After lengthy debates, negotiations, and several redrafts, the National Assembly of Vietnam finally passed the new Labor Code (10/2012/QH13) on June 18, 2012. The new Labor Code, which will take effect on May 1, 2013, will replace the current Labor Code of 1994 with the stated aim of improving the labor market and industrial relations in Vietnam. From an employer’s perspective, however, the new Code appears set to strengthen the position of employees and decrease management flexibility.

“Save 30% if you buy today!” This is just one of many familiar e-commerce advertisements that regularly bombard consumers online. By employing many of the same techniques that have proven to be successful in selling other goods, many online pharmacies advertise drugs in an aggressive fashion to increase their sales.

The past several years have witnessed continuing growth in the presence of counterfeit automotive parts in the Thai market. Dissatisfied with this trend, a Japanese automotive spare parts supplier decided that it would no longer tolerate the damage caused to its business and reputation by the illegal trade of fake goods.

Location, location, location—the old adage about the three things that matter in real estate continues to be true today, especially for retailers. Commercial real estate developers and retailers face a fiercely competitive market and shifting consumer patterns as Bangkok continues to expand geographically. To reach the city’s expanding consumer base, it is essential for retailers to understand local zoning requirements, especially with a new city plan set to come into effect in May.BMA Ordinance

According to the 2012 White Book on Information and Communication Technology released by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), the total revenue of Vietnam’s information and communication technology sector in 2011 was USD 20 billion, 22 times more than in 2000. This included sales in the electronic hardware industry of USD 11.3 billion, an increase of 101% over 2010, and sales in the software industry of USD 1.17 billion, which grew by 10%.

Foreign companies usually opt to appoint their local distributors as the local entity to apply for and maintain product registration and import licenses, as usually required by Asian FDAs and Ministries of Agriculture. Such appointments are normally set out in the distribution agreement. While on most occasions this is a mutually beneficial relationship, sometimes local partners who have built up the business for those products may begin to compete unfairly or commit other breaches that lead to difficulties in terms of terminating a partner.

In the next few months, the European Union (EU) is seeking to open free trade agreement (FTA) talks with Thailand. Thailand exports more goods to Europe than any other region or country in the world, with over 85% being machinery, manufactured goods, and food. In terms of imported goods into Thailand, the EU stands in third behind Japan and China, with these imports focusing heavily on machinery, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam has dropped sharply in recent years. After peaking in 2008 at a record high of USD 64 billion, registered FDI capital fell to approximately USD 13 billion in 2012. In a country where FDI plays an important role for growth, a dramatic decrease in FDI undoubtedly raises concerns for the Vietnamese central government.