The recent freeze on US foreign aid has led to the suspension of billions of dollars in foreign assistance as well as widespread layoffs at contracting organizations around the world. Under this situation, USAID-funded offices in all jurisdictions, including Cambodia, may face the challenge of determining whether they need to lay off their employees. Employers in Cambodia may take different steps in response to this and other instances of sudden financial stress in order to manage their workforce in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulations. Suspension Cambodia’s Labor Law allows employers to suspend employment contracts due to a major economic or material issue or any unexpected difficulty that results in the suspension of operations. To impose this employment contract suspension, the employer must initially submit a suspension request to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT), detailing the reasons for the requested suspension. If the reasons are deemed valid and the request is approved, the suspension period cannot exceed two months. During the suspension period, the employer must continue providing accommodation for employees if this benefit is already being provided. In some circumstances, the suspension period can be extended if necessary (as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic). However, financial difficulties alone may not be a valid reason for extension. The decision is at the discretion of the MLVT labor inspectors on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, given the uncertain timeline of financial difficulties that may significantly impact the employer’s budget, suspending employment contracts might be ineffective. Mass Layoffs Under Cambodia’s Labor Law, mass layoffs due to a significant reduction in an establishment’s operation or an internal reorganization foreseen by the employer are permissible. The layoff order must be based on professional qualifications, seniority period, and family burdens of the employees. The first employees to be laid off must be

On February 18, 2025, the Thai Senate approved an amendment to the Act on the Establishment of and Procedures for the Tax Court. This follows the July 2024 approval by the Thai cabinet and subsequent preparation of supporting secondary legislation. This important amendment to procedural law, once it takes effect, will extend the exclusive jurisdictional powers of the Tax Court to all criminal tax, customs, and excise tax claims in addition to the court’s existing jurisdiction over all such civil claims. The amendment, while now formally approved by the legislature, is awaiting the king’s signature and will take effect 180 days after its publication in the Government Gazette. Based upon its projected publication date, the amendment will likely take effect by the end of the third quarter of this year. This development is set to offer a more sophisticated Tax Court litigation process for highly specialized and often complex criminal tax and customs claims, something with which Thailand’s traditional criminal courts have struggled. It also ensures that all tax and customs matters are adjudicated before the same court, saving time, party costs, and judicial resources. This appears likely to result in more consistent adjudication of criminal tax and customs disputes, a benefit for the Thai government and party litigants alike. Any ongoing criminal tax and customs claims already commenced with the respective criminal courts on the date on which the amendment becomes effective will remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of those criminal courts. The Tax Court will have exclusive jurisdiction over all other claims. This important legislative change offers those managing or otherwise facing civil and/or criminal Thai tax or customs disputes the opportunity to more effectively plan and execute a uniform defense strategy before a single, qualified forum.

Thailand ratified the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards on December 21, 1959, with the Convention coming into force on March 20, 1960. This ratification was a significant step in aligning Thailand’s arbitration framework with international standards, facilitating the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the country. In Thailand, the enforcement of both domestic and international arbitral awards is governed by the Arbitration Act B.E. 2545 (2002), which is based on the first version of the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of 1985 (as opposed to the latest version from 2006). However, unlike Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, Thailand is not an UNCITRAL Model Law country. While Thailand’s Arbitration Act is influenced by the UNCITRAL Model Law, it incorporates certain local contexts that require interpretation alongside Thai court rulings. The Arbitration Act also confirms the authority of arbitral tribunals to grant interim measures, reinforcing tribunals’ power in managing disputes effectively. Additionally, the act incorporates principles from the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958). This article explores the key procedural steps, timeframes, and practical challenges associated with the enforcement of arbitral awards under Thailand’s legal framework. Procedures for Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in Thailand The enforcement of arbitral awards in Thailand follows the procedures outlined in the Arbitration Act: Application to the competent court: Under the Arbitration Act, parties seeking enforcement must submit a petition to the Thai courts within three years of the award having become enforceable. The application must include the original or certified copies of the arbitral award and the arbitration agreement, along with translations if necessary. In Thailand, the choice of court for filing the arbitral award depends on the nature of the disputed contract. If the contract concerns

On February 4, 2025, Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) issued Announcement No. Por. 3/2568, introducing updated qualifications, criteria, and conditions for long-term resident (LTR) visas. The updated requirements took effect immediately upon issuance of the announcement. The LTR program is intended to stimulate the economy and attract high-potential foreign nationals to Thailand, and these latest updates aim to expand access to a wider range of experts, investors, and executives to reinforce Thailand’s foreign talent pool and enhance its competitiveness. The recent updates primarily affect three categories under the LTR visa program: work-from-Thailand professionals, wealthy global citizens, and high-skilled professionals, as detailed below. Work-from-Thailand Professionals The updated LTR visa program includes some changes to the eligibility criteria for visa applicants in the work-from-Thailand professionals category: The revenue requirement for visa applicants’ employers is now USD 50 million over a three-year period, down from USD 150 million previously. Eligible foreign employers now include wholly owned subsidiaries of: companies listed on any stock exchange in any country; or private companies that have been in operation for at least three years and have generated a combined revenue of at least USD 50 million over the past three years. There are no longer work experience requirements. The other requirements remain the same. Wealthy Global Citizens For the wealthy global citizens category, the latest updates remove the requirement to have an annual personal income of USD 80,000, while the other criteria remain. Highly Skilled Professionals For the highly skilled professionals category, the latest updates expand eligibility to include lecturers in vocational or higher education, and remove work experience requirements. Other categories The updated LTR visa program does not introduce any changes for the wealthy pensioners category. However, the announcement does expand the scope of eligible dependents of LTR visa holders to cover parents and a