News
Final peace deal eludes Myanmar Government and armed ethnic groups
The latest round of peace talks between Myanmar’s government and armed ethnic groups ended 24 July without finalizing a nationwide peace accord, due to disagreement over the exclusion of six rebel groups and ethnic-proposed amendments, negotiators said. The Union Peace Working Committee, the government’s negotiating team, failed ...
Central bank monitoring weaker baht
The rapid weakening of the baht could cause problems for the real economic sector, says a senior official at the Bank of Thailand. The central bank is closely watching the baht’s movement, though no irregularity been detected so far, said Chantavarn Sucharitakul, the assistant governor overseeing financial ...
Banks offer discounts for overdue loan payments
In a bid to rein in non-performing loans, several commercial banks are offering a cut of 15-20% for payment of overdue loans to encourage customers to clear their credit card and personal debt, according to a debt collection firm. Pracha Chaisuwan, managing director of Chet Collection ...
Thai PM says Vietnam a friend, not competitor
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has brushed aside concern that Vietnam is eclipsing Thailand as a regional manufacturing base, saying Vietnam is a friend not a competitor. The comments came during a visit to Bangkok by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and at a time ...
Vietnam sponsors educational, cultural centres in Laos
Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s financial gifts were handed over to authorities in the Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Houaphanh to build cultural and educational facilities. Keep reading ...
Verification program begins but most migrants frozen out
Immigration teams from Myanmar have arrived in Thailand to conduct a long-awaited nationality verification process meant to regularise the status of over half a million workers caught in immigration limbo. The current plan involves sending out newly arrived representatives from the labour ministry, immigration department and ...
Civil sector workers in Laos lose out to corruption and rising cost of living
Salaries for civil servants in Laos remain stagnant and will not be increased during the next fiscal year largely because of corruption, despite the rising cost of living in the one-party communist nation, sources inside the country said. Sila Viengkeo, vice minister of finance, told a ...
Vietnam to resume importing Australian oranges, tangerines and grapes from August
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has said resumed permission for importing three Australian fruits including oranges, tangerines and grapes is expected to be given on 1 August. Keep reading ...
Why Southeast Asia's refugee crisis matters
The Diplomat, in collaboration with concerned stakeholders around the world, is launching a new series entitled “Southeast Asia: Refugees in Crisis.” In May 2015, thousands of Rohingya refugees from the Rakhine State of Myanmar and economic migrants from Bangladesh were found stranded in the Strait of ...
High-profile foreign brands back minimum wage for all
Big-name clothing brands sourcing from Myanmar have waded into the minimum wage debate, urging its implementation even as their own suppliers dispute the proposed salary and request an exemption from the law. At the end of June 2015, the government moved to implement the 2013 Minimum ...
