Hong Kong is one of the world’s most dynamic business hubs. The special administrative region is famous for its buzzing economy, bustling street food scene, and its strategic position as a gateway to mainland China. The region’s robust service economy and its identity as a financial powerhouse have shaped everything from its workforce to its payroll processes. Multinationals looking to gain ground in the city and benefit from its role as a financial powerhouse need to contend with a payroll environment that is both highly regulated and constantly evolving.

Hong Kong is densely populated and inhabitants must contend with housing shortages and a high cost of living. As a result, many employees have moved across the border to mainland China and commute into Hong Kong. The prevalence of cross-border workers also means that employers need to navigate different regulatory requirements for their employees depending on where they live. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Jenny Sun, the Local Service Director at ADP Hong Kong, and Harry Chen, Service Director for the Asia-Pacific Region at ADP, as they share insights on navigating Hong Kong’s evolving payroll landscape. We also speak to Edmond, a financial advisor who lives in Shenzhen but works in Hong Kong, to learn more about an employee’s perspective on commuting between borders.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07]
• Hong Kong’s labor market [04:18]
• The territorial tax system [08:23]
• The Mandatory Provident Fund [13:50]
• Cross-border employees [24:07]
• Edmond’s story [24:56]
• Compliance challenges for cross-border employees [31:14]
• How ADP can help [34:47]

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Lead Producer for Storythings: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Kelly Yu
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the continent’s top three alongside Nigeria and Egypt, South Africa stands as a vital hub of economic, cultural, and political activity across the region and the continent. South Africa’s payroll and HR landscape is shaped by its complex history and strong worker protection laws. Landmark policies such as the Employment Equity Act and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act were introduced to promote fair representation and correct past inequalities in the workplace. The country’s labor landscape is also defined by a strong union presence.

Payroll professionals also need to navigate several statutory contributions, including the Skills Development Levy (SDL), a 1% employer-paid tax designed to fund national training and development initiatives. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Tracey Wiehman, Head of Services, and Oswald Bailey, Business Compliance Manager, as they share insights on navigating South Africa’s evolving payroll landscape. We also speak to Naomi, a manager at a financial institution in Johannesburg, to tell us more about her experiences with training opportunities funded by the SDL.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07]
• South Africa’s economy [04:30]
• The unemployment rate [06:55]
• South Africa’s unions [08:04]
• 12 official languages [11:26]
• Payroll calculations [13:26]
• The Basic Conditions of Employment Act [16:33]
• The Employment Equity Act [17:08]
• The Triple B Double E Act [18:45]
• The Skills Development Levy [22:58]
• Naomi’s story [25:35]
• Payroll cycles and mandatory contributions [32:34]
• How ADP helps clients in South Africa [36:32]

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Lead Producer for Storythings: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Khanya Mtshali
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poland is one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies and a regional powerhouse in sectors like manufacturing and shared services. The country has made a name for itself on the global market thanks to a highly educated workforce and high foreign direct investment. After joining the European Union in 2004, Poland embarked on a new era of expansion, with access to EU funds supporting its growth and development. But for companies expanding into Poland, payroll is anything but straightforward. Any administrative processes in Poland—including payroll—are in a constant tug-of-war between modern, digital-forward methods and traditional bureaucracy. Poland’s labor code, a tapestry of communist-era laws reshaped by current EU legislation, can often be difficult to decipher for multinationals coming from abroad.

In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Josef Kozler, Senior Operations Director at ADP Poland, and Tomasz Czerkies, Compliance Manager, as we explore Poland’s payroll complexities. From the strict requirements for storing and indexing personnel files to the country’s overarching Polish-language mandates, they explain what global payroll professionals need to know to stay compliant and competitive in one of Europe’s most promising yet demanding markets. We’re also joined by Jarek, an office manager at a law firm in Warsaw, who’s leading the firm’s transition away from paper files to a more digital system.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07]
• Poland’s labor landscape [04:54]
• Payroll complexity, including retrocalculations [06:27]
• Interpreting Poland’s labor laws [12:38]
• Tax and social security obligations [17:13]
• Digitizing personnel files [20:27]
• Jarek’s story [24:36]
• How to help companies digitize their files [29:58]
• Language barriers [31:38]
• Keeping up with regulatory changes [33:08]
• The best part about Polish payroll [34:45]

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Lead Producer for Storythings: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Tadeusz Michrowski
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.