Lawyers from Tilleke & Gibbins’ labor and employment team have contributed a new Vietnam chapter to Thomson Reuters Practical Law’s Employment and Employee Benefits Global Guide. The guide provides a high-level comparative overview of employment laws and regulations across various jurisdictions around the world. Tilleke & Gibbins also contributed the Myanmar chapter of the guide. The Vietnam chapter covers a wide range of typical employment matters, such as limitations on working hours, paid leave requirements, minimum wage, and health and safety obligations. In addition, the guide provides insight on a number of topics of special interest to foreign investors doing business in Vietnam, including the following: Mandatory contents of a labor contract; Visas and permits required for expatriate employees; Employers’ obligations for protecting employees’ privacy and personal data; Procedural requirements for the dismissal of an employee; Employer and parent company liability. To view the latest version of Employment and Employee Benefits, please visit the Practical Law website and enroll in the free Practical Law trial to gain full access.

Vietnam’s new Telecom Law 2023 was promulgated on November 24, 2023, and will take effect on July 1, 2024, for most telecom services. For three newly introduced telecom services—OTT telecom services, internet data center services, and cloud computing services—implementation and compliance will be delayed until January 1, 2025. These new services will be explored briefly below. The Ministry of Information Communication (MIC) is currently in the process of developing a number of decrees and circulars that will detail the implementation of the Telecom Law 2023, including one main decree that guides the new law in general. This decree is scheduled for prompt promulgation to coincide with the law’s effective date of July 1, 2024. The draft version of this decree, dated February 22, 2024 (“Draft Decree”), was shared for consultation with international organizations, associations, and enterprises by the Vietnam Telecom Agency (VNTA) in early March 2024 to gather feedback. The Draft Decree is expected to undergo further revisions before being sent to relevant state agencies for input and submission to the Ministry of Justice for assessment by the end of March 2024. The MIC anticipates submitting the subsequent version to the government by April 15, 2024.   New Telecom Services: OTT Telecom Services, IDC Services, and Cloud Computing Services In comparison to the Telecom Law 2009, the Telecom Law 2023 has three new telecom services: Basic telecommunications services on the internet (OTT telecom services) are defined as services whose primary functions including the sending, transmission, and receipt of information between two persons or a group of people using telecommunications services on the internet (Article 3.8 of the Telecom Law 2023). By incorporating the term “primary functions” into the definition, the Telecom Law 2023 aims to exclude services such as ride-hailing platforms where the primary function is transportation, not telecom services for sending and receiving messages

Vietnam’s fintech industry is booming, and the rapid emergence of tech startups and non-bank institutions offering innovative financial services has been outpacing existing regulations. This regulatory gap not only creates uncertainty for both innovators and consumers, but also poses a number of imminent risks in areas such as consumer protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and anti-money laundering, among others. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is stepping up to tackle these challenges by accelerating the promulgation of a long-awaited Fintech Sandbox Decree with the issuance of an updated draft (“Draft Fintech Sandbox Decree”) on March 4, 2024. The Draft Fintech Sandbox Decree establishes a controlled environment where fintech companies and financial institutions can test solutions that do not fall squarely within the parameters of existing regulations. The pilot activities will be limited in scope, scale, and duration, with a number of precautionary measures in place. The SBV will supervise this “sandbox” closely, effectively mitigating risks and gathering valuable data to inform future regulations. Who Can Participate in the Sandbox? Traditional financial institutions (credit institutions): Banks and other institutions licensed to provide financial services can participate in the sandbox to test new offerings or refine existing ones. Independent fintech companies: Startups and established companies specializing in fintech solutions can leverage the sandbox to pilot innovative ideas before seeking wider market adoption. Other relevant organizations involved in the pilot: Depending on the specific solution being tested, other entities may also be involved in the sandbox. Geographical scope: Limited to Vietnamese territory; cross-border testing is not allowed. Focusing on Three Solution Categories Earlier versions of the Draft Fintech Sandbox Decree included categories like blockchain technology and other innovative business models, but these were removed in the latest version. To allow the SBV to assess the associated risks and work on the solutions more effectively, this version focuses only on the following

Thailand’s Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) has issued a notification announcing new and updated criteria for the approval of capital reductions for both life and non-life insurance companies. The notification was published in the Government Gazette on March 6, 2024. These updates aim to reduce the time required and relax and streamline the procedures for seeking OIC approval for capital reductions. Under the notification, general approval will be granted by the OIC upon submission of an application to the registrar if the capital reduction is to be implemented by way of: Removing registered shares that cannot be sold or that have not yet been issued for sale; or Reducing the share value or the number of shares to mitigate the accumulated loss. The reduction must not affect the share ratio of the shareholders in the financial statement and must comply with relevant laws, regulations, and accounting standards. After granting written approval, the registrar will notify the OIC to arrange for registration by the company. For more details on the OIC’s notification regarding capital reductions for life and non-life insurance companies, or for any issue concerning insurance regulations in Thailand, please contact Athistha (Nop) Chitranukroh at [email protected], Witchupong Chittchang at [email protected], Ajaree Trachukul at [email protected], Thammapas Chanpanich at [email protected], or Sireethorn Wijan at [email protected].

