Legal Section - Doing Business
You will find here a series of summaries providing an overview of useful legal regulations, processes and legal issues for Doing Business in Thailand.
Qualifications and duties of the Data Protection Officer
Since the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Act ("the PDPA”) in 2019, Thai businesses have become more aware of data protection issues. Currently, most Data Controllers are aware of their duties, including appointing a Data Protection Officer (“DPO”), as prescribed under Section 41 of the PDPA.
Unfair dismissal and restructuring
Employers may decide to terminate employees for various reasons, such as a restructuring or a disruption in the business.
Applications being accepted for Thai permanent residence
Effective 22 November 2021, the immigration office began accepting applications for Thai permanent residence (PR) for 2021. This is done annually by the Minister of Interior and the immigration authorities, allowing a maximum of 100 people of each nationality who are staying and working in Thailand for at least 3 consecutive years to request such status.
Temporary visa extensions
The immigration department has issued a memo to immigration officials stating that they can grant 60-day visa extensions to foreigners who cannot leave the country.
Extending the scope of business of a TISO and IBC
On 16 September 2021, the BOI issued Announcement No. Sor 3/2564 on extending the scope of business of a Trade and Investment Support Office (“TISO”) and International Business Centre (“IBC”) to provide loans to affiliated companies as an activity outside the scope of a treasury centre, as follows: