Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562 (2019) (the PDPA) is currently due to become fully effective on May 27, 2020. However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, business operators in Thailand have raised concerns about their ability to fully comply with the obligations, and pressed the government to consider the negative impact that hasty enforcement may have on businesses. On the other hand, postponing the PDPA could adversely impact data subjects’ consumer protection rights and human rights, which the government has a duty to protect.

Amended versions of Vietnam’s 2014 Law on Investment and 2014 Law on Enterprises, two of the key laws governing companies (including foreign companies) doing business in Vietnam, will be considered at the 9th session of the National Assembly in May 2020. If passed, the draft laws will come into effect on January 1, 2021.The amended laws are currently in the proposal stage. The Ministry of Planning and Investment recently submitted drafts, as verified by the Economic Committee of the National Assembly, to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for its opinions.

On May 7, 2020, following a meeting of the government on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister of Vietnam decided to allow most nonessential businesses to reopen, after the country experienced a 21-day period of no new COVID-19 cases due to community transmission.

On April 27, the Government of Myanmar issued its Economic Relief Plan to Mitigate the Economic Impact from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The plan aims to improve the economic environment and ease the strain on businesses and households.The Economic Relief Plan outlines seven broad goals (for example, “Ease the Impact on the Private Sector”) supported by 76 action plans covering a range of extraordinary fiscal measures, as well as measures to support businesses, households, and the self-employed. The key measures are summarized below.

Shortly after the extension of the COVID-19 lockdown measures in Laos on May 1, 2020, the Prime Minister’s Office provided additional details on the post-lockdown period and the relaxation of certain measures in Notification No. 524/PMO.  

The Global Attorney-Client Privilege Guide, published by Lex Mundi, provides information on what constitutes attorney-client privilege in over 65 jurisdictions around the world. The Thailand chapter of the guide was written by Michael Ramirez, counsel in the dispute resolution group of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok office.

On April 9, 2020, the Cambodian General Department of Taxation (GDT) issued an official notification to clarify and widen the scope of the tax relief measures granted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2020, the Cambodian Department of Intellectual Property Rights (DIPR) of the Ministry of Commerce issued new requirements for trademark owners and their agents to file Affidavits of Use or Non-Use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While an official announcement has not yet been made, the new affidavit filing requirements are already in practice.