Thais Working In Australia

[Paul123456]

Lots of Thai friends ask me about the chances of them working in Australia. I have no idea how to answer their questions.

Does anyone have any experience with this - any Thai people that have done it? Or do you have Thai friends that have done it?

The sort of things they'd need to know is:

What sort of visas are available for Thai people?

What sort of jobs are available for Thai people? They would mainly be interested in picking fruit, working in hospitality, or doing other shitty jobs that Australians don't want to do. Some would want to go for a few months, some for a year.

What sort of taxes do Thais have to pay?

They always ask advice on living costs in Australia and about wages.

Anyone with any thoughts, ideas, experience, facts - that would be appreicated. Thanks

[Simmo]

All your questions could be answered by looking at the Aus immigration department website & the Aus embassy thailand site.

http://www.immi.gov.au/

http://www.austembassy.or.th/

[Paul123456]

Hi Simmo, thanks. I will have a look.

All my questions? Are you sure? Do they mention about cost of living and wages?

Anyway, I will have a look and do appreciate that.

I am still interested in any more thoughts from people, especially with stories of experience.

I am able after many hours of searching to generally find some information on official type websites, but often find my understanding is greatly enhanced if that is mixed with some personal accounts.

[Paul123456]

Simmo are you still there? I haven't found anything useful on those websites yet. Are you able to point out more specifically how I can find the info I want on those websites?

There is something about working holidays for people under 30, which doesn't relate to the people i have in mind, but may be useful for others. I couldn't decide whether it relates to Thais or only whites though. Does anyone know?

There was also a link to the harvest trail at http://jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/. I am searching through that now.

So more comments and experiences very welcome

[Simmo]

OK. I'll answer your questions the best I can.

What visa's are available? The same as people from any other country - LOOK AT THE WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LIST.

What sort of jobs are available? Migrants with specialist skills & experience are in demand - LOOK AT THE WEBSITE.

If they're between 18-30 a Work and Holiday visa would be the best bet for fruit picking / hospitality etc - LOOK AT THE WEBSITE

Taxes? The same as any other Australian - you get a tax file number and have it deducted from your salary. You can't get legal employment without providing a TFN to your employer.

All employment must be prearranged before getting a working visa(except for the Working Holiday visa).

If your friends have no savings / no experience / limited work skills they will have no chance of getting any type of visa & legal employment unless they have family there already or find an employer to sponsor them.

[Paul123456]

Excellent - thanks for getting back to me - basically it seems from the websites it is not possible, except for rich and highly skilled people. Of course my friends are highly experienced in farming - but I think that is not much help for them.

Despite all that, I know that people from some poor countries do get into Australia for fruit picking at times. Lots of Pacific islanders seem to get those jobs. So I am still interested if anyone knows how that can be arranged. And anyone with previous experience.

Sorry Simmo, the websites are not useful for what I am looking for. They mainly concentrate on skilled migration.

Taxes? Is it the same as other Australians? I hope so. I have a bad feeling that they have to pay 50%, bu not sure.

[Simmo]

Those Pacific islanders you mention will likely have New Zealand passports and don't need a visa to work in Aus.

Your average Isaan farmer would have a snowflakes chance in hel_l of getting any type of visa to visit or immigrate to Australia unless they have family members there already or can find an employer to sponsor them.

Tax rates for residents & non-residents here.

http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content....ntent/12333.htm

[Paul123456]

Thanks again.

That makes sense about the New Zealand passport.

Tax rate info - for anyone interested - basically until they make more than $21600 they pay 29c in the $.

Does sound quite unlikely: Unless - they get a business to sponser them (which is in itself highly unlikely as those businesses can get other unskilled workers without the stuffing about)

or they are also doing study and they get in that way (which I think allows for a certain amount of work) - but again probably requires all sorts of things that the average human hasn't got.

I thought that may be the case. But???

[samran]

They'll have to have some sort of skill that it is in demand. Doesn't mean you have to be a rocket scientist....hair dressers and sparkies have better chances of getting in than accountants.

There is a list floating about on the website mentioned, basically outlining what skills are in demand, and how many points they'd need to get towards the PR application.

Fruitpicking is unlikely, unless they were say a working holiday maker. If they had some sort of trade or skill (or horticultural skill) though, which the could prove through a qualification (which would have to be comparable to an Australian standard) then there might be half a chance.

Many Zimbabwean farmers who were foced out came via agricutural based migration routes, for instance.

So they are some of the possible routes....but in my opinion, unless they were experienced in running something the equivelent of Chok Chai farm up in Saraburi, or ran a huge property themselves, it is unlikely they'd get in.

