Sateev

I am interested in finding out what are the typical benefits offered at most Thai firms?

What type of health insurance, retirement, expense accounts and education assistance just to name a few possible things do they generally offer?

If you are currently working for or have worked for a Thai company what benefits do/did you have? Did you have to negotiate for them or are they freely given to all employees?

No generalization can be made. There is no 'typical' set of benefits offered, and, if anything, you would have to negotiate whatever benefits you could. That said, here is the deal I had:

I spent the better part of a year working for a Thai SME, and there was blanket accident coverage, as well as the Thai Social Security, half of which is paid by the employer and half by the employee. No other health insurance was offered.

I negotiated an additional 7000 for rent/util/internet, and they found and rented an apartment for me before I moved from Isaan.

There was no expense account; in fact, my workers were compensated for overnight trips (meals/hotel), which were frequent, but I, as Engineering Manager, was expected to cover my own.

Education assistance was another rude surprise: the employer was afraid his workers would ask for more money, or move to another company if they received training, and no assistance with outside education was even considered.

Again, there is probably no 'typical' scenario, but I don't believe this attitude toward workers is uncommon.

Of course, as a farang, you have a number of advantages, but you will still be considered chattel by your Thai employers, albeit expensive chattel.

My advice: be prepared to negotiate hard (but politely!), and get everything in writing, including your job description. Document everything, and know that, even as a farang, you are covered by Thai labor laws. This means that if you suspect your job is in jeopardy, DO NOT LET THEM GOAD YOU INTO RESIGNING. Make them fire you, and pay you the severance you are entitled to. I learned this the hard way.

Although it sounds like you are considering working for a larger company, and my experience is with SMEs, I think the principles are the same.

Best of luck.

Sateev

Wyatt's Thailand: A Short History is top notch, although sometimes turgid.

Come to think of it, so am I.

Sateev

There was a thread somewhere that indicated that the minimum needed to start up a business here was in the neighborhood of 650K for the initial investment, including the legal services, government fees to get it registered, and initial capital in the bank. The 2 million would then have to be shown after the first year of operation (I think). Search around, and find the post.

I would have to strongly agree with the previous poster, or put another way: what are you bringing to Thailand that Thailand doesn't already have in spades? You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a boxing club/Muay Thai school here...

If you're thinking farang clientèle, maybe better to hook up with an existing school, and offer a package, say, including accommodation, and some other activities, maybe a six-week bootcamp-kind-of-thing.

In any case, good luck, and if you can, post back here whatever the results.

Sateev

hmm..ok, drat. Tnx for the reply OM.

Bumping in any case.

Anyone?

Since it's dirt simple in Singapore, I can't see why anyone would pay an agent to do it. Just show up in the AM, fill out the form, hand them your paperwork and pay the fee. Go out and enjoy the rest of the day (and night, and next morning), show up again at 2PM the next day, and Bob's your uncle...

Sateev

Here's a pic of a local version of the idea:

Food and drink, just out of the frame, by local somtam cart, and Beer Leo...

Sateev

Down since just after lunch, here in Ladprao/Ratchadapisek area. Still down as of now, 1610 hrs.

Sateev

My brother and I are thinking of opening a do-it-yourself washateria in Bangkok so that people can do their own laundry in a 1st class setting at a reasonable (hopefully) price.

Any thoughts or comments?

pw

Hi Phillip,

Have you lived here before, especially in a neighborhood other than Sukhumvit?

I really don't see the demographic. Almost any apartment building, of any reasonably large size, will have one, two or more resident laundries operating at fairly low prices. People who can't afford their own washer/dryer will just use the neighborhood laundry woman.

The 1st class setting idea has play in, say, California, where everybody has a car, and drives everywhere, but in Thailand, anyone with a car, who could afford 1st class facilities, would probably be able to afford to, and prefer to leave it at a laundry service.

Lugging bags of laundry more than a few dozen meters in Bangkok heat and air pollution seems a non-starter as well, so you can cross off the apartment dwellers.

The only play I can see is in someplace like Banglamphu (Khao San Rd.), where it might be 'hip' to hang out and relax, while getting your chores done. Backpackers have the right, however misplaced, mindset to use such a facility. Affluent, upper-level, mature tourists? Forget it.

