The dawn of the new decade brought with it familiar expectations of prosperity in global and regional commerce. This expectation has resonated throughout the ASEAN region and Thailand in particular, an historical favorite in the region for tourism and business investment. By the close of 2019 tourism numbers were at historic highs and investment in business and infrastructure were on the rebound, with parties to contracts in the region from both within and outside Thailand committing substantial resources to existing or contemplated commercial contracts.

Lawyers from Tilleke & Gibbins’ Hanoi office contributed the Vietnam chapter of the latest edition of the Center for International Legal Studies’ International Employment Law (Second Edition, Release 8, 2019), an overview of employment law in 45 jurisdictions around the world.

On March 1, 2020, the government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 27/2020/ND-CP amending and supplementing two decrees in the field of science and technology, including Decree No. 87/2014/ND-CP on attracting overseas Vietnamese and foreign experts to participate in scientific and technological activities in Vietnam. Decree 27 will take effect on April 15, 2020.

Measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 are being implemented in Thailand just as the country approaches the implementation of its landmark new Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which will come into effect in May 2020. This adds another layer of complexity to the COVID-19 issue, as employers find that they need to consider new categories of employee personal data, just as restrictions on doing so are due to come into force.

On February 24, 2020, the government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 24/2020/ND-CP (“Decree 24”) providing detailed guidance on the 2019 Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcoholic Beverages (the “Law on Alcoholic Beverages”), which took effect on January 1, 2020. Among other things, Decree 24 provides further guidance about the restrictions on consumption, advertising, and trading of alcoholic beverages. Below is a summary of these provisions:Consumption of alcoholic beverages

On March 2, 2020, the Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) issued Notification Re: the Determination of Exploration Blocks for the Bidding for Petroleum Exploration and Production Concessions B.E. 2563 (2020). This notification, which repeals Notification of the Department of Mineral Fuels Re: the Determination of Exploration Blocks for the Bidding for Petroleum Exploration and Production Concessions B.E. 2561 (2018), allocates the areas to be used as exploration blocks for the 23rd round of bidding for petroleum and exploration production concessions.

Under the new Land and Building Tax Act B.E. 2562 (2019), individuals and juristic persons who have ownership, possessory, or usage rights over land or buildings (including condominium units) as of January 1 each year will be required to pay land and building tax to the local administrative authorities. This tax took effect on January 1, 2020.Deadline Postponed for 2020 Land and Building Tax Payment