On 5 December 2022, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) issued Notification 045/22 on Extending the Deadline for the 2023 Foreign Employee Quota Application (“Notification”). Through the Notification, the MLVT has delayed the submission deadline for 2023 foreign employee quota applications until 31 January 2023, being two months after the original deadline ...
On 17 November 2022, the State Administration Council (“SAC”) enacted the Law Amending the 2022 Union Tax Law (“2022 UTL Amendment”). This law provides tax exemptions for Battery Electric Vehicles (“BEVs”) and increases the corporate income tax rate of companies engaged in the oil and gas exploration and production sector in Myanmar. We highlight below the major changes under this law: 1 ...
On 16 November 2022, the Internal Revenue Department (“IRD”) issued Public Ruling 3/2022, which clarifies how the tax authorities will interpret tax avoidance, underpayment, false or misleading tax information, and tax evasion as provided under Myanmar’s Tax Administration Law (“TAL”). This Public Ruling will take effect on 1 January 2023. A summary of the Public Ruling is provided here ...
On 15 November 2022, the Secretary of the Department of Energy (“DOE”) signed DOE Department Circular (“DC”) No. 2022-11-0034 which amends the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9513 (otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008). The amendment removes the nationality restrictions on the exploration, development, and utilization of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biomass, ocean or tidal energy ...
Following the issuance of Prakas 003 on 26 January 2022 on the Rules for the Management, Establishment, and Functioning of Trusts (“Prakas 003”), on 3 November 2022, the Non-Banking Financial Services Authority (“NBFSA”) issued Prakas 052 regarding the Accreditation of Valuation Companies and Valuation Specialists in the Trust Sector (“Prakas 052”) in order to ensure the accuracy of the existing registered trust in Cambodia ...
The global Financial Action Task Force (“FATF”) on 21 October 2022 placed Myanmar in the category of “High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action,” commonly referred to as the “blacklist,” due to its failure to implement its action plan that expired in September 2021. The international watchdog has called upon its members and non-members to apply enhanced due diligence to business relations and transactions with Myanmar ...
On 28 October 2022, the State Administration Council (“SAC”) enacted the Organization Registration Law (“ORL”) via Notification No.46/2022 as per the Section 419 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar The ORL will repeal the former Association Registration Law 2014 (“ARL”) enacted through the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No. 31/2014 that was subsequently implemented by the Rules Relating to the Registration of Associations on 5 June 2015 ...
On 9 September 2022, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) issued Guideline 3005 on Administrative Fines for Owners or Directors of Factories, Enterprises or Establishments that Employ Foreign Employees without Work Permits and Employment Cards (“Guideline 3005”) ...
Companies operating in Myanmar have been deeply affected by the present economic downturn due to several factors, ranging from pandemic to political. The economic downturn has led many companies in Myanmar to consider possible restructuring options. DFDL Myanmar has helped many companies navigate the economic downturn, whether through the M&A process, suspending/hibernating (including mothballing) operations or winding up as a last resort ...
The window to apply for the 2023 foreign employee quota is open until the end of November 2022. Enterprises employing or intending to employ foreign employees in 2023 are required to apply for a foreign employee quota from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) ...
Article by Anne Coulon, Regional Legal Adviser of DFDL A new specialised arbitration institution, the Thailand Court of Arbitration for Sport (“TCAS”), was set up in early October 2022 in Thailand. The creation of the TCAS was initiated by the Thailand Arbitration Center (“THAC”) in cooperation with the Sports Authority of Thailand (“SAT”) to provide services for the settlement of sports-related disputes through arbitration and mediation ...
On 21 September 2022, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) issued Prakas 247/22 on the Determination of Minimum Wage for Workers in the Garment, Textile, Footwear (“GTF”), Travel Product and Bag Sectors (“Prakas 247”), to set a new minimum wage for 2023, which will be effective from 1 January 2023. Under Prakas 247, workers in the above sectors will be entitled to the following new minimum wage: for regular workers, USD 200 per month ...
On 30 September 2022, the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee (“FESC”) of the Central Bank of Myanmar (“CBM”) issued Letter No. FE-73 (23/2022) as a result of discussions held during meeting No. (53/2022). The letter has allowed fuel import entities to make repayments of financing agreements in Chinese yuan (“RMB”) in a bid to prevent delays in oil distribution to consumers in Myanmar ...
On 25 March 2020, the Myanmar Competition Commission issued Directive No. 2/2020 under Section 56, Subsection (b) of the Competition Law. The directive aims to prohibit unfair advertising practices, ensure fair competition among businesses, and protect the public and consumers from potential harm ...
On 13 September 2022, the Microfinance Supervision Committee (“Committee“) under the Ministry of Planning and Finance issued Directive No.4/2022 (“Directive“), which outlines risk-based management strategies required of microfinance institutions (“MFIs“) to combat money laundering and terrorism. The Directive also pertains to Section 69 (c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Law (Union Parliament Law No ...
We would like to take this opportunity to remind our readers that the immovable property tax (“TOIP”) and Unused Land Tax deadlines for 2022 of 30 September 2022 are fast approaching. The 2022 TOIP and Unused Land Tax payment can be submitted at any tax branch or any branches of the following banks: Canadia, ACLEDA, Vattanac, Cambodia Public Bank or ABA Bank ...
On 17 August 2022, the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (“TCCT”) issued the Notification of TCCT on Guidelines for Determining Fair Trade Practices Relating to Provision of Credit Terms for Small and Mediums Enterprises (“SMEs”) being Sellers or Service Providers (No.2) (“Notification”) which came into effect on 16 September 2022 ...
The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (“DICA“) issued an Announcement for its Recommendation on Foreigner Visa Extensions (“Announcement“) that went into effect on 14 September 2022. The Announcement sets forth the requirements for companies that wish to apply to extend a foreigner’s visa and such companies must have been reg/istered for one year ...
On 1 September 2020, the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)’s new regulations regarding the advertisements of digital asset business operators became effective. Prior to the issuance, the SEC observed that digital asset business operators heavily advertised their digital asset services on various platforms, such as digital media and billboards ...
The Government of Vietnam issued Decree 53/2022/ND-CP dated 15 August 2022 (“Decree 53”) detailing a number of articles in Vietnam’s Law on Cybersecurity (2018) which took effect as from 1 January 2019 (“Law on Cybersecurity”). As with most laws in Vietnam, decrees and circulars and other subordinate legislation, provide more detailed information, forms, and other guidelines to help implement the law in an efficient manner ...
Following the enactment of the Law on Social Security on 2 November 2019 and issuance of Sub-Decree 32 on the Social Security Scheme for Pension Fund for Persons under the Scope of the Labour Law dated 4 March 2021 (“Sub-Decree 32”) (further detail can be found in this link), the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training promulgated and issued of the following regulations to further detail the formalities and procedures for the pension scheme:
We would like to share with you the most recent updates regarding the draft Power Development Plan (“PDP”) VIII, a mechanism for wind, solar power projects in transition and future, and the police investigation into 62 wind power projects. PDP VIII UPDATE Following the report of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (“MOIT”) to the Prime Minister under official letter no ...