Prohibited work by foreigners in Thailand

Post by **Doc** » March 19, 2007, 1:13 pm

BKKSTAN wrote:I know a couple of individuals that have bought old properties and fixed them up fo resale!As a matter of fact,the reason I moved to Nong Khai was because of one of these individuals telling me about his experience and the lack of problems in doing so even though it was illegal!

I am not quite sure that it is illegal for someone to work on their own property or fix up their own property, providing that one is either occupying the house or planning to occupy the house when the work is finished.

If one is living in one house, fixing up another house and then putting up that house for sale when completed, then that would be illegal.

In short, I do believe that it is possible to "split hairs" so to speak on this particular issue.

Post by **cookie** » March 19, 2007, 1:20 pm

There used to be a time in Europe when people used this law to fix old houses in europe with cheap east european labor.
People bought the houses and "rented" the houses to Polish or Russians.
These east european workers (renters) renovated the house!!!!
(don't know if they are still doing that. I think not because of the expansion of the EU)

Post by **beer monkey** » March 19, 2007, 5:27 pm

ntvillas can help you on the renovations,he is builder you know.

Post by **Paul** » March 20, 2007, 2:24 am

I agree with Doc (for a change)
Nobody will be put in the slammer for improving their own property themselves, however if you are doing it as a business (so to speak) then it will be viewed differently . And incidentally, dont expect to get the sort of return on home improvements as you do in the west. Those 100% profit margins back in the home countries are what dreams are made of here. You might not even get your investment part back. This is the real world !

Post by **Seaserpent** » March 20, 2007, 5:36 am

Mr Ntvillas2, you do have a bad habit of racking down on Thailand and Thais. Why stay in a place there you are surrounded by plain idiots, Asian or Caucasian?

Take my advice, pack-up and move to a country there the inhabitants match your intelligence and class.. You might even find a place there they can build a house to your specifications!

Post by **BKKSTAN** » March 20, 2007, 11:43 am

2 individuals in Bangkok,1 swede and 1 Scot were arrested for painting their own house and the Scot for building his own wall,while I lived in Bangkok!The Scot was deported and the Swede warned and fined!The Scot ,I had met and had some small talk prior to his arrest,The Swede was a friend of a friend!

Post by **Doc** » March 20, 2007, 4:35 pm

It may have happened Stan - but I think that up here that would not happen.

Essentially, what they were saying is that if you have money as a falang, you can not do anything, but have to hire a Thai to do the job for you. Just doesn't make much sense to me.

I know plenty of falangs that have made improvements to their houses without any problems at all here in Udon.

Maybe things were different back when you were in BKK - or maybe things have changed since then. Don't know.

Post by **Paul** » March 23, 2007, 7:28 pm

Next we will be hearing how someone was arrested for doing their own ironing or making their own coffee or driving the car themselves

I think we have to keep it real.

Post by **BKKSTAN** » March 23, 2007, 7:47 pm

Paul wrote:Next we will be hearing how someone was arrested for doing their own ironing or making their own coffee or driving the car themselves

I think we have to keep it real.

Technically,I guess the gov't could use those as chargeable offenses

I don't know!But the 2 incidents I reported were real,especially to the guys charged

It is a topic that started for me from my first and second trips to Thailand!As my initial reason for coming here was to open a resturant /bar on Koh Chang!Luckily for me,not for one of the guys,2 falangs had negative experiences that I was privy to on my second trip that greatly influenced my decision to not open a business!
It was quite real to the young Frenchman that had a sizeable investment in his business,when he was arrested and deported for doing some legitimate business practice needs to grow a business,even though he had about 10 Thai employees.When you hurt the interests of Thai competitors,especially influential Thais and combine that with a Xenophobic enforcement official,it is REAL

I believe that everyone should have the benefit of others experiences as awareness might help them plan better and prevent a problem from naiveity or ignorance

Post by **Khun Paul** » March 16, 2009, 5:29 pm

Well for what it is worth, I paint my own walls, fix up my leaks and designed and installed my comprehensive water system, as for working on your own house I cannot see how that is illegal, I do feel that there might be more to the story about the farangs in BKK.

You definitely cannot work in a shop/bar etc serving customers it is viewed as taking a job a Thjai can do, as for electricans and the like if you fix your problem they still have a job but not with you of course.

The law is meant to stop foreigners from taking jobs Thais can do, however it does not say how good they are supposed to be, therein lies the problem, Thai standards are not in many cases as high as ours and their work ethics are very low, however in many cases they manage to do their tasks with a modicum of success, my house was built 16 years ago and is only now starting to show age in very small places that can be easily rectified.
Build they certainly can, make they certainly can do that , it is the maintainance and other tasks they fall down on.
me I like working on my house and garden, if i cannot do that I would go gaga.

