APAC payroll newsletter 2025 Issue. 3

13 August 2025

Our APAC payroll newsletter helps provide important updates on the latest regulatory changes and best practices that have influenced payroll operations in the APAC region over the past quarter. Our commitment is to keep you well-informed and empowered in navigating the evolving payroll sector.

Key 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