAN VIETNAM CONTACT Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates Afzal Syed afzal@siaalaw.com KCP Cambodia Jay Cohen jay.cohen@kcpartnership.com Kochhar & Co Vijay B. Ravi vijay.ravi@kochhar.com DFDL Rupert Haw rupert.haw@dfdl.com Danyel Thomson danyel.thomson@dfdl.com JNV Legal Pedro Branco pedro.branco@jnvlegal.com Márcia Costa marciacosta@jnvlegal.com Skrine Selvamalar Alagaratnam SA@Skrine.com MahoneyLiotta LLP Daniel Mahoney daniel.mahoney@mlmongolia.com Ariuntuya Rentsen ariuntuya.rentsen@mlmongolia.com DFDL William Greenlee William.Greenlee@dfdl.com Bell Gully Rachael Brown rachael.brown@bellgully.com Grace Stacey-Jacobs grace.stacey-jacobs@bellgully.com SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan Marianne M. Miguel mmmiguel@syciplaw.com Lee & Ko Sanghoon Lee sanghoon.lee@leeko.com William (Woojong) Kim William.kim@leeko.com Varners Anura Meddegoda anuramedde@varners.lk Lakshika Siriwardana lakshi@varners.lk Lee and Li Ken-Ying Tseng kenying@leeandli.com Joyce J. M. Chen joycechen@leeandli.com Frasers Law Company Mark Fraser mark.fraser@frasersvn.com Phung Thi Thanh Thao thao.phung@frasersvn.com
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS CONTACTS 158 ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS CONTACTS CONTACT GLOBAL HEAD OF EMPLOYMENT, PENSIONS AND INCENTIVES Alison Brown London T +44 20 7466 2427 M +44 778 5254950 alison.brown@hsf.com AUSTRALIA CONTACT Drew Pearson Partner, Sydney T +61 2 9225 5492 M +61 403 437 599 drew.pearson@hsf.com HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS REGIONAL HEAD OF EMPLOYMENT, PENSIONS AND INCENTIVES ASIA/ SINGAPORE Miles Bastick Sydney T +61 2 9225 5722 M +61 416 225 755 miles.bastick@hsf.com Fatim Jumabhoy Of Counsel T +65 6868 9822 M +65 9770 0320 fatim.jumabhoy@hsf.com Tess Lumsdaine Senior Associate T +65 6868 8013 M +65 97723251 tess.lumsdaine@hsf.com Celia Yuen Executive Counsel, Melbourne T +61 3 9288 1238 M +61 400 517 832 celia.yuen@hsf.com Helen Beech Senior Associate, Perth T +61 8 9211 7777 D +61 8 9211 7655 helen.beech@hsf.com Clarissa Robbins Senior Associate, Brisbane T +61 7 3258 6415 M +61 417 395 370 clarissa.robbins@hsf.com Sarah Yazid Associate T +65 6868 9829 M +65 8339 5895 sarah.yazid@hsf.com
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 159 HONG KONG INDONESIA CONTACT Gareth Thomas Partner T +852 2101 4025 M +852 9773 5042 gareth.thomas@hsf.com Susan Leung Consultant T +852 2101 4136 M +852 6620 7532 susan.leung@hsf.com Gillian McKenzie Associate T +852 2101 4222 M +852 9195 6606 gillian.mckenzie@hsf.com Giselle Yuen Associate T +852 21014191 M +852 92692731 giselle.yuen@hsf.com David Dawborn Partner T +62 21 5790 0571 M +62 811 189 0367 david.dawborn@hbtlaw.com Narendra Adiyasa Partner, Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung T +62 21 574 4010 M +62 811 1006 719 narendra.adiyasa@hbtlaw.com JAPAN KOREA PRC CONTACT Peter Godwin Managing Partner T +81 3 5412 5444 M +81 90 5502 4388 peter.godwin@hsf.com Florence Cheung Senior Associate, Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi T +81 3 5412 5412 D +81 3 5412 5416 florence.cheung@hsf.com Lewis McDonald Managing Partner T +82 2 6321 5711 M +82 10 3609 0320 lewis.mcdonald@hsf.com Karen Ip Partner, Beijing T +86 10 6535 5135 M +86 138 1071 0056 karen.ip@hsf.com Nanda Lau Partner, Shanghai T +86 21 2322 2117 M +86 136 81917366 nanda.lau@hsf.com Doreen Yan Associate, Beijing T +86 10 6535 5129 M +86 136 7116 8963 doreen.yan@hsf.com HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS CONTACTS Jasmine Chen Associate, Shanghai T +86 21 2322 2165 M +86 137 6114 3505 jasmine.chen@hsf.com
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS CONTACTS 160 ASIA PACIFIC EMPLOYMENT LAW GUIDE 2016 THAILAND CONTACT Chinnawat Thongpakdee Partner T +66 2 657 3829 M +66 81 833 4700 chinnawat.thongpakdee@hsf.com Chotika Voravongsakul Associate T +66 2 6573831 M +66 92 2655103 chotika.voravongsakul@hsf.com UK CONTACT Andrew Taggart Partner T +44 20 7466 2434 M +44 791 7461269 andrew.taggart@hsf.com Daniel Schaffer Partner T +44 20 7466 2003 M +44 754 5513403 daniel.schaffer@hsf.com Paul Ellerman Partner T +44 20 7466 2728 M +44 780 9200186 paul.ellerman@hsf.com HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS Tara Grossman Senior Associate T +44 20 7374 8000 D +44 20 7466 2797 tara.grossman@hsf.com The contents of this publication, current at the date of publication set out in this document, are for reference purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action based on this publication. Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and its affiliated and subsidiary businesses and firms and Herbert Smith Freehills, an Australian Partnership, are separate member firms of the international legal practice known as Herbert Smith Freehills. Herbert Smith Freehills 2016
HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM BANGKOK Herbert Smith Freehills (Thailand) Ltd T +66 2657 3888 F +66 2636 0657 BEIJING Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Beijing Representative Office (UK) T +86 10 6535 5000 F +86 10 6535 5055 BELFAST Herbert Smith Freehills LLP T +44 28 9025 8200 F +44 28 9025 8201 BERLIN Herbert Smith Freehills Germany LLP T +49 30 2215 10400 F +49 30 2215 10499 BRISBANE Herbert Smith Freehills T +61 7 3258 6666 F +61 7 3258 6444 BRUSSELS Herbert Smith Freehills LLP T +32 2 511 7450 F +32 2 511 7772 DUBAI Herbert Smith Freehills LLP T +971 4 428 6300 F +971 4 365 3171 FRANKFURT Herbert Smith Freehills Germany LLP T +49 69 2222 82400 F +49 69 2222 82499 HONG KONG Herbert Smith Freehills T +852 2845 6639 F +852 2845 9099 JAKARTA Hiswara Bunjamin and Tandjung Herbert Smith Freehills LLP associated firm T +62 21 574 4010 F +62 21 574 4670 JOHANNESBURG Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa LLP T +27 11 282 0831 F +27 11 282 0866 LONDON Herbert Smith Freehills LLP T +44 20 7374 8000 F +44 20 7374 0888 MELBOURNE Herbert Smith Freehills T +61 3 9288 1234 F +61 3 9288 1567 MOSCOW Herbert Smith Freehills CIS LLP T +7 495 363 6500 F +7 495 363 6501 NEW YORK Herbert Smith Freehills New York LLP T +1 917 542 7600 F +1 917 542 7601 PARIS Herbert Smith Freehills Paris LLP T +33 1 53 57 70 70 F +33 1 53 57 70 80 PERTH Herbert Smith Freehills T +61 8 9211 7777 F +61 8 9211 7878 RIYADH The Law Office of Nasser Al-Hamdan Herbert Smith Freehills LLP associated firm T +966 11 211 8120 F +966 11 211 8173 SHANGHAI Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Shanghai Representative Office (UK) T +86 21 2322 2000 F +86 21 2322 2322 SINGAPORE Herbert Smith Freehills LLP T +65 6868 8000 F +65 6868 8001 SYDNEY Herbert Smith Freehills T +61 2 9225 5000 F +61 2 9322 4000 TOKYO Herbert Smith Freehills T +81 3 5412 5412 F +81 3 5412 5413 DOHA Herbert Smith Freehills Middle East LLP T +974 4429 4000 F +974 4429 4001 MADRID Herbert Smith Freehills Spain LLP T +34 91 423 4000 F +34 91 423 4001 SEOUL Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Foreign Legal Consultant Office T +82 2 6321 5600 F +82 2 6321 5601 Herbert Smith Freehills 2015 APB166368_v2 160516