Draft plan to allow foreigners to work in 11 ‘reserved’ occupations

[webfact]

Draft plan to allow foreigners to work in 11 ‘reserved’ occupations

By THE NATION

 

File photo

 

Labour ministry proposal would allow them in engineering, architecture and accountancy.

 

A PLAN by the Labour Ministry would allow foreigners to enter 11 of the 39 occupations that are now reserved for Thais. 

 

If the plan goes ahead, foreigners will be able to work as civil engineers, accountants and architects in Thailand under certain conditions. 

 

“For example, we won’t allow them to work independently or become business owners,” Labour Minister Police General Adul Sangsingkeo said yesterday. 

 

He said the plan would be submitted to the policy committee on solutions to migrant labour problems in the middle of June. 

 

Labour Minister Police General Adul Sangsingkeo

 

The 28-member committee consists of representative from government agencies, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries. 

 

If the committee approves the plan, it would take effect by July 1. 

 

Under the plan, Adul’s ministry would also add Thai massage services as an occupation reserved for Thais, he said.

 

“But the committee will decide whether to approve it,” he said. 

 

Adul spoke after a meeting with the Labour Ministry’s permanent secretary, Jarin Chakkaphark, and the Employment Department’s director-general, Anurak Tossarat. 

 

The ministry held several forums to gather opinions from relevant parties before finalising the plan for the committee.

 

The Council of Engineers has criticised the plan. The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety, they said.

 

Downplaying that critique, Anurak said the council would have the last say. 

 

“Even if the plan sails through, foreigners interested in working as civil engineers in Thailand would have to seek permits from the Council of Engineers before they could start working,” he said. 

 

Adul said due to labour shortages in some fields, the Labour Ministry intended to allow foreigners to fill the demand. 

 

“But we allow them in necessary fields only,” he said, adding that the move was also in line with the agreement Asean nations had signed regarding free labour migration. 

 

Dozens of small-business owners are not happy with the Labour Ministry continuing to reserve occupations for Thais. 

 

“Migrants should be allowed to work as shopkeepers,” a small entrepreneur said. 

 

She said small shops, restaurants and nail spas would run into legal trouble if they were not legally allowed to hire migrant workers. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346707

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-01

[observer90210]

Why not be fair and just by allowing foreigners to own one plot of land on which they would like to live their retirement ?

[ukrules]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Council of Engineers has criticised the plan. The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety, they said.

 

LOL ?

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

Why not be fair and just by allowing foreigners to own one plot of land on which they would like to live their retirement ?

As long as you're an American you can do that.

 

[nakhonandy]

22 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

LOL ?

Yeah I had a chuckle at that one too.

[cornishcarlos]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety,

 

Surely no-one really said that, did they, really truly ??

Edited May 31, 2018 by cornishcarlos

[Damrongsak]

"The Council of Engineers has criticised the plan. The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety, they said."

 

"Can't have any of that.  If they were safe, they'd breed like crazy and we'd be in a world of hurt.  Imagine what that would do to the traffic!"  said highway engineer Ho Lee Shitz, a second-generation immigrant.

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety,

Surely no-one really said that, did they, really truly ??

It shows someone has a sense of humour.

 

[Damrongsak]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

It shows someone has a sense of humour.

 

Someone is looking out for the farangs.  If things go wrong, it's a whole lot harder to find a Thai engineer on the lam than a farang.

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, observer90210 said:

Why not be fair and just by allowing foreigners to own one plot of land on which they would like to live their retirement ?

Are you nuts? if all foreigners will own enough land they can and will: take the land with them when they go back, stage a coup to overthrow the government, set up a farang country within Thailand and so on.. nevermind that Thai people can legally own land in almost any other country in the world....

[imjmn]

Allowing foreigners to work in those positions 'reserved' for Thai citizens would bring more knowledge and different practices into the Thai industry and make them more competitive on the world stage. MHO.

 

MJ

[Damrongsak]

40 some years ago, a fellow Peace Corps volunteer in Loei was a civil engineer.  His folks were Japanese, but he was a natural-born US citizen (OK, California).  Tall guy, smart as hell, Vietnam combat Vet, black belt in Judo.  He was an excellent engineer and did the calcs and engineering for at least 3 "small"-scale dams in Loei.  He was wise enough in Asian ways to help get funds allocated (BKK guy from the ministry had the hots for a local girl...).  He could play the superior Japanese engineer role to the Nth degree back then, in a laid-back Thai way.  He also did some of the honest job site inspections, so was always looking over his shoulder.  I learned a lot from him about the politics, and how to roll with the punches.  Thailand needs engineers like him.

Edited May 31, 2018 by Damrongsak

[mok199]

my dreams of becoming a tuk tuk driver are shattered.!!!

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Draft plan to allow foreigners to work in 11 ‘reserved’ occupations

Just realised it's a misprint by the Labour Ministry with the extra 'r' in the headline.

 

[Damrongsak]

1 minute ago, mok199 said:

my dreams of becoming a tuk tuk driver are shattered.!!!

No worries, my friend.  I think I've found a couple of the bicycle pedicabs worthy of restoration.  Great leg exercise.  Not quite as good as carrying 100 kilo sacks of rice up a ramp onto a 10-wheeler, but a close second.

[coulson]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“For example, we won’t allow them to work independently or become business owners,” Labour Minister Police General Adul Sangsingkeo said yesterday

Fine, how about allowing International Architects the right to ownership of their design though?

 

Mana Nakhon a good example.

 

Despite this, overall good news if approved. 

[mok199]

2 minutes ago, Damrongsak said:

No worries, my friend.  I think I've found a couple of the bicycle pedicabs worthy of restoration.  Great leg exercise.  Not quite as good as carrying 100 kilo sacks of rice up a ramp onto a 10-wheeler, but a close second.

I have been an advocate for the ''return of the rickshaw ''for years....sign me up..

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, mok199 said:

my dreams of becoming a tuk tuk driver are shattered.!!!

Never mind, keep practising in Europe for now:

Sorry, the Vatican is closed today/The Eiffel Tower is shut - it's being rebuilt/St Paul's Cathedral is undergoing repairs.

I can take you to the official government gem store though and get you a good price, my brother works in there.

 

[Damrongsak]

3 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Just realised it's a misprint by the Labour Ministry with the extra 'r' in the headline.

 

Perhaps the Ministry of Silly Walks?

 

 

 

 

[Barnet]

The way the scum refers to foreigners as "them" says it all about their xenophobic attitudes.

 

[cornishcarlos]

29 minutes ago, imjmn said:

Allowing foreigners to work in those positions 'reserved' for Thai citizens would bring more knowledge and different practices into the Thai industry and make them more competitive on the world stage. MHO.

 

MJ

 

More knowledge ?? That's not possible and as for different practices, why would they need that !!

 

I agree with you entirely but the xenophobic people in power, do not.. 

[canuckamuck]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

If the plan goes ahead, foreigners will be able to work as civil engineers, accountants and architects in Thailand under certain conditions. 

Those conditions being that the foreigners are Chinese and are working on the big ticket infrastructure projects like high speed trains so the money train keeps delivering the goods. Ka ching!

[Andrew65]

I have an old lady friend who's a (properly qualified) teacher. A few years ago she was working in Lahore, Pakistan. One of the main reasons that she quit the job was that the system was so loaded-up with corruption, something which she wanted nothing to do with.

[Jimbo in Thailand]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

As long as you're an American you can do that.

 

LOL, really?!  What have you been smoking this fine morning bluesofa?  I think that might have been true for a period following the Vietnam War.  In fact, years ago I met a fellow American Vietnam War veteran here who claims to have taken advantage of that program and says he still has the plot of land in his own name.  Of all the gazillions of expats I've met since 2004 he's the only one I've run across that allegedly (I never saw the 'cha-noht' land deed) managed to buy land in his own name.  I certainly don't think that's been an option in decades.

 

If you have some proof please post it as I'd jump on the chance to not lose money buying land in the name of a Thai 'honey' and losing it to the future 'ex' like 99.999% of the suckers here have done.  OUCH!

[NetJunkie]

51 minutes ago, coulson said:

Fine, how about allowing International Architects the right to ownership of their design though?

 

Mana Nakhon a good example.

 

Despite this, overall good news if approved. 

 

I thought they already had copyright protection?

 

https://corporate.findlaw.com/intellectual-property/llp-owner-vs-architect-who-owns-the-design.html

 

https://info.vethanlaw.com/blog/2010/08/architects-and-engineers-what-can-they-copyright-and-protect

 

[Bayrat]

The Council of Engineers has criticised the plan. The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety, they said.

 

This is where I spit out my coffee.................

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Council of Engineers has criticised the plan. The civil-engineer occupation should remain reserved for Thais because it involves people’s safety, they said.

What about automobiles ?   Should those be locally designed too to cut down on accidents ?  What a stupid comment. 

[LazySlipper]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

As long as you're an American you can do that.

 

I never saw in the "amity act" a provision that allowed for that. Have read it and tried to see if there was a possibility. If there is, it is not as clear cut as that.

 

Let me know what point in the act states that I can do that. Would be much obliged.

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, LazySlipper said:

 

I never saw in the "amity act" a provision that allowed for that. Have read it and tried to see if there was a possibility. If there is, it is not as clear cut as that.

 

Let me know what point in the act states that I can do that. Would be much obliged.

I'm afraid I'm not an American, so I haven't a reference to that directly.

IIRC it allows the purchase of up to one rai. I'm sure someone with more detailed knowledge of it could point you in the right direction. It has been discussed on TVF a few times in the past.

 

In a previous life, my US neighbours owned the land for their bar in Pattaya. I know that initially the land office just said "no", and it needed a lawyer to take the land office to court in order to get put in their names.

 

[Cadbury]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

If the plan goes ahead, foreigners will be able to work as civil engineers, accountants and architects in Thailand under certain conditions. 

 

Those certain conditions have already been spelt out in relation to Japanese and Chinese high-speed train engineers.

These HS train engineers (who are probably the best in the world) have to undergo an approval process and certification by Thai slow-speed train engineers before they can work in Thailand.

It was also confirmed by senior civil servants that each certification would be time consuming and costly. No surprises there; unashamed, up-front extortion.