Post by **mortiboy** » March 16, 2009, 6:02 pm

"I do feel that there might be more to the story about the farangs in BKK.("Quote Khun Paul)"

Some years ago. I built a small farmhouse. Done all of it except the roof(Scared heights).Made new concrete drive way outside house,No one ever complained!
These lads maybe mouthed off or something

You know Thais dont like farang make them lose face!

Post by **BKKSTAN** » March 16, 2009, 7:16 pm

I have never heard of anyone in this area being hassled for doing work on their own possessions!

I also believe the law is designed to prevent falangs from taking jobs that Thais do,not meant to prevent us from taking care of our own!But in Thailand,laws are unevenly enforced,used to intimidate and extort and sometimes made up by an authority to use for their purpose!As falangs we can be put to a strong disadvantage even for protesting at the time of the incurrence!

My experience and observations ,while a fulltime resident of bangkok,was that the police had one thing in mind when dealing with falangs and it had nothing to do with ''protect and serve''.The abuse of their power can be very disconcerting and make one realize that we are nearly powerless!

Although,many falangs are involved in their bars/resturants illegally in this area,their does not seem to be a desire to enforce these laws.But different areas of the country have a different attitude and one should always be aware of the environment they are in at the time!
I actually checked out this area and eventually moved to Nong Khai 5 years ago because I met a Kiwi from Nong Khai that told me about the difference in attitude of the police in this area!

Post by **arjay** » March 16, 2009, 7:39 pm

Please be aware that Khun Paul has picked up/posted on a thread 2 years old here.

Post by **mortiboy** » March 16, 2009, 7:44 pm

Just for the record,I noticed for some time now, there is a Italian looking type farang working in the centre there.Kind of restaurant serving up snacks.
Been there few years I think.Maybe serves up"Tea" for the BIB?

Post by **Pakawala** » March 16, 2009, 9:06 pm

Morti, I believe I know the fellow you're talking about. He's actually from Turkey and I believe he's a legal immigrant to Thailand... thus he's allow to work.

Post by **mortiboy** » March 16, 2009, 9:25 pm

OH! Thats ok then!

Post by **pompui** » July 17, 2009, 10:30 am

Frankie 1 wrote:To stay on topic,
There is a very long list of which jobs I am not allowed to do, but maybe it would be nice to know which jobs are allowed for foreigners.
Does anybody know which jobs are possible to do?
I 've heard that there are a lot of farang tourguides working without a workpermit, but are allowed to work as long as there is also a Thai tourguide working together with them.

Is English teacher the only option? Do you have to be a native speaker?
(When I read some articles from native English people, I think my grammar is better, ha ha.)

And do people from Laos have more privileges, working in Thailand? They are foreigners too.

Just looking back at this thread and did not see if Frankie got an answer as would be interested also if any member has an insight.
Now back to illegally mowing my lawn next week, hopefully if and when the rain stops

Post by **BKKSTAN** » July 17, 2009, 10:39 am

I don't think mowing your lawn or doing work around your house would be termed illegal,if you got to court,but in some areas,at different times,depending on the individuals authority figures,it could be a hassle or a way to extort money.I know of some experiences in Bangkok over 6 years ago,but I have not heard of any such experiences in our area!
It seems to me that the authorities in our area turn a blind eye to the work permit situation or possibly the locals are not reporting ''offenses''!

Post by **BobHelm** » July 17, 2009, 10:43 am

I believe that normally you have to be a native English speaker in order to qualify for that job. However I would be unsure what the situation would be with a private school - especially if it was actually an International school. I would suspect that if they had good enough contacts to obtain a work permit then they could obtain for anybody.
I would think that most foreigners who work in Thailand (after English teachers) probably own & run their own business.
I have never heard of the tour guide thing.... to work without a work permit is illegal (whichever way you look at it)& would undoubtedly open a person up to prosecution at any time. I would suspect that the farang tour guide is actually a "non paying guest" on the trip who good heartedly helps out (out of the kindness of his nature) if any of the paying guests asks him a question rather than actually "working"

Post by **Khun Paul** » July 17, 2009, 12:04 pm

Work permits are the key to any employment here in Thailand and then you have to make sure your work permit allows you to work where you are.
Many schools who obtain work permits for teachers the work permit stipulates the location of the work.

Working around your house, is not normally considered work per se, however some uppitty Thais could if they wished cause a problem but since I have been here no-one has mentioned anything to me about my gardening, DIY or other normal things I do around the house.

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