タイ財務省(Ministry of Finance)は、バーチャルバンク事業(Virtual Bank Business)を行うためのライセンスの申請および発行に関する基準、方法、条件に関する通知を発行し、2024年3月4日に官報に掲載した。この通知により、テクノロジー、デジタルサービス、多様なデータ利用分野の（将来、指定される資格も含む）資格を有する専門家が、新しいデジタルチャネルを通じて金融サービスを提供するためのバーチャルバンクのライセンスを申請する機会が開かれることになる。主な目標は、従来のバンクシステムでは十分な金融サービスを受けられない可能性のある者の金融ニーズに応えることである。 認可のタイムライン 申請期間:　6月(2024年3月20日～2024年9月19日)。 合格者の発表:　2025年半ば(申請期間終了後約9ヵ月～1年) 合格者は、発表後1年以内にバーチャルバンク事業を開始する準備が整っていることを以下の方法で証明する必要がある。 払込済み登記資本金50億タイバーツを有し、事業開始後に払込済み登記資本金を100億タイバーツ以上に増やす計画があること 金融事業グループの設立または適正化 人材、ITシステムおよび関連するリスク管理ツールの調達 発行予定ライセンス数 タイ中央銀行 (BOT: Bank of Thailand) の裁量により、特定の制限は規定されていない。 主な応募資格 応募資格は以下の点を有していることである。 ビジネスモデルおよび計画に従ってバーチャルバンキング業務をサポートする経験およびリソース テクノロジーを活用し、デジタルチャネルを通じてサービスを提供するビジネスを実施するための専門知識および経験 データの取得、アクセス、管理、および活用する能力を実証した経験（これには、ユーザーの活動を容易にし、他のプロバイダーとの取引を行うためにデータを使用できるようにするためのシステムまたはデータ接続の開発が含まれる） 基準 バーチャルバンクライセンスの申請者の資格を評価する際に、BOTは以下の基準を考慮する。 申請者が主要な応募資格を有していること 申請者がBOTの想定するグリーンライン(すなわち、金融サービスが、顧客のニーズ、優れた顧客満足度、公正な競争を満たしていること)に従い、かつ、レッドライン(持続不可能な事業運営、不適切な競争、利害関係者の利益相反)を回避して業務を遂行できること 申請者が、柔軟性、持続性、安全性、信頼性の高い技術を使用してバーチャルバンク業務を運営する可能性および能力；知識、スキル、適切なガバナンス；リスク管理能力、金融業務能力、リスク軽減の強力な文化の維持能力；株主からの地位および金融支援；を有していること バーチャルバンクまたはその他の金融テクノロジーに関するタイの規制の詳細については、Athista (Nop) Chitranukroh ([email protected]) 、Pornpan Wichawut ([email protected]) 、またはRada Lamsam ([email protected]) までお問い合わせください。   備考：本和文は英文記事を翻訳したものです。原文については、以下のリンクをご参照ください。 Thailand Unveils Virtual Bank Licensing Framework

