Market Intelligence

International secondment arrangements in Thailand can create unexpected employment risks if the Thai host organisation is found to have employer status. This article outlines critical dos and don'ts to help multinational companies structure secondments properly and avoid unintended liability for severance pay, unfair dismissal compensation, and other employment obligations under Thai labour law.

Thailand has proposed a draft Accommodation Establishments Act that would replace the outdated Hotel Act of 2004 with a modern three-tier regulatory framework designed to bring homestays, tents, hostels, and sharing-economy rentals into the formal system. The draft introduces consolidated licensing for large operators, consumer protection measures including cancellation rights and prohibitions on unfair contract terms, and scaled regulatory requirements based on establishment size.

Digital labeling is emerging as an important development in the food industry, offering new opportunities to improve consumer access to product information while supporting more sustainable packaging practices. By using technologies such as QR codes, food businesses can provide certain product information electronically, reducing reliance on conventional printed labels and potentially minimizing packaging waste.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how music is created. Songwriters can now use AI to generate lyrics, compose melodies, arrange instruments, and produce complete recordings within minutes. What once required several musicians and producers may now begin with a few written prompts.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has released its revised draft Notification on Digital Channel Security for a second round of public consultation, open through November 6, 2026. Released on October 7, 2026, the draft would extend Thailand’s mobile banking security rules to more types of financial service providers and to internet banking, phase out SMS one-time passwords (OTPs), and require biometric checks for high-value transactions.

Thailand is taking its first steps toward modernizing gambling laws that have remained largely unchanged for over 90 years. The government has opened public consultation on draft principles that would establish clearer definitions, strengthen controls over online gambling and lucky draws, introduce licensing frameworks, and update penalties to reflect contemporary gambling methods and technologies.