The coin-op laundry business is marginal, even in the US, where people in the business often own several locations to make enough to live on. Those people are usually busy 24/7, solving problems, repairing machines, and managing employees. Easy if it takes 20 minutes to get from location to location. In Bangkok, it might take 20 minutes to get out of your parking lot, if you can get one.

I still think, however, that an upscale laundry, with good music, a juice bar, maybe a kid's playroom (supervised) might be a good money-maker in an upscale part of the US.

Or, I could be totally wrong.

Sateev

1996 Yamaha TW200 dual purpose bike. Well maintained, farang owned. Very light, low seat height for easy riding, but excellent suspension. Recent new carburetor, chain and sprockets, muffler, and brakes. Good front tire, newer excellent rear dual-purpose tire. Easy to ride in the sois, but will do 100 kph all day long on the highway. Agile offroad. Ready to ride, needs nothing. 80,000 baht, including tools and maintenance stand, extra (smaller) rear sprocket, for increased highway speeds (120 kph+), and hardshell, removable, lockable rear box. Two helmets (L & M). Have invoice.

A reliable, useful, and head-turning bike.

Contact by PM.

Sateev

Hallo,

I've got an unregistered yamaha tw200 which i use around my Isaan village, but I want to bring it to Bkk. Up there, no registration is no big problem, but in Bkk I can see it being such.

To overcome this problem, does anyone know how to go about getting the nescessary documents for it?

Cheers

I have one, too, here in Bangkok. And I'm not registered either. I just ride the sois near home, and from a police standpoint, I am never worried. On main roads, however, the checkpoints are a problem.

The other big problem is if you are involved in an accident. Then, you are in a world of the well-known article. Without valid registration, your insurance is null and void. If the police come, they will almost certainly confiscate your bike. This applies in BKK, and upcountry.

Ok, so we need to get legal. Here is the state of my knowledge, after a lot of searching:

The only 100% legal way is to go to the ONE inspection site in Thailand, which is in Samut Prakan, and pay 27,000 baht for the inspection. They will keep your bike for 5-10 days, and thoroughly test it for compliance with emissions standards. If you fail, no registration. If you pass, you take the paper, along with the bill of sale and invoice, showing the import tax paid, to the Department of Land Transport, pay the road tax (600 baht for a 200cc bike), and some other miscellaneous fees for the license plate, etc., and you are good to go.

I had a Thai friend call the engineer at the Inspection station, and there was some talk of paying 30,000 and getting a free re-test, if the initial test failed. This would presumably allow you to correct something as simple as the idle mixture screw adjustment, etc.

As I understand it, the test covers emissions ONLY, and does not evaluate the general roadworthiness of the bike.

The paperwork and documentation is pretty daunting, and although I speak Thai, I would at least have a Thai person around to help with the process, and expect to have to scramble around a few days getting it all together.

If you go to the Department of Land Transport office on Paholyothin Rd, there are literally dozens of 'facilitators' hanging around the car park under the building where you go to do the registrations. They know what to do, and you will have to pay them to do it, but it should be fair.

The alternative is to take it to one of the big shops like Siam Superbike, or Red Baron, and have them take care of the whole thing, but it will be VERY expensive, like 70-80K baht.

Currently, I am looking into an alternative, but I don't have the answer yet, and I am a bit doubtful as to whether it will work, so I will not yet describe it.

It boils down to cash. I would guess you could get it done for around 35-40K, including some assistance from the Thai facilitator.

Good luck, and please post back with the results if you try to get it done.

Sateev

Here are a couple of pics:

Sorry to say this, but you sound so clueless as regards business is concerned, that I can only advise you to put your million Baht into a bank account and leave it there............

It never ceases to amaze me that people post the <deleted> above. Either the poster knows absolutely nothing about business himself, and just wants to piss in someone else's beer, or is to lazy to post something useful.

Everybody starts out knowing nothing. Ostensibly, this forum is a place to start remedying that lack of knowledge. The OP deserves at least a pointer, as has been supplied by subsequent posters. Or were you just looking for somewhere to post a non-sequitur or two?

