Thailand is an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia, a vital hub for trade, investment, and regional connectivity. However, Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Thailand 108th out of 180 countries, underscoring that bribery remains a significant challenge for enterprises … Read More
Law
THAILAND’S CANNABIS CROSSROADS: A RETURN TO MEDICAL RIGOUR RESHAPES A BUDDING INDUSTRY
Thailand’s experiment with cannabis liberalisation is undergoing a profound and contentious recalibration. The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is advancing a new draft ministerial regulation designed to impose stringent oversight on the sector, a decisive pivot away from the largely … Read More
Right over Leased Asset (ROLA): A Legal Alternative to Nominee Property Structures in Thailand
Foreign investors interested in Thai real estate face strict restrictions on direct land ownership under the Land Code Act. While certain indirect arrangements have historically been considered, authorities have increased enforcement against non-compliant structures, emphasizing the importance of lawful options. … Read More
Thailand’s Media Regulation Strategy for OTT Platforms: Proposals, Progress and Outlook
Thailand is recalibrating its approach to media regulation in the age of streaming. Over the past year, regulators have unveiled a series of plans affecting digital broadcasting and online video platforms. Unlike what some early reports suggested, there isn’t a … Read More
Navigating Thailand’s Regulatory Landscape for Short-Term Professional Assignments
Thailand presents a more complex picture for professionals arriving for short-term work, even when the work is unpaid. Recent incidents, such as the detention of a Spanish actress for allegedly working without a permit, underscore the authorities’ rigorous interpretation of … Read More
Why Data Centers Are Not Factories Under Thai Law – And Why the Question Keeps Arising
Legal Status Data centers in Thailand are classified as digital and telecommunications infrastructure, not industrial factories. Under current law and regulatory practice, data centers are not required to obtain factory licensing or registration (รง.4 or รง.2) by virtue of their … Read More
Thailand Digital Platform Regulation 2025: Draft PEA, CCA, Lèse-Majesté and Compliance Obligations
I. Introduction: Thailand’s Regulatory Crossroads Thailand’s digital regulatory model is undergoing a structural realignment. For most of the past two decades, online enforcement rested primarily on the Computer Crime Act (CCA), criminal defamation, and traditional Criminal Code provisions. These regimes … Read More
Thailand’s 2025 Cannabis Regulatory Overhaul: A Hybrid Framework That Tightens Control but Stops Short of Comprehensive Reform
Thailand’s new cannabis regulations, approved in December 2025, represent the most substantial shift in national cannabis policy since decriminalization in June 2022. However, these rules do not replace all earlier ministerial directives or create a unified cannabis law. Thailand now … Read More
Thai Labour Law: Time Off, Working Hours & Equal Treatment
When navigating employment in Thailand, companies must give careful attention to time-off entitlements, working hours and special regimes for hazardous duties. Under the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (the “Labour Act”) and related regulations, a Thai employer has clear obligations, … Read More
Legal Mechanisms to Expedite Land Administration Actions in Thailand
The Department of Lands (DOL), operating under the Ministry of the Interior, constitutes the foundational institution for real property rights in the Kingdom of Thailand. Its mandate, encompassing the issuance of title deeds, the registration of encumbrances such as sales, … Read More