Bangkok: Famous 5 star luxury hotel shuts and lays off staff

[Bob A Kneale]

20 hours ago, impulse said:

21 hours ago, Bob A Kneale said:

On 5/6/2020 at 9:31 AM, impulse said:

to your comment about an international group being expected to do the right thing according to Thai law, you must be new.

If you say so.

 

If you're not aware of many international companies flouting Thai employment and tax laws, you're either not digging very deep, or you're willfully ignoring them.  Which is it?

 

What is it that prompts you to suggest that Marriott International may be "flouting Thai employment and tax laws" in this case?    Either you're not digging very deep or you're defaming the company willfully.  Which is it?

Edited May 7, 2020 by Bob A Kneale

[pj123]

Useful legal advice on Covid 19 and employee's rights here

https://www.tilleke.com/resources/options-employers-thailand-during-covid-19-outbreak

A court would need to decide if the hotel could use force majeure as a reason not to pay severance

If the hotel wants to temporarily cease operations it has to pay 75% of salaries during the closure unless it can claim force majeure

 

Worth noting that the Thai courts have said that a fire destroying a factory is not FM

 

More advice here: https://www.mazars.co.th/Home/News/COVID-19-Impact/Force-Majeure-and-COVID-19

 

The Min of labour has confirmed that Covod 19 is FM for interpretation of the Social Security Act only.

But Mazars' opinion is that FM would apply to a restaurant that has been forced to close by government decree. With the implication (my opinion) that FM would not apply to a hotel that can continue to operate under the law but CHOOSES to close as it is not cost effective to continue to remain open. 

Edited May 7, 2020 by pj123

[bwpage3]

On 5/5/2020 at 8:21 PM, Greg O said:

You are joking about more Americans coming here if they knew what it's like aren't you ? The extreme air pollution, heat and humidity, the rubbish everywhere, the fearsome roads, the tourist rip offs. Rabid soi dogs ( oh ain't that special). Most Americans can barely make it to a neighboring state on their own (that's a big trip going to Destin for spring break) and only about 30 percent possess a passport. Their "trip of a lifetime" is going to Hawaii (waikiki) which is just a big mall now or to Cancuuun duh, Mexicooo dude! Another manufactured tourist trap ! So they'll come here and start whining after being enroute for 28 hours or more traveling in economy. It's a horrible journey even for the experienced traveler..Many of us well seasoned travelers elected to stay here after either working in Asia or being a frequent visitor due to family ties and the proximity of Thailand being a Southeast Asian hub and the lack of oversight here until now and that's not going away anytime soon ! It's really just ignorance God bless em. As an American on holiday why would they come here? Their annual holiday leave is much less than Europeans and it's too far ! The bargains don't exist here for Americans they enjoy low taxes on purchases and everything in USA is dirt cheap and abundant compared to here, other than housing. As the Airlines begin to Vaporize fewer flights will be available. A total and complete disaster because of a few sniffles ...and government bufoonery ineptness.

You are absolutely correct.

 

12/2019 flew to Thailand from Miami, Florida first time I visited Thailand since I moved 6 years ago.

 

It was pure hell. Not only does it waste a lot of time, it is extremely, horribly uncomfortable to fly that long.

 

Then land in BKK, queue up for 2 hours, wait to get luggage, waiting another 1 hour while they got our rental car ready, then had an 8+ hour drive.

 

Then you get to do that on the way back.

 

I would guess close to 4 days wasted traveling.

 

I was shocked at how much Thailand had changed in 6 years.

 

The pollution is horrid. Traffic even worst. Drought in many parts.

 

All the things that made Bangkok cool are gone, replaced with luxury malls for who?

 

Who in their right mind, except the Chinese, want to travel to go to overpriced malls, which have ruined the appeal of Bangkok?

 

Thailand probably doesn't understand the US is full of malls, no need to fly half-way around the world for malls.

 

Won't be going back.

 

We are a 2 hour flight from Aruba, which is absolute heaven. It lives up to its name Happy Island!

 

Last trip we got tickets for US $240. 

 

Luxury beachside resort hotel was around $225 a night. Hotels all have casinos.

 

Rental car for 1 week $125.

 

Outrageously good restaurants with all kinds of excellent meals.

 

Waveless beach, can just chill out and really unwind.

 

Scuba, snorkling. There is a shipwreck right off the beach with 1000's of colorful fish

 

Aruba is super clean.  Water is super clean. 

 

Thailand has nothing remotely special for me to consider that length of flight ever again.