So, Nongwahyay, please regale us with some of your vast business experience. Do you make a lot waiting tables in Berlin? Is it enough that you can appear in Nongbualamphu avery couple of ears, and claim expert status in Thai business?

I'm dying to know.

Not.

Sateev

Remember, the current government wasn't elected. So it's unfair to lump the Thai people in there. The government has been kind of flailing around doing strange things, but it's not like the Thais voted these folks in.

Frankly, the flow of foreign investment into Thailand this year has been enormous. Can't find figures right now but it's been billions of dollars. So the loss of small potential entrepreneurs isn't really going to hurt as much as many would like to believe.

The Philippines has been getting more buisiness friendly lately, but you should really spend some significant time on the ground. I don't know that's it's going to be that big a contrast.

None of this is new; the Thai people had the same attitude the OP described through countless previous administrations. It's not a matter of blame; it's a matter of fact. And while foreign investment has been large, it is moving in the opposite direction, arguably because of the non-elected government's missteps, but also in line with the old elite's desire to grab back what they lost in '97. It has ALWAYS been the farangs fault, by their account.

You have to look at the bottom line: Singapore is open. Hong Kong is/was open. Thailand is closed.

Who's doing better?

I might add that I am not so sure it should be otherwise. The same folks who decry the loss of the 'good old days', when elephants roamed Nana Plaze (oops, they still do!), and 'aw nite' was 100 baht, are often the ones who want more Western-style management and cultural acceptance, because it makes it easier for them to set up shop in the Land of Smiles, where they can still enjoy the experience, at somewhat inflated prices.

Thailand as some of us know it and love it, will necessarily disappear, as these practices are implemented. Such is progress.

Sateev

...

Get 35us dollars for your visa tho. (1200 Baht )

...

Better clear this up: take $35 in US currency to the border, or you will be charged not 1200 baht, but 1500 baht, even though $35 = THB 1200 if exchanged IN THAILAND.

I argued this point, unsuccessfully, on my first visit to Vientiane, when they only wanted $30 (or THB1500)...

You don't say where you are going in Lao, so I will assume you are headed to the interior, where you will definitely need kip. Baht are fine at the border towns, and US$ are even better, but in the backwoods, they will not know what to do with either.

Sateev

Post above should say interested in SG, typo...

I, too, have become interested in living in Singapore, since doing a visa run, and putting some actual physical scenery to all that I have been reading.

A few days there was certainly not enough to know everything necessary to make the decision, but a few things stood out:

On the positive side:

Unlike Thailand, stuff is available, and accessible, without wandering through chaos, like Worachak, or Sampeng. Electronics suppliers are fairly concentrated, as are various other industries, and most of the shops I visited had knowledgeable and seemingly well-educated staff. I'm talking about hard parts here, not stereo equipment.

The place is clean, and apparently quite safe, and I encountered as many friendly people as I would expect to find here in Thailand. The difference is that in Singapore, people actually went out of their way to help, and if they didn't know, made unsolicited attempts at finding the right info. Compare that to Thailand, where info about location or availability is often wrong, and designed to get you out of the Thai person's face...'mai mee' is the knee-jerk answer that replaces the less face-saving 'mai roo'.

Price gouging seemed less prevalent, although my experiences were limited to a few purchases. However, one guy actually reduced the price of something he had to order, because his cost was lower than expected! Ever see THAT in Thailand?

On the negative side:

Housing, and accommodation in general, was horrifically expensive, and I have been keeping an eye on it since. Singapore is one of the top 10 most expensive cities in the world, from a cost-of-living viewpoint.

And there is no doubt: big brother is everywhere, from surveillance cameras, to not-so-subtle hints on good citizenship. I guess it's necessary to keep the 'Beverly Hills with Brown People' image, but give me Thailand's relaxed attitude toward individualism any day. Yeah, the odd knucklehead makes it annoying, but if you behave yourself, there's not much to worry about, especially outside of BKK. In Singapore, it appears that a little transgression might be met with draconian remedy.

All in all, I like Singapore, but I would need to be a lot richer than I am to make it home.

Sateev

A while ago, there was a poster who was shouting the praises of a hospital and Doctor in Chiang Mai for heart surgery etc.