タイの国家サイバーセキュリティ委員会（NCSC : National Cyber Security Committee）は、2024年1月18日にサイバーセキュリティ法に基づく3つの通知を発表し、主要な組織と資産に対するサイバーセキュリティ関連の要件を設定した。これらの通知のうち1つは既に施行されているが、最も注目すべき2つは2025年1月18日（すなわち、官報に掲載された日から1年間した日）に施行する。 これら２つの通知は、NCSC Notification Re: Standards for Defining the Security Category for Data or Information Systems B.E.2566（2023）（「データ・情報システムのセキュリティカテゴリに関する通知」）とNCSC Notification Re:　Minimum Standards for Data and Information Systems B.E.2566（2023）（「データ・情報の最低基準に関する通知」）である。 これらの通知は次の場合に適用される。 国家機関 監督又は規制機関（すなわち、国家機関、民間機関、あるいは、国家機関又は重要な情報基盤組織の業務を規制又は監督するために法律によって指定された個人） 重要情報基盤組織（すなわち、国家安全保障、重要な公共サービス、銀行及び金融、情報技術及び電気通信、輸送及び物流、エネルギー及び公益事業、並びに公衆衛生に関連する又はこれらを提供する組織） 上記は、通知の下でまとめて「組織」として定義される。 セキュリティカテゴリに関する通知 セキュリティカテゴリに関する通知は、「組織」のデータ又は情報システムのリスクベースのセキュリティ分類、つまり「セキュリティカテゴリ」を示している。 セキュリティカテゴリの評価のために、組織は、3つの主要なセキュリティ目標（つまり、機密性(confidentiality)、完全性(integrity)、可用性(availability)）に基づいて、データ・情報システムの自己評価を実行することが要求される。これらの各目標は、以下の分野における潜在的影響の評価を考慮して、さらに3つのリスクレベル（低、中、高）に分類される。 組織の財務的価値又は評判 組織のサービス利用者数 組織の職務遂行能力 国家の安定又は公の秩序 ３つの目的のリスクレベルは、以下に説明するように、「最小限(minimal)」、「重度(severe)」、又は「深刻(serious severe)」に影響があるかどうかを考慮して決定される。 機密保持（異なる基準に従って「機密」として分類されるデータは含まれない）：データの不正開示が組織の評判や財務的価値に及ぼす影響 完全性:データの不正な変更又は破壊が組織のパフォーマンスに及ぼす影響 可用性:データ・情報システムにアクセスできない、又は使用できないことが組織のパフォーマンスに与える影響 組織のシステムが異なるカテゴリのデータを扱う場合、組織は、各タイプを評価し、特定された最も高いリスク・レベルに基づいてセキュリティカテゴリを設定しなければならない。 セキュリティカテゴリは、少なくとも3年に1回見直しを行い、その結果を適切に記録すべきである。 最低基準に関する通知 セキュリティカテゴリが決定された後、組織は、最低基準に関する通知に規定された最低限のサイバーセキュリティ対策を適用する責任を負う。これらの対策の概要を次の表に示し、各セキュリティカテゴリの最低限のサイバーセキュリティ対策に必要な項目を示す。 サイバーセキュリティ法にの詳細については、Athistha (Nop) Chitranukroh ([email protected]), Nopparat Lalitkomon ([email protected]), Napassorn Lertussavavivat ([email protected]), 又はRada Lamsam ([email protected])までお問い合わせください。   備考：本和文は英文記事を翻訳したものです。原文については、以下のリンクをご参照ください。 Thailand Lays Out New Cybersecurity Standards

Thailand’s Ministry of Finance has issued the Notification re: Criteria, Methods and Conditions for Applying for and Issuing Licenses to Operate Virtual Bank Business, which was published in the Government Gazette on March 4, 2024. This notification opens an opportunity for qualified experts in technology, digital services, and diverse data usage fields to apply for virtual bank licenses to provide financial services through new digital channels. The main goal is to serve the financial needs of target groups that may not have received sufficient or tailored financial services from the traditional banking system. Licensing Timeline Application submission period: 6 months (March 20–September 19, 2024). Announcement of successful applicants: Mid-2025 (approx. 9 months–1 year from the end of the submission period) After the announcement, successful licensees must demonstrate their readiness to commence virtual bank operations within 1 year (extendable for up to 1 additional year) via the following: Having paid-up registered capital of THB 5 billion and plans to increase the paid-up registered capital to at least THB 10 billion after the initial business period; Establishment or adjustment of a financial business group; Procurement of human resources, IT systems, and relevant risk management tools. Number of Licenses to be Issued No written or specified limit, subject to the discretion of the Bank of Thailand (BOT). Key Qualifications Applicants must have the following: Experience and resources to support virtual banking operations according to the business model and plan. Expertise and experience in conducting business that utilizes technology and provides services through digital channels. Experience demonstrating the ability to obtain, access, manage, and utilize data, including development of systems or data connections to facilitate user activities, allowing them to use their data to conduct transactions with other providers. Criteria In assessing applicants’ qualifications for a virtual bank license, the BOT will consider the following criteria: Whether the applicant possesses the key qualifications; Whether the applicant can conduct business operations following

The Thai government has released an updated draft Liability for Defective Goods Act after the Office of the Consumer Protection Board completed its second round of public hearings on the law in December 2023. The draft law sets out a new liability regime for different types of goods, and is being drafted in response to concerns over inadequate protection for buyers and the current lack of clear liability regulations for defective goods. Key Points in the Draft Act The latest draft introduces new and broader definitions for “seller” and “buyer,” which replace “business operator” and “consumer” as defined in the previous draft. The act will apply to and govern hire-purchase contracts and sales contracts and will have retroactive effect on agreements that were made before the act’s effective date. The draft’s new liability regime has the following characteristics: Liability provisions are specified for different categories of goods while excluding used products and living animals. Sellers are presumed to be at fault for defects that exist at the time of delivery, with specific timelines and conditions for (1) automobiles and motorcycles; (2) electrical appliances, electronic devices, and mechanical devices; and (3) other products. Agreements made before the discovery of a defect are deemed void if they conflict with the act or unfairly burden buyers. The latest draft also sets new prescription periods: For the “other products” category, the prescription period is one year from the discovery of a defect or from the seller’s agreement to repair, replace, or reduce the sale price. For the “automobiles and motorcycles” and “electrical appliances, electronic devices, and mechanical devices” categories, the prescription period is two years under similar conditions. Now that the draft Liability for Defective Goods Act has passed the public hearing stage, its potential impact on the public is being assessed further before the draft continues moving through the legislative process. For more details