The economic downturn in Thailand has resulted in increased pressure on Thai debtors. Several banks have forecasted Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) to contract 8.1 percent in 2020 due to a more severe than expected COVID-19 pandemic and the containment measures implemented by governments in many countries including Thailand.

On September 9, 2020, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) issued Circular No. 21/2020/TT-BCT on the order and procedures for issuance of electricity operating licenses (Circular 21). Circular 21 will take effect on October 26, 2020, replacing Circular No. 36/2018/TT-BCT as amended by Circular No. 15/2019/TT-BCT (together, Circular 36).

On August 26, 2020, the government of Vietnam issued Decree No. 98/2020/ND-CP on the penalties for administrative violations in commercial activities, production and trade of counterfeit and banned goods, and consumer rights protection (Decree 98). Decree 98 will come into effect on October 15, 2020, replacing Decree No. 185/2013/ND-CP as amended in 2015 and 2018 (Decree 185).The administrative penalties and remedial measures under Article 4 of Decree 98 are restructured and more well-organized than in Decree 185, with increased monetary fines for a number of violations.

On September 15, 2020, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) introduced a new type of personal loan—the digital personal loan—under BOT Circular Re: Rules, Procedures and Conditions for the Undertaking of Digital Personal Loan Business. Key features of the new loans are as follows:

On September 14, 2020, Thailand’s Central Bankruptcy Court approved Thai Airways to enter into a court-supervised business rehabilitation (restructuring). The airline’s creditors will now be able to submit formal claims for debts owed, within one month from when the court’s appointment of the plan preparer is published in the Government Gazette. Publication is expected in early October.  

Amendments to Thailand’s Labour Protection Act (LPA) on May 5, 2019, ushered in significant changes to a variety of labour laws, resulting in increased statutory severance pay, increased maternity leave benefits, implementation of paid necessary business leave, changes in wage payments during temporary suspension of business, interest payments for non-payment of wages in certain situations, and new workplace relocation procedures. These changes to the LPA also enhanced employee protections by setting out key amendments to the law governing transfer of employment.

Partner Vinh Quoc Nguyen and senior associate Tu Ngoc Trinh have contributed a chapter on electricity regulations in Vietnam, with a focus on the emerging renewable energy field, for the 2020 edition of the Practical Law Energy and Natural Resources Global Guide . The guide provides a comparative high-level overview, in a concise Q&A format, of energy laws and regulations in multiple jurisdictions around the world, and is split into three sections featuring regulations on (i) electricity, (ii) oil and gas, and (iii) mining. The Vietnam electricity chapter covers a range of topics, including the following: Recent trends in Vietnam’s electricity market and regulatory structure Companies involved in electricity generation, transmission, distribution and supply Import and export of electricity Electricity generation and renewable energy sources, including government policies and incentives Electricity transmission, distribution, and supply Proposals for reform, including privatization Practical Law Company is owned by Thomson Reuters and provides global guides covering legal know-how for corporate lawyers, including Global Guides to electricity regulation. Tilleke & Gibbins also contributes the Thailand chapter of this guide, as well as guides to numerous other practice areas. The full chapter can be viewed on the Practical Law website or downloaded using the button below.

On August 26, 2020, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 99/2020/ND-CP stipulating penalties for administrative offenses in the petroleum sector, and in the petrol, oil, and gas trading sector. Decree 99 will take effect on October 11, 2020, replacing Decree No. 67/2017/ND-CP dated May 25, 2017.Decree 99 stipulates that the maximum fine in the sector of exploration and production of petroleum is VND 1 billion (approx. USD 43,000) for an individual and VND 2 billion (approx. USD 86,000) for an organization.