Unfortunately after spending a long time looking through the old posts I cannot find this one. However does anyone know a good hospital in Chiang Mai OR Bangkok who can carry out angeoplasty at a reasonable cost.

I recently had an angioplasty in Bangkok, at Paolo in Saphan Kwai.

While I do not have any specific info about a venue in Chiang Mai, it might be helpful to understand how the logistics work. This applies to PRIVATE hospitals, only. Government hospitals offering this type of procedure are likely to be teaching hospitals (which I will address later).

First, the hospitals 'rent' space, and support personnel to the doctors to perform these procedures. The doctor, usually called a 'cardiac interventionist' gets a call from the cardiologist who admits you, and helps get you prepared. Then he shows up, does the deed, maybe stops by afterwards to be sure you are not rapidly exsanguinating, and on to the next case, in the same, or another hospital.

What this means is that wherever you go, the expertise of the doctor is not connected to the hospital. What IS important is the experience, and state of preparedness of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab personnel and facilities. Do they have all the various medications, contrast dyes, even stents in stock? Do they do the procedure often, or is it a 'emergency-only' procedure for them?

Now for specifics: At Paolo Memorial, they have a respectable ICU/CCU, with skilled nurses, one of whom, I firmly believe, saved my life. There are TWO cardiologists, one of whom simply turned his back on me and walked out, after I asked a couple of pointed questions. After I described the incident to her, the nurse in question gave me an understanding look, and immediately called the other cardiologist, who took excellent care of me, and whose treatment was the exact opposite of that insisted upon by his 'colleague'. He seemed concerned, however, about whether I would actually proceed, and wanted my assurance before he called the interventionist. I have been through this before, and knew I needed the angioplasty, so I told him to proceed.

The interventionist was quite thorough, and spoke perfect English. He was relatively young, and had been trained in the US. He understood all the issues, including the need to hydrate the patient (me!) before the procedure to prevent kidney damage from the dye, and to use some medication to further protect the kidneys.

I should mention, at this point, that this was being paid for by Thai Social Security, which I was entitled to by participation through my employer. I have no other health insurance. This would become important.

When the time came, I was wheeled down to the Cath Lab, and all went smoothly, except they didn't have the super-safe dye I would have preferred. They had the second best, and I was assured by doctor that he would either get it all done in the safe exposure time, or, if extensive repair was needed, he would find all the problems, and wait 24 hours to redo the catheterization and fix everything. So far, OK.

The procedure began, and he found two blocked areas, and then the fun began: the doctor said I needed one of the new drug-eluting stents, which slowly release medicines to keep the artery from re-closing. Unfortunately, however, the Thai insurance only would pay for a normal, unmedicated stent.

The negotiations began in earnest, with questions about my income, any other insurance (asked and answered repeatedly during my stay), etc. I had to plead poverty, because, in truth, I worked for a Thai company, and wasn't making a lot of money. After several phone calls to the stent salesman, and hospital administrators, all while I was on the table, catheter in my crotch, and slightly sedated, he finally said that his 'best price' was 60,000 baht, of which the insurance would only pay 25,000, so could I pay the additional 35,000?

Pretty hard to say no at that point, and I had exhausted my negotiation skills, so, of course, I acceded.

From that point onward, everything went well, and I am alive to relate this to you. They did try to inflate the bill, after the fact, but I got the doctor on the phone, and reminded him that we had an agreement, and he relented, bringing the bill back down to 36,000 from 51,000. I got out with a payment of 10,000, and a promise to pay the balance in three installments. FYI, the total cost was in the neighborhood of 350,000 baht, mostly paid by the Thai system.

I feel I was lucky, but this should provide you some insight into how the game is played.

I would have the same procedure, by the same doctor, and, especially, with the same nursing staff, and at Paolo again, if (heaven forbid) I ever needed it.

I realize this is long, but I would like to add one more thing, regarding government and/or teaching hospitals.

If I were in your shoes, I would get down to Siriraj or Chulalongkorn as quickly as possible, and get seen by a cardiologist there. I don't know if Chiang Mai University has a medical school (I know they have a dental program), but if they do, they may be your best bet.

