APAC payroll newsletter 2025 Issue. 3

APAC payroll country highlights

Australia

• National Minimum Wage and Modern Award rates increase announced 

China

• Continually implementing the unemployment insurance policy to stabilise employment
• Reminder for Individual Income Tax (“IIT”) returns for enterprise employees’ equity incentives
• Further enhancements to policies are published to support the stabilisation of employment

Hong Kong

• Employment law update: HK revises “Continuous Contract” definition- from 418 to 468 Rule

Indonesia

• BSU 2025: Government wage subsidy returns to support workers

Japan

• Changes to childcare and caregivers leave laws
• Change in the restriction period for unemployment benefits

Korea

• Adjustment in National Pension base salary effective from July 2025

Malaysia

• 1:3 Internship policy
• Stamp duty exemption for employment contracts finalised prior to 1 January 2025

Philippines

• Declaration of Sunday, 27 July 2025 as a special non-working day

Singapore

• Increase in S Pass qualifying salary and levy

Taiwan

• Principles for determination in cases where multiple taxpayers claim exemption for dependent in the same tax year effective from 23 April 2025

Thailand  

• Thailand implements new minimum wage effective 1 July 2025
• New BOI Regulations for expatriate employment in Thailand

Vietnam

• Use of Personal Identification Number instead of Tax Code from 1 July 2025
• New regulations on PIT withholding vouchers starting from 1 June 2025
• A recap of the key highlights of the Social Insurance Law 2024
• A recap of the key highlights of the Health Insurance Law 2024