Thailand legal news
27 August 2019:
– The new Land Transport Act (No.12) B.E. 2562 was effective on 20 September 2019. There are three major changes that directly affect majority
of the drivers in Thailand, as follows:
1. Traffic police are refrained from seizing the driver license;
2. In case the driver cannot be found, and the fine ticket cannot be attached to the car in anyways, such ticket, together with other
evidence, shall be delivered via registered mail to the residence of the car owner or possessor for fine payment; and
3. The driver can present electronic driver license via DLT QR Licence app (Scan QR Code on the right →) or copy of the driver license as prescribed by law (not yet been specified).
• 29 August 2019:
– General Motors Thailand (“GM”) terminated 394 permanent and outsourced employees due to the restructuring plan (downsize the company)
to be aligned with the decreased purchase orders. Monetary benefits under the labour law and special ex-gratia will be paid to the employees (approx.
THB 300 million in total). GM also provided consulting service and job interview preparation for the terminated employees to find new jobs. The
Ministry of Labour also keeps track on this case to ensure that the employees will get benefits under the law at the soonest.
• 30 August 2019:
– Pursuant to Section 38 of the Immigration Act, householders, owners or possessors of residences, or hotel managers must notify residences of
foreigners within 24 hours from the time of arriving at the residence by one of the following ways below:
1. In person: submit TM.30 form at the immigration office
2. Registered mail: mail TM.30 form to the immigration office
3. Website (online): https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/
4. Mobile application: “Section 38” (Scan QR Code down below ↓)
• 6 September 2019:
– The Board of the Economic Cabinet approved “Thailand Plus Package” which is a scheme to promote investment and to attract manufacturers
moving their production out of China due to trade war. This package consists of 7 measures as follows:
1. Benefit (BOI): additional 50% CIT relief for 5 years for the project with actual investment of THB 1 billion within 2021 (submit within 2020);
2. Efficiency improvement: appoint the committee to support investment and cooperate (one stop service);
3. Personnel: expenses for personnel training (advance technology) can be deductible for year 2019-2020;
4. Regulation improvement to ease the business doing: improve related laws and regulations to reduce obstacles and limitations for investment
in target industries and link the database of the government entities;
5. IEAT: provide and develop areas to support investment for specific countries e.g. Korea, China, Taiwan;
6. Urge the Ministry of Commerce to find conclusion regarding FTA-EU and CPTPP; and
7. Expenses for investment on automatic system can be deductible (1.5 times increase) for year 2019-2020.
• 9 September 2019:
– The Ministry of Transport (“MoT”) prepared to defend the case against Cho Thavee Public Co., Ltd. after the MoT has been sued for THB 1.556 billion
damages, plus 7.5% interest per annum due to the termination of contract regarding E-ticket and Cash-Box installation in public buses. The MoT
claimed that the installed system was inconsistant, delayed, and unusable.
New Cabinet resolutions
—-No interesting cabinet resolution—-
Royal Gazette Update:
