APAC payroll newsletter 2025 Issue.1

Key highlights:

Australia

• Closing loopholes: Key changes from 26 August
• The right to disconnect – workplace right commences
• Payday Super reforms – updated guidance and information released by Federal Treasury

China

• Integration of Foreigners’ working permits and social security cards
• Legal holidays 2025 in Mainland China

Indonesia

• Indonesia’s 2025 minimum wage increase
• Indonesia raises pension age to 59 in 2025
• CORETAX – Transforming tax administration in Indonesia

Korea

• Minimum wage hike effective from 1 January 2025
• Expansion of parental leave (General case)
• Suspension of health insurance premium rate increases for workplace subscribers in 2025
• Establishment of non-taxable criteria for employee discount amounts effective from 1 January 2025

Malaysia

• Flexible working arrangement 
• Progressive Wage Policy (“PWP”)
• Utilisation of fifteen per cent (“15%”) from the remaining unused levy balance for the year 2024 in the implementation of program Latihan Madani (“PLM”) by human resources development corporation (“HRD Corp”)

Philippines

• SSS contribution rates increased to 15% effective 1 January 2025

Taiwan 

• New rate and policy for labour and health insurance

Thailand 

• New payment deadlines and reductions in Social Security Fund contributions due to severe flooding in northern Thailand
• Increase in child allowance benefit to THB 1,000 per month effective 1 January 2025
• Deadline extended to make Social Security electronically
• New tax deduction for individual taxpayers: Easy E-Receipt 2.0
• New minimum wage effective 1 January 2025

Vietnam

• Amendment law on health insurance 2024