The same doctors that practice for-profit medicine at the private hospitals, often teach or do research at the medical schools and affiliated government hospitals. The treatment you will receive will be the best available, if the accouterments are not exactly Bumrungrad style.

Give me competent medicine over fine art on my walls, and a McDonalds on the mezzanine, any day. Bumruingrad, Samitivej, BNH, and others of the 'boutique' hospitals are, IMHO cashing in on their publicity, and have little accountability for their service. A few years ago, I thought they were great, but they have steadily declined into hype and PR, with an arrogant attitude, and with little recourse for their patients in the event of a 'boo-boo' - which may be costly, healthwise.

I hope more members will post their experiences with cardiac care in Thailand.

Best of luck to you. And remember, an informed patient has a better chance of a good outcome. Don't blindly place your trust in ANY doctor. Ask questions, take responsibility for your own care, even if such action is considered impolite or unseemly. Better to be a live prick, than a dead sycophant to some arrogant medico.

Sateev

I...There is the equation of 200-age, which estimates your maximum heart rate. ...

I believe that should be 220-age, but otherwise good advice.

Sateev

Jeez, Louise!

The guy has been seen and treated (Proscar, remember?) He asked a smiple question about laser surgery, and everyone jumps in with their own unsubstantiated and unsolicited advice about cancer.

Regardless of your personal experience, unless you have had your finger up his butt, and a look at his test results, maybe an ultrasound or cystoscopy, you really ought to put a sock in it, or try to respond to his question.

Strawberry,

I was in your position about six years ago, and probably considered every option available at the time, including the TUMT, TUNA, and TURP. I also looked into the guy in the Philippines, who advocates aggressive prostate massage, and a regimen of antibiotics and anti-fungals. He's been around a long time, and is doing well (if doing good). True, I had chronic prostatitis, but it would come and go, and, as you probably have found out, is poorly understood, the Philipino doctor notwithstanding.

In the end, I had a TURP. While I had read plenty beforehand, there is nothing like the reality of feeling you have to pee constantly, after the operation for six months, to put the procedure in perspective. And, according to my doctor, the most common post-operative complication is urethral stenosis, either as an internal stricture, or as an external narrowing of the pee hole, which I had, and was treated for, painfully. I had to do self-caths to keep the urethra open for about two months afterward, as well.

Mind you, the TURP is the 'gold standard' in BPH treatment.

About a year later, I saw my urologist, and he told me that the new (at that time) green laser was available (thanks a lot, a year late), and that it was as effective as TURP without all the side effects, notably, it was less likely to cause retrograde ejaculation, which is another unpleasantness I endure.

The thing to remember here is that ALL these treatments are commercial; that is, they are for profit, and touted/hyped by the manufacturer of the particular system your doctor uses.

I have given you an honest look at TURP, and I hope you will seek a few more first-hand experiences with the laser procedures, and take the time to post your progress on this forum. I understand that there are now at least two different laser procedures, and as the previous poster had indicated, they are, I believe, available in Thailand. The usual caveats apply, however, if you choose to undergo a procedure in this land of face-saving, and denial.

Best wishes for quick and safe relief.

Sateev

Do you think these people paid the same amount of interest as people who were more credit worthy?

Yep, and in some cases, less - at least for a while.

My last domicile in the US was in San Diego, and we could see this coming a mile away. The hills were festooned with $1 million+ tract homes, bought up by people who should have been living in the southeastern smog-burbs of LA, with variable-rate mortgages, some carrying huge future balloon payments, and all destined to increase the interest rate to usurious levels.

These were households where two people worked and barely made the mortgage while the interest rate was low. Often, the speculative desire to cash in on the appreciation was the motivator; other times,it was betting on the come line (unrealistic optimism about future fortunes).

Whatever the reason, any small emergency, or the loss of one or both jobs, along with the softening real estate market, making it impossible to 'turn' the property before the interest rate rose, had the predictable result: default.

The mortgage lending business had a feeding frenzy, and many were indicted for pushing loans on people who couldn't possibly service them. Malfeasance included falsifying documents, fabricating references, etc.

Combination of human weakness, and human greed. And any financial institution that invested in the subprime market should have been able to see it coming as well. However, if certain Thai banks lose their shirts, it will be the 'farangs' fault, just as surely as we are taking all the good businesses for ourselves in the LOS.