[Simmo]

Good point samran- some sort of specialist horticultural/agricultural qualification would help - possibly through a Thai government program? . I think the application is somewhat easier if you intend to migrate to a regional area as well, as the Federal Government is promoting regional growth.

[kiakaha]

Lots of Thai friends ask me about the chances of them working in Australia. I have no idea how to answer their questions.

Does anyone have any experience with this - any Thai people that have done it? Or do you have Thai friends that have done it?

The sort of things they'd need to know is:

What sort of visas are available for Thai people?

What sort of jobs are available for Thai people? They would mainly be interested in picking fruit, working in hospitality, or doing other shitty jobs that Australians don't want to do. Some would want to go for a few months, some for a year.

What sort of taxes do Thais have to pay?

They always ask advice on living costs in Australia and about wages.

Anyone with any thoughts, ideas, experience, facts - that would be appreicated. Thanks

My thai wife worked in Australia for KPMG as a junior accountant after she graduated.She entered on her New Zealand passport.

Not all thais are fruit pickers mate !

[samran]

Lots of Thai friends ask me about the chances of them working in Australia. I have no idea how to answer their questions.

Does anyone have any experience with this - any Thai people that have done it? Or do you have Thai friends that have done it?

The sort of things they'd need to know is:

What sort of visas are available for Thai people?

What sort of jobs are available for Thai people? They would mainly be interested in picking fruit, working in hospitality, or doing other shitty jobs that Australians don't want to do. Some would want to go for a few months, some for a year.

What sort of taxes do Thais have to pay?

They always ask advice on living costs in Australia and about wages.

Anyone with any thoughts, ideas, experience, facts - that would be appreicated. Thanks

My thai wife worked in Australia for KPMG as a junior accountant after she graduated.She entered on her New Zealand passport.

Not all thais are fruit pickers mate !

Another excellent point. Problem is, most Thai's don't have Kiwi passports!

Many Thai's do end up working permanently in Australia though. Doing an undergraduate degree at an Australian institution in a professional discipline (one that is one the skills in demand list) in most cases means that the student is eligble for a fast track to PR.

[kiakaha]

Lots of Thai friends ask me about the chances of them working in Australia. I have no idea how to answer their questions.

Does anyone have any experience with this - any Thai people that have done it? Or do you have Thai friends that have done it?

The sort of things they'd need to know is:

What sort of visas are available for Thai people?

What sort of jobs are available for Thai people? They would mainly be interested in picking fruit, working in hospitality, or doing other shitty jobs that Australians don't want to do. Some would want to go for a few months, some for a year.

What sort of taxes do Thais have to pay?

They always ask advice on living costs in Australia and about wages.

Anyone with any thoughts, ideas, experience, facts - that would be appreicated. Thanks

My thai wife worked in Australia for KPMG as a junior accountant after she graduated.She entered on her New Zealand passport.

Not all thais are fruit pickers mate !

To offer some practical advice, New Zealand has a working holiday scheme with Thailand.

Although it is not Australia, it is a potential alternative you could suggest.

The Thai person could work and holiday legally. Also, NZL and Thailand have a dual tax treaty.

NZL usually has an ample supply of seasonal and low-skilled work, part-time and full time.

And for the more skilled/formally educated....then perhaps junior roles/internships in professional organisations could be attained.

Working Holiday Information

[Simmo]

To offer some practical advice, New Zealand has a working holiday scheme with Thailand.

Although it is not Australia, it is a potential alternative you could suggest.

The Thai person could work and holiday legally. Also, NZL and Thailand have a dual tax treaty.

NZL usually has an ample supply of seasonal and low-skilled work, part-time and full time.

And for the more skilled/formally educated....then perhaps junior roles/internships in professional organisations could be attained.

Working Holiday Information

The qualifications for that scheme look exactly the same as the Aus Working Holiday visa ie.

* Tertiary Degree

* 18-30 yrs old

* proof of funds in the bank.

That will disqualify a good >90% of the Thai population.

[ozzydom]

About 18 months ago there was a Kiwi rep for a NZ Company handing out flyers all over Chiang Mai,

They were recruiting for the hospitality industry in NZ, the qualification requirements were pretty daunting,IE Thai Food Chef,10 years in a cooking position with at least 4 years as chef in a 4-5 star establishment, and for all that the remuneration was 10-20k baht per month.

[Pink Mist]

thats probably accurate to a degree Ozz, the figures dnt exactly line up but the qualifications were high and the money low

[engrin]

I know of a couple of Thais, husband and wife...Who are leaving very shortly (this month?) to go fruit picking in New Zealand (or Finland) - The husband drinks a lot so I'm not sure if he's even sure what country it is. In the past he's worked in Taiwan so I do believe that he is actually going. From the sounds of it, anyone around here (Issan province) can pay some village recruiter dude 60,000 (i believe) and go. The drunk husband offered to introduce my TG to the recruiter. The information is very washy I know. Communication is the barrier. My TG tells me that its quite common for recruiters to ask around at villages to get people to work abroad (ie Korea, Taiwan, Australia?, I dont know). I do know this guy and his wife are going fruit picking and they are paying a trusted person to take care of everything for them (plane tickets, visa, job). My TG also has 2 friends (who I've met) who worked in Korea. They also were recruited in their village to go. Both sisters made enough money in Korea to send back money and have houses built. This was a few years ago.

[mark lamai]

there's a Spa Resort near where i live in Aus.

an independant guy used the spa manager to apply for visas for thai women to work as masseurs in the resort.

they received visas.

they stayed for a week then the guy whisked them off to , well you can guess what kinda work.

so thai masseur would seem to be a specialist occupation.

but thet still needed a sponsor.

and , of course, a lot of nasty people try to make money out of it.

I have heard of recruiters in Burma for women to work in places like Saudi,

I can only imagine how they would be treated when they get there.

Thai cook could be a specialist skill as well,

but i imagine a sponsor would be needed as above.

[Paul123456]

Hi - thanks to all the answers - all very interesting.

Ha ha - yes I know that all Thais are not fruit pickers and indeed the two I have in mind that have most recently asked me are highly educated, intelligent and skilled: But they feel it is easier to try to work hard in "non -skilled" positions than try to convince Australians of their value.

The New Zealand option sounds great although as mentioned the two latest people to question me are over 30 - but I would certainly be happy to suggest NZ to others over Australia.

Hmmm, what else. Oh - yeah - I know about the schemes to go to Korea, Saudi, etc. To be honest they seem more likely, but people would prefer to work in Australia, NZ etc and have experience in a Western country. But - as pointed out - it is pretty hard. One of the friends mentioned is already considering a trip to Emirates or Saudi, but wanted to check the possibility of Australia also. Incidently the people that ask me have absolutely no interest in living permently in Australia or anywhere but Thailand; but why they are young enough to work hard they want to go and experience the world and set themselves up for a better life in Thailand.

Yeah - of course also I am aware that many people lie to Thais and bring them to Australia or whereever and then basically use them as slaves or in the sex industry - so it is pretty worrying to provide advice on going.

I think that answers most of the posts. Thanks again for all the answers

[samran]

Ha ha - yes I know that all Thais are not fruit pickers and indeed the two I have in mind that have most recently asked me are highly educated, intelligent and skilled: But they feel it is easier to try to work hard in "non -skilled" positions than try to convince Australians of their value.

I don't think they'd struggle. I know a Thai bloke just gone down to work for a large IT firm as a project manager, salary circa $130K per year. Australian economy is crying out for workers, so people will take relevant skills - from wherever.

Incidently the people that ask me have absolutely no interest in living permently in Australia or anywhere but Thailand; but why they are young enough to work hard they want to go and experience the world and set themselves up for a better life in Thailand.

If that is the case, they may want to apply directly to firms in Australia to sponsor them. They'd get a 457 visa - essentially a work permit. It is up to the employer to sponser them, and they'd be tied to that job. I don't believe it is a path to permanent residency either.

[oxymoron]

About 18 months ago there was a Kiwi rep for a NZ Company handing out flyers all over Chiang Mai,

They were recruiting for the hospitality industry in NZ, the qualification requirements were pretty daunting,IE Thai Food Chef,10 years in a cooking position with at least 4 years as chef in a 4-5 star establishment, and for all that the remuneration was 10-20k baht per month.

The biggest problem for a rural Thai is THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Thats why most of my relatives went to Arab or Asian countries to work, where it was acceptable for one of them who spoke passable english to head up the team.

[giruz]

8 of 10 Thais I know here in Sydney are working in Restaurants (cash in hand).

The remaining two thais are working in other Thai companies or in Coles or Wollworths.

I'm sure that this is not the regular situation but all the Thais I know are student (Uni student).

There are really few (very few) exceptions..but maybe is just me that I know mainly Thai student (I'm a student as well).

I don't know why but majority of Thai I know prefer to speak Thai all the time so maybe after 3 years in Sydney they still can't understand an Australian when is speaking...so they can't work anywhere else then in a restaurant where they are screwed (Usually a restaurant pays 10p/h cash in hand).

(Not that for a Chinese national is much different, I know ppl that is paid $5/6 p/hour)

Cheers

g.

Edited March 14, 2007 by giruz

[gburns57au]

To get a work visa they would need to be sponsored by a company that will employ them.

It seems that they wouldnt qualify for the working holiday visa.

