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July 7, 2023

Employment Law Basics in Southeast Asia

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce the release of Employment Law Basics in Southeast Asia. This publication serves as an indispensable resource for businesses navigating the complex landscape of employment law in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Authored by Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional team of employment law specialists, the guide provides a detailed overview of key employment law topics essential for businesses operating or planning to expand their operations in Southeast Asia. From employment contracts to termination procedures, each topic is examined in depth to ensure businesses are well-equipped to comply with local regulations and protect their interests.

Key topics covered in the guide include:

  • Employment contracts
  • Probationary period
  • Minimum wage
  • Social security and statutory payments
  • Working hours
  • Leave and holidays
  • Work rules
  • Termination
  • Foreign employees
  • Data protection
  • Remote work
  • AI and automation

Our guide offers multinational corporations establishing a presence in the region and local enterprises alike practical insights and actionable advice tailored to the unique regulatory environments in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

To access the full guide, please download the PDF below.

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

February 9, 2024
Tilleke & Gibbins employment specialists in Myanmar have contributed an updated Employment and Employee Benefits in Myanmar overview for Thomson Reuters Practical Law, an online publication that provides an overview of employment and employee benefits in jurisdictions worldwide. The Myanmar overview was written by members of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Yangon office, including Yuwadee Thean-ngarm, director; Nwe Oo, senior associate; and Kyaw Min Tun, associate. The chapter covers a wide range of key employment topics, including employment status, background checks, regulation of the employment relationship, minimum wage, working hours and holidays, illness and injury of employees, discrimination and harassment, termination of employment, resolution of employer-employee disputes, redundancy/layoffs, employee representation and consultation, business transfer and insolvency, employee relocation, health and safety obligations, taxation of employment income, intellectual property issues, and more. Practical Law, one of the many legal reference resources from Thomson Reuters, publishes a wide range of guides for hundreds of jurisdictions and practice areas. The Employment and Employee Benefits Global Guide covers 44 jurisdictions around the world, with Tilleke & Gibbins also providing the Vietnam chapter of the guide. To view the latest version of the Employment and Employee Benefits in Myanmar overview, please visit the Practical Law website and enroll in the free Practical Law trial to gain full access.
January 12, 2024
On December 28, 2023, Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT) issued Notification No. 110/23 on the issuance of work permits for foreign employees, in accordance with the country’s Labor Law and Prakas 195 dated August 20, 2014, on work permits and employment cards for foreign employees. This is a more comprehensive notification than existed previously, as it specifically clarifies the parties that are required to apply for work permits and employment cards. Notification No. 110/23 specifies that the following types of foreign individuals must hold a valid foreign work permit and/or employment card in order to work in Cambodia: A foreign employer whose name is stated in an enterprise’s patent tax certificate must hold a foreign work permit. A foreign employee whose name is stated in an enterprise’s patent tax certificate must hold a foreign work permit and an employment card. Self-employed individuals must hold a foreign work permit and an employment card. Applications for work permits and employment cards can be submitted through the MLVT’s online portal, accompanied by the following required documents: Valid passport; Latest patent tax certificate; Physical examination form; and Photo (4×6 cm) However, foreign shareholders and members of the board of directors as defined in the company’s articles of incorporation who do not have a Cambodian resident visa are not required to obtain a work permit or employment card. For more information on regulations and requirements for foreign employees in Cambodia, please contact Tilleke & Gibbins at [email protected].
December 15, 2023
Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Yangon provided the Myanmar chapter to the Guide to Restructuring a Cross-Border Workforce from International Employment Lawyer. This global guide, which covers 45 jurisdictions worldwide, examines the issue of workplace restructurings, particularly in relation to the needs of multinational companies. The Myanmar chapter was written by Kyaw Min Tun, an associate in the firm’s Myanmar office. The Q&A-style chapter focuses on key areas related to workplace restructuring, covering each of the following topics in detail: Reduction in workforce; Restructuring or reorganization of the business; Changing terms and conditions; and Areas to watch. A PDF of the Myanmar chapter can be downloaded through the button below. Tilleke & Gibbins also provided the Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam chapters to the Guide to Restructuring a Cross-Border Workforce 2024. To browse the full guide for all 45 jurisdictions, please visit the International Employment Lawyer website.
December 15, 2023
Employment law specialists from Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Vientiane have provided the Laos chapter to the Guide to Restructuring a Cross-Border Workforce from International Employment Lawyer. This global guide, which covers 45 jurisdictions worldwide, examines the issue of workplace restructurings, particularly in relation to the needs of multinational companies. The Laos chapter was written by associates Naiyane Xaechao and Sayphin Singsouvong. The Q&A-style chapter focuses on key areas related to workplace restructuring, covering each of the following topics in detail: Reduction in workforce; Restructuring or reorganization of the business; Changing terms and conditions; and Areas to watch. A PDF of the Laos chapter can be downloaded through the button below. Tilleke & Gibbins also provided the Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam chapters to the Guide to Restructuring a Cross-Border Workforce 2024. To browse the full guide for all 45 jurisdictions, please visit the International Employment Lawyer website.