Sateev

Hello, hope everyone is having a great day. I would also like to ask this forum a quick question and would very much appreciate your response. What I am thinking about doing is going to Thailand for 1-2 months and trying to find clothing at a good price. I would then mail it back to the US. I was considering using the 10kg Fedex boxes (maybe 25kg box?), but am not sure how customs works. Would I be ok just throwing 100 shirts in a box and sending it through Fedex, or are there forms I have to fill out? I have searched all over and can't seem to find a straightforward answer. Thank you very much for your time and knowledge. Tony

One of the few things on which the US has a quota is textiles and clothing. 100 shirts would raise the hackles on Customs' neck, for sure. Fakes might get you in a lot of trouble.

FEDEX, and all other carriers will require a Customs form. Lying on it is NOT a good idea, unless you're prepared to prove that your 100 shirts are for personal, use.

Sateev

Rock bottom seems to be about S$45.

Last visa run, I stayed at a place called the Haising Hotel, Bencoolen St., on the edge of Little India. It was within walking distance of the subway, and Bugis Street. Search the internet, they have a web site.

They are quite fussy about holding the room, requiring you to email them a couple of times to confirm, even calling them from the airport when you arrive (free call, phones inside the terminal). The place has INCREDIBLY small rooms, and no lift. I paid S$5 extra (S$50) for a 'window', which was a joke: it was about 30x20 cm, WAY up high on the wall.

On the positive side, aside from location, the staff was friendly, and in fairness, they did say the rooms were small when I emailed them to reserve one. They were helpful about how to get there from the airport, gave me a number of options. There are a number of inexpensive restaurants nearby, including the one of best biryiani places I have ever experienced.

If you're going to see some sights and take care of your visa, it's a pretty good deal. If you plan on hanging around your room, better bring some rubber padding for the walls, as you'll be bouncing off them in no time

Steve

Dual pricing?

100% of THB500 is better than 0% of THB2000, eh?

"The Falcon of Siam', by Axel Aylwen, about late 17th century Siam, when a Greek was made Prime Minister (Barcalon).

Good read.

Sateev

Doesn't anyone get the parallel to John Mark Karr?

No I don't see any parallel relationship here. JMK is a nut-case that wanted the spotlight for a crime he didn't commit. The illegal immigrant in the US is being charged with murder of a young girl.

It hard to believe that all you derive from this tragic event is whether you can get a f*cking work permit in Thailand.

Thanks for editing your post, though I can't imagine it being any MORE obtuse...

The point was that the excessive reaction to Karr by the Thai media (and government), is being echoed by the media coverage of this event in the US, and will likely add fuel to the current immigration debate in the US.

And I have a work permit, and would never even consider teaching, thank you, so I have no axe to grind there. I do note more than a few self-satisfied, apparently well-fixed members, who, like reformed whores, have no tolerance for those not fortunate to be in the same position.

Sound familiar, genius?

Sateev

This, if it weren't so tragic, would be a funny thread.

Doesn't anyone get the parallel to John Mark Karr?

The US media have Thailand all over the airwaves and print, just as the Thai media had Karr's face plastered all over every outlet. It's got a tit-for-tat stink about it, and will probably be used in the US, in much the same way as the Karr case was used here to tighten the regulations for obtaining a teaching permit.

The wisdom of tightening of regulations, fairly or not, is debatable, and not the issue. But the general climate perceived by those who would like to stay here, but aren't yet fully legally established, is foreboding, and increasingly so.

The Thais have no monopoly on irrational lawmaking. My own country is no better.

Sateev

Perhaps we should wait until he's found guilty.

Actually, his guilt isn't the issue. The public's perception of his guilt, as a foreigner, and the painting of ALL foreigners with the same brush, is. Kind of like the knee-jerk of the Thai government to Karr's uncovering.

Sateev

[/b]The sight of hundreds of beautiful semi-nud_e young girls, calling out to passing men, from the many Bars (in Pattaya for instance) is a sad, sad sight indeed......

Especially when you just spent 5000 baht to fix the kid's motorbike, and don't have two bob left to indulge...eh?