For an employer to be able to employ semi skilled or even trades people from other countries that company would have to show that they have made genuine attempts to employ locally or from Oz first.

I have had Thai people ask me about work in Oz....I just tell them..."too hard"

Mark, I hope you reported that situation to the authorities....That guy is a snakehead and deserves jail.

Edited March 14, 2007 by gburns57au

[rgs2001uk]

To get a work visa they would need to be sponsored by a company that will employ them.

It seems that they wouldnt qualify for the working holiday visa.

For an employer to be able to employ semi skilled or even trades people from other countries that company would have to show that they have made genuine attempts to employ locally or from Oz first.

I have had Thai people ask me about work in Oz....I just tell them..."too hard"

Mark, I hope you reported that situation to the authorities....That guy is a snakehead and deserves jail.

the last case i know of, it was a thai lady living in australia married to an australian who worked overseas and didnt have a clue what was going on. the lady reverted to her former profession, and managed to recruit many of her fellow coworkers, at least 10, and they were all happy enough to do it.

[Anthony_Mustang]

Actually you might have a chance if you are willing to do Fruit Picking in Australia.

I'm in the Horticulture Industry and for the past few years there has been a dramatic shortage of people who are willing to do the job due to the relatively low unemployment rate around Australia. The industry is trying to get the government to let more foreign workers in to do the job.

[Paul123456]

Actually you might have a chance if you are willing to do Fruit Picking in Australia.

I'm in the Horticulture Industry and for the past few years there has been a dramatic shortage of people who are willing to do the job due to the relatively low unemployment rate around Australia. The industry is trying to get the government to let more foreign workers in to do the job.

Anthony - any help or contacts you could pass on would help many Thais and perhaps many Australian farmers. There are lots willing to do the job - I will do it myself - but just find it hard to get much info or find it all too vague to invest the money to come to Australia.

[engrin]

I know some Thais who would also like to try...

[Pink Mist]

8 of 10 Thais I know here in Sydney are working in Restaurants (cash in hand).

The remaining two thais are working in other Thai companies or in Coles or Wollworths.

I'm sure that this is not the regular situation but all the Thais I know are student (Uni student).

There are really few (very few) exceptions..but maybe is just me that I know mainly Thai student (I'm a student as well).

I don't know why but majority of Thai I know prefer to speak Thai all the time so maybe after 3 years in Sydney they still can't understand an Australian when is speaking...so they can't work anywhere else then in a restaurant where they are screwed (Usually a restaurant pays 10p/h cash in hand).

(Not that for a Chinese national is much different, I know ppl that is paid $5/6 p/hour)

Cheers

g.

when my Missus first got here she worked in restaurants, $10/hour off the books was normal, the trouble we found was you needed a work history and referees.

She has worked at Coles for 2 years now, good money, Super everything.

[Mighty Mouse]

You need to be super fit for fruit picking. Most Thais, especially the women, find it too difficult.

The other problem is accommodation. Most orchards are in remote areas with a short picking season, so it should never be regarded as an astute career move.

The hospitality industry is probably one of the best for Thai women with an average education. The large hotels are always looking for staff and most of their room attendants, cleaners, receptionists, laundry personnel, kitchen staff etc. are Asian.

Some hotel chains offer permanent positions, others casual/part time positions.

There are also agencies in Australia that provide casual staff for many international type hotels. These staff members work in different hotels each day, but their services are always in demand.

If you check through the on-line Australian employment sites you can find many staff recruiting advertisements. Just knock out a resume for your wife/GF and submit it on-line. They will contact you to arrange an interview.

Experience is preferred but some agencies give on the job training.

Most TAFE colleges offer a Hospitality Course.

Staff turnover in these establishments is quite high so job opportunities always present themselves.

Licensed clubs are always hiring staff. Casual pay rates are not bad either.

Then there are the nursing homes and retirement villages. Plenty of positions on offer but fairly tightly held once obtained.

Child care centres are always advertising for staff. Most require applicants to have a diploma but from what I can gather, the diploma courses are not too difficult.

The jobs are available. You just have to let it be known that you really want one.

[Anthony_Mustang]

Actually you might have a chance if you are willing to do Fruit Picking in Australia.

I'm in the Horticulture Industry and for the past few years there has been a dramatic shortage of people who are willing to do the job due to the relatively low unemployment rate around Australia. The industry is trying to get the government to let more foreign workers in to do the job.

Just goggle "fruit picking Mildura" and lot's contacts will come up for you.

At the moment we are just starting our Citrus Season which runs until October.

As other people have said it's a tough job but you can make good money.

What happens usually is that a grower will call one of the local registries and say how many people they need for the day. If you have a good reputation you'll get top $$$$.

Good luck

Edited March 17, 2007 by Anthony_Mustang