On Nov. 10, 2021, the General Counsel’s Office of the National Labor Relations Board issued a guidance memorandum [OM 22-03] dictating employers and unions will be required to engage in decision bargaining over discretionary aspects of vaccination policies required by the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard mandating COVID vaccinations and testing. Under the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), employers must create Vaccination and Testing Policies by Dec. 6, 2021 ...
Joint employers and independent contractors need to be aware of recent announcements of both the United States Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). These bodies have announced significant changes to current regulations with respect to their standards for joint employers and independent contractors ...
On Monday 04 de December, Decree No. 164/2023 from the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security was published in the Official Gazette, approving the National Cybersecurity Policy that will be in force during the period 2023 - 2028, replacing the previous Policy, published on January 28, 2017, which was in effect between that same year and 2022 ...
On December 12th, 2023, the Chamber of Deputies approved in the second constitutional procedure the bill that "Establishes a Framework Law on Cybersecurity and Critical Information Infrastructure" (the "Bill"). On the same date, the Bill was sent to the Senate and advanced to the third constitutional stage, with all the amendments of the reviewing chamber being approved ...
Since 1 October 2021, the requirements for prepacked for direct sale food labelling changed, offering increased protection to the estimated one in four people with food allergies in the UK. What is PPDS? Prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) is food that is: presented to the consumer in packaging; packaged before the consumer selects or orders it; and packaged at the same place it is sold ...
What is Natasha’s Law? Natasha’s Law is the name given to the regulations that came into force on 1 October 2021 and provide new requirements for the labelling of allergens in certain foods. These regulations apply across the entirety of the UK ...
Although the more nostalgic among us were recently celebrating the announcement of a third film (and sequel) of In a galaxy near you (Dans une galaxie près de chez vous), a sci-fi series on Quebec TV, sports fans might be disappointed if the arena near them ever ends up being renamed. In the first instalment of our series of articles on sports law, we examined various issues surrounding team branding ...
Namibia’s emerging green energy industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs and contribute billions to the country’s GDP. In November 2022, the Namibian Government released the Namibia Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy Report (the “GH2 Strategy Report”) which drew significant attention from locals, who are anticipating the development of legislation for Namibia’s green hydrogen sector ...
The Namibian Industrial Property Act, 2012 will finally come into effect on 1 August 2018 and will have far-reaching implications for the protection, use and enforcement of trade mark and other intellectual property rights in Namibia. This Act provides for the registration and protection and administration of patents, utility model certificates, industrial designs, trade marks, collective marks, certification marks and trade names ...
Dear valued clients, colleagues and friends, On 23 August 2022, the Malaysia Competition Commission (“MyCC”) launched a public consultation on the proposed renewal of a Block Exemption Order (“BEO”) in respect of liner shipping services covered under a VSA. The renewal application was made pursuant to Section 8 of the Competition Act as the earlier BEO granted expired on 6 July 2022. The press release by MyCC (“Press Release”) is accessible here ...
Dear valued clients, colleagues and friends, In this article, our partner, Anand Raj, and associate, Jeevitha Thurai Rathnam, discuss the Malaysia Competition Commission’s market review exercise into the transportation sector (port logistics ecosystem and motor vehicle warranty claims) ...
As per a state-owned daily publisher dated 4th April 2023, the grand opening of trademark registration will be launched on 26th April 2023 (“Grand Opening“). On the date of the Grand Opening, the applications for the old and new trademarks will be accepted for registration purposes. The mark intended for use without actual use in the Myanmar market will also be accepted as a new mark ...
The Ministry of Energy (“MOE”) under the State Administration Council (“SAC”) of Myanmar has issued two invitations for sealed bids to be submitted to function as: an operator and shareholder in the Yetagun Project (“Yetagun Project”) in the Moattama Offshore Area Blocks on a production-sharing contract basis (“PSC”); and a petroleum operator for the Htaukshabin-Kanni Oil Field (“HK Oil Field”) onshore oil fields on Improved
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 ...
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 Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (“DICA”) has issued an undated notice where it has listed the documents that all DICA registered companies are required to submit to DICA to obtain its approval to repatriate foreign currencies out of Myanmar (the “Notice”). We understand from the Notice that it applies only to DICA registered companies ...
The Directorate of Investments and Company Administration (“DICA“) announced on 1st April 2023 (“Announcement“) regarding the additional requirements when the annual return (“AR“) is submitted by the companies to DICA within two months after registering their company under the Myanmar Companies Law (“MCL“) ...
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 25 April 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Finance (“MOPF”) issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) outlining the additional tax requirements when remitting foreign currency payments from Myanmar to overseas. This SOP is effective on 1 May 2023 and applies to individuals, companies, and organizations that are transferring foreign currency payments exceeding USD 10,000 (or its equivalent) ...
On 30 March 2023, the State Administration Council enacted the 2023 Union Tax Law (“2023 UTL”), which clarifies the tax rates and related procedures concerning income tax, commercial tax, and specific goods tax. This new law is effective on 1 April 2023 or the start of the new financial year 2023-2024 in Myanmar ...
The Internal Revenue Department (“IRD”) has recently issued an announcement informing newly-registered companies, entities, and individuals to register for tax using the e-Registration Management System (“ERMS”) starting 23 May 2023. Prior to the ERMS, a taxpayer who is applying for a Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) will have to manually submit the relevant documents to the Central Taxpayers Service Unit (“CTSU”) of the IRD ...
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 24 May 2022, the Port Authority of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (“MOTC”) under the State Administration Council (“SAC”) of Myanmar issued an invitation for bids to be submitted to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of a new international port terminal (“Project”) in Mawlamyine district of Mon State on the western coast of Myanmar’s southeastern peninsula ...
