Thailand legal news
• 1 January 2020:
– The Electronic Transactions Development Agency revealed that the minimum wage increase, effective as of 1 January 2020, does not directly affect e-commerce business, since such business does not require a large number of workers and most of them have higher wage than the minimum standard. Instead, e-commerce business continues to grow.
• 2 January 2020:
– According to the Franchise and Thai SMEs Association, the franchise business is forecasted to grow at least 10% in 2020 regardless of the economy, because the new generation prefers to have their own business, and the unemployed consider to invest in a franchise business as it is an investment that consumes less time.
• 7 January 2020:
– The Department of Industrial Works showed its plan in four aspects in 2020, namely, attempting to drive Industry 4.0, closely regulating 5,000
– 6,000 factories, preventing pollution (water, air, industrial waste), and improving safety issues.
• 9 January 2020:
– The government agreed to improve long term care planning for the elderly, impose supportive measures, and raise awareness. Thailand will become an
aged society in 2021, which means the elderly will account for 20% of the population (approx. 13 million people). The ratio will increase to 28% in 2031.
• 13 January 2020:
– The Deputy Prime Minister ordered the Board of Investment (“BOI”) to confer with the Ministry of Finance to impose investment support measures in the next 6 months, during the period of strong Thai Baht. The plan will be proposed to the BOI in the beginning of February 2020.
7 January 2020:
• Approved Principle: Draft Min. Reg. prescribing regulations, procedures, and conditions for objection, deprivation, termination, and withdrawal of mediators
B.E. …. (under Mediation Act B.E. 2562);
• Approved Principle: Draft regulation re: regulations and procedures for appointment of the chief commissioner and the qualified commissioners in the
Personal Data Protection Commission B.E. ….
– The said appointment shall be made within 90 days from the date the nominating committee is appointed, pertaining to Section 9 of the Personal Data Protection Act B.E. 2562. In case of necessity, the nominating committee shall request for further extension of max. 60 days.
14 January 2020:
• Approved: Merger between TOT and CAT Telecom to become the National Telecommunications Company to decrease overlap tasks and increase efficiency.
– Changing from public enterprise to public limited company;
– Not reducing the number of employees / no termination.
Royal Gazette Update:
