What are the HR incentives granted by the BOI to investors who contribute to human resource development?
The Thai government is active in pursuing industrial and technology development in the eastern seaboard region under the umbrella of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The promoted territory initially comprises three provinces, namely Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong. Economic development in the region requires not only foreign and local investment in large infrastructure and production facilities, but also highly skilled human resources as key components to the project’s success. Project goals include increases in the employment rate, macro spending, and production to achieve a healthier national income on one side, and to attract more investment by high-skilled human resources capable of helping develop the industries of the future with competitive pay grades on the other side.
To promote the training and human resource development in the EEC, an investment promotional campaign has been launched by the Board of Investment (BOI) giving extensive tax and non-tax incentives to the investor whose qualifications meet specific criteria.
Major qualifications to obtain the extensive privileges from the BOI
The applicant must comply with three mandatory requirements. First, the investment must be directed to ten-targeted industries according to the BOI’s Announcement, which are:
- Agriculture & Biotechnology
- Food for the Future
- Automation & Robotics
- Aviation & Logistics
- Biofuels & Biochemicals
- Digital Industry
- Medical Hub
- Next-Generation Automotive
- Smart Electronics
- Affluent Medical and Wellness Tourism
Second, business activity must be performed and located in the EEC promotional zones within Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong, either in:
- Investment Promotion Zones for Targeted Activities
- Investment Promotion Areas for Targeted Industries
- BOI-promoted Industrial Estates or Zones
Last, there must be a collaboration with regards to human resource development between the applicant and an academic institution, a research institute, or a centre of excellence as approved by the BOI. The collaboration can be demonstrated by an admission plan for interns in course of study through a graduate program that allows them to be trained by a professional in the facility.
Incentives
Additionally, the BOI will give extensive privileges to the investor whose targeted industry in the EEC zones will contribute to human resource development.
- Direct Incentives
As a promotion to any investor whose qualifications are meant to support the skilled workforce in targeted industries in the EEC, the BOI will extend the tax and non-tax incentives for them.
- Tax Incentives
A Corporate Income Tax (CIT) holiday can be additionally granted on top of the ordinary exemption of import duties on machinery and raw materials used in production for export to the successful applicant subject to the investment cap and none cap according to the following type of activities as specified by the BOI:
Section 8: Up to 13 years CIT holiday for technology and innovation development that includes targeted core technology development areas such as development of biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials technology, and digital technology.
A1: Up to 12 years CIT holiday for knowledge-based activities focusing on R&D and design to enhance the country’s competitiveness.
A2: Up to 12 years CIT holiday for infrastructure activities for the country’s development, activities using advanced technology to create value added, with no or very few existing investments in Thailand.
A3: Up to 7 years CIT holiday for high technology activities, which are important to the development of the country, with a few investments already existing in Thailand.
- Non-Tax Incentives
The ordinary non-tax incentives are: permission to bring in foreign workers under the BOI’s work permit and visa, permission to become a 100% foreign owned entity by share capital subject to the foreign business restrictions, and permission to own land.
Other than the typical BOI’s work permit and visa, the qualified applicant in the targeted industries can also apply for the “Smart Visa”. The Smart Visa may be given to the foreign investor acting as a shareholder, the management, and the highly skilled staff. Visas are also granted for their family members. The benefit of this kind of visa is that it is valid up to 4 years and a residency report is required only once a year, as opposed to the ordinary 90-day reporting.
Skilled personnel in the targeted industries will be qualified to receive a Smart Visa, Type T (Talents), on the conditions that he/she has the monthly salary of not less than 200,000 Baht, is under an employment or service contract of not less than 1 year, and is recognized by the related government organizations.
- Indirect Incentives
The human resource development program as promoted by the BOI encourages the hiring of suitable skilled persons for the business. The Smart Visa has been introduced to attract foreign professionals to exchange and transfer expertise and develop the local workforce. Well-trained personnel will eventually increase productivity and effectiveness, keeping in mind that the country overhead costs would be by default reduced by the tax and duty exemption privileges. The expansion of the skilled labour market will also allow the investor plenty of diversified choices for recruitment under arm’s length offers in the open market.
Final Thoughts
The migration of foreign skilled labour will attract investment to Thailand in addition to helping reskill the local workforce. A higher employment rate will result in greater consumption which triggers a demand for supply chain in the production sector. Therefore, the HR incentives from the BOI are a reciprocal arrangement where the country and investors benefit from mutual human resource development.
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This article was originally published on the Antares Group’s website.
This article does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion on any matter discussed and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and practice in this area. If you require any advice or information, please speak to practicing lawyer in your jurisdiction. No individual who is a member, partner, shareholder or consultant of, in or to any constituent part of Interstellar Group Pte. Ltd. accepts or assumes responsibility, or has any liability, to any person in respect of this article.