Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional employment team presented two sessions on employment law issues in Southeast Asia as part of the 2022 Annual Employment Law Forum. On November 29, the forum featured a session titled “Poor Performance Terminations in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam,” with presentations by Dino Santaniello (Laos), Nitikar Nith (Cambodia), Pimvimol Vipamaneerut (Thailand), Sarah Galeski (Vietnam), and Yuwadee Thean-ngarm (Myanmar). On November 30, Chitchai Punsan highlighted criminal proceedings relating to Thailand’s Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998). The session covered potential responsible parties, different types of criminal offenses, and criminal proceedings. On December 7, Suruswadee Jaimsuwan and Pathanin Sornchangwat concluded the final presentation of the webinar series with an English presentation titled, “Exploring Complex Procedural Laws in Labor Disputes: Class Actions and Arbitration.” Tilleke & Gibbins’ Employment Law Forum is an annual event featuring insights on relevant laws and regulations for employers in Thailand and the region. The forum this year also featured several sessions in Thai.

On May 3, David Mol, associate in the firm’s Phnom Penh office, delivered an American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia webinar entitled “An Overview of Consumer Product Regulations in Cambodia: Standards, Registrations, and Labeling.” The webinar aimed to provide attendees with an understanding of the legal framework surrounding consumer products in Cambodia. In the session, David addressed compliances requirement for consumer products in Cambodia, including: Meeting mandatory product standards; Fulfilling mandatory product registration; and Complying with legal labeling requirements. A recording of the webinar can be viewed below.

On December 9, lawyers from Tilleke & Gibbins’ offices in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar contributed to a webinar entitled “How to Export Cosmetics to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar,” cohosted by life sciences consultancy Chemlinked. During the webinar, Aye Thuzar Hlaing, an associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Myanmar office; David Mol, an associate in the firm’s Phnom Penh office; Dino Santaniello, head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Laos; and Yuwadee Thean-ngarm, director of the firm’s Myanmar office, took turns presenting on the process of exporting cosmetics to each jurisdiction. Specific topics included the following Overview of cosmetics regulations in each jurisdiction; Key elements of the regulatory framework; Compliance requirements and labeling essentials; and Practical advice for foreign cosmetic brands on how to comply with local regulations. A full video recording of the webinar is available below.

On November 10, Tilleke & Gibbins hosted a webinar in collaboration with the Australian Chambers of Commerce in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar to address current labor practices and core legal obligations across the region. The webinar featured Dino Santaniello, head of Tilleke & Gibbins’ office in Laos; Jay Cohen, director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Cambodia office; Sochanmalisphoung Vannavuth, an associate from Tilleke & Gibbins’ Cambodia office, and Yuwadee Thean-ngarm, director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Myanmar office. The speakers provided a comprehensive overview of employment contracts and employment rights in their respective countries, outlined taxes and social security schemes, laid out termination policies, and addressed vaccine mandates and data privacy requirements that companies must comply with in each country. They also covered the latest regulations on immigration, work permits, visas, and special procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak. A video recording of the webinar is available below.