On April 20, 2018, the Lao Prime Minister’s Office issued Notification No. 560/PMO which raises the minimum salary in Laos from LAK 900,000 (approximately USD 110) to LAK 1,100,000 (approx. USD 133) per person/per month. The minimum salary increase will become effective as of May 1, 2018.This salary increase has been scheduled for a long time, but was delayed by discussions between different stakeholders over the value of the increase. This notification brings to an end the extensive debate on this topic between the relevant ministries. 

Introduction

It is expected that a new Law on Cyber-Security will be debated and adopted at the May 2018 session of Vietnam’s National Assembly. A draft of the new law (“Draft Law”) was debated at the last session of the National Assembly, and various conference committee meetings and consultative workshops have been held over recent months to iron out some of its key points.

On April 13, 2018, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Vietnam and the World Health Organization held a conference to introduce the main contents of the Draft Law on Preventing and Combatting Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer (the “Draft Law”). The Draft Law contains six chapters with 22 articles and is aimed at preventing and reducing harmful effects from alcohol and beer. The provisions introduce various measures geared toward reducing sales and controlling the production and quality of alcohol and beer supplied to the public.

Multi-level marketing (MLM) activities are allowed under the law in Vietnam. However, in recent years, a few MLM companies in Vietnam have been accused of not being fair to customers, not fulfilling tax obligations, and/or at times trading in low-quality products. A report from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) showed that from June 2015 to November 2016, the MOIT inspected and initiated investigations into 65 MLM companies and imposed fines totaling VND 11 billion (approximately USD 485,000) for violations.

The latest edition of Practical Law Company’s Doing Business in … Global Guide includes a chapter on Vietnam written by lawyers from Tilleke & Gibbins’ Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi offices. The popular guide, produced in association with Lex Mundi, the world’s largest network of independent law firms, provides the ins and outs of establishing and operating a business in more than 50 jurisdictions worldwide.The Vietnam chapter covers the following main topics:

In the Vietnamese judicial system, there are two avenues for reviewing a court’s final judgment. Under the current procedural legislation, if such judgment can be shown to be based on a serious error of law, it can go through the process of cassation, where the judgment will be reviewed and possibly annulled due to the material error in the procedures. If, on the other hand, new evidence or facts are discovered that could have affected the outcome of the case, the case can be retried.

Jaspal Co Ltd, a company renowned in Thailand, manufactures and retails popular ready-to-wear fashion lines under the trademark JASPAL and other well-recognised house brands.