Lao P.D.R. has long been a high-potential destination for foreign investors due to its abundant natural resources and strategic location. As the number of legal entities increased, the number of labor disputes have also rose accordingly. In the past, companies sometimes faced issues over the uncertain legal framework for resolving labor disputes.

On July 11, 2018, Cambodia passed an amendment to the Labor Law that eliminates “indemnity for dismissal”—a local legal concept equivalent to a severance payment—for undetermined duration contracts (i.e., employment contracts without a fixed expiration date), and replaces it with an ongoing requirement for employers to pay employees a new “seniority payment.” These amendments affect undetermined duration contracts, and may also affect fixed-term contracts (i.e., employment contracts with a fixed expiration date).

On July 18, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) announced that its Competition and Consumer Protection Authority has reminded multi-level marketing (MLM) companies to fulfill their statutory reporting requirements. Specifically, under Article 49 of Decree No. 40/2018/ND-CP on Multi-Level Marketing, there is a requirement for MLM companies to submit reports every six months, using the promulgated government forms, to both the MOIT and the Department of Industry and Trade (DOIT) of the province/city in which the company is located.

Tilleke & Gibbins, in collaboration with Trustlaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono service, is pleased to announce the release of the Trustlaw Non-Profit Structuring Guide for Thailand —an overview of the legal structures available to non-profit organizations in Thailand, authored by Tilleke & Gibbins.

As of mid-2018, more than 200 franchises had been registered in Vietnam, including franchises in food and beverages, fashion, education, and other sectors. With half of its population of nearly 100 million under the age of 30, Vietnam is one of the fastest growing franchise markets in the world.Before entering Vietnam, foreign franchisors should have a solid understanding of the country’s franchising regulations and practice. Below, we answer 10 questions commonly asked by prospective franchisors.1. Are franchises required to be registered in Vietnam?

The first half of 2018 has seen a flurry of legislative activity in Vietnam’s technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) sectors, with major laws passed and others in the drafting process.Consultant Giang Thi Huong Tran and partner Thomas J. Treutler from Tilleke & Gibbins’ TMT team in Vietnam have prepared a report on the key developments in these sectors over the past six months. The report covers topics including:

Practical Law has published the 2018 edition of its Distribution and Marketing of Drugs Global Guide, a easily accessible Q&A overview of the key legal issues involved in bringing drugs to market in 29 jurisdictions worldwide. Members of the Tilleke & Gibbins life sciences team wrote the Vietnam chapter of this year’s guide.

Tilleke & Gibbins has contributed to the 2018 edition of the Distribution and Marketing of Drugs Global Guide, a Practical Law Company publication covering issues related to the distribution and marketing of drugs across 28 different jurisdictions.Providing their expertise in the guide’s Thailand chapter were Alan Adcock, partner and deputy director, Siraprapha Rungpry, consultant, and Dr. Atthachai Homhuan, regulatory affairs manager, from the Tilleke & Gibbins’ intellectual property group in Thailand. The chapter covers the following topics: