For all those who are keen on working in Thailand, be aware that there is a list of jobs were, you, as a westerner will not be able to get a work permit. The List is taken from The Thai Labor Department Website -http://www.mol.go.th/-

1.- Labour work except labour work in fishing boats under the next category below. The said work which is forbidden to aliens shall not apply to aliens who have entered into Thailand under an agreement on hire of labour concluded between the Government of Thailand and other nations, and also aliens whose status has been prescribed as legal immigrant and who possess a residence certificate under the law governing immigration.

2.- Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry or fishery, except work requiring specialized knowledge, farm supervision, or labour work in fishing boats, particularly marine fishery.

3.- Bricklaying, carpentry, or other construction work.

4.- Wood carving.

5.- Driving motor vehicles or vehicles which do not use machinery or mechanical devices, except piloting aircraft internationally.

6.- Front shop sales and auction sale work.

7.-Supervising, auditing, or giving service in accountancy, except occasional internal auditing.

8.-Cutting or polishing precious or semi-precious stones.

9.- Haircutting, hairdressing, or beautification.

10.- Cloth weaving by hand.

11.- Mat weaving or making utensils from reed, rattan, jute, hay, or bamboo.

12.- Making rice paper by hand.

13.- Lacquer work.

14.- Making Thai musical instruments.

15.- Niello work.

16.- Goldsmith, silversmith, or gold/copper alloy smith work.
Stone work.

17.- Making Thai dolls.

18.- Making mattresses or quilts.

19.- Making alms bowls.

20.- Making silk products by hand.

21.- Making Buddha images.

22.- Knife making.

23.- Making paper or cloth umbrellas.

24.- Making shoes.

25.- Making hats.

26.- Brokerage or agency except in international trading.

27.- Professional civil engineering concerning design and calculation, systemization, analysis, planning, testing, construction supervision, or consulting services, excluding work requiring specialized techniques.

28.- Professional architectural work concerning design,  drawing/making, cost estimation, or consulting services.

29.- Dressmaking.

30.- Pottery.

31.- Cigarette rolling by hand.

32.- Tour guiding or conducting.

33.- Hawking of goods & Thai typesetting by hand.

34.- Unwinding and twisting silk by hand.

35.- Clerical or secretarial work.

36.- Providing legal services or engaging in legal work, except arbitration work; and work relating to defense of cases at arbitration level, provided the law governing the dispute under consideration by the arbitrators is not Thai law, or it is a case where there is no need to apply for the enforcement of such arbitration award in Thailand.

Great. Regarding number 36. There are a lot of visa consulting services from foreigners to action providing the visa itself. They open the shop as language school or visa consulting. 

What can the law do with them ??

7 minutes ago, alianware said:

Great. Regarding number 36. There are a lot of visa consulting services from foreigners to action providing the visa itself. They open the shop as language school or visa consulting. 

What can the law do with them ??

You will find a foreigner may own or manage a visa agency, they are not employed or being paid to provide legal services, they just own the business.

A foreigner can own a barbers shop, can manage a barbers shop, but they cannot cut hair.

The law wont do anything with them, they are not breaking the law.

This has been known for a long time.

 

However, despite this list on many construction sites in Bangkok one sees all the foreigners performing building work such as those listed in the protected jobs.

 

Amazing that they have not upgraded it to include jobs foreigners cannot perform work/manage and supervise in the hotel industry, restaurant, food and beverage and it sectors.

It has always puzzled me they ban foreign Civil Professional Engineers and Architects but not other disciplines of professional services. 

 

Of course good for me since I am Electrical PE........

19 minutes ago, userabcd said:

However, despite this list on many construction sites in Bangkok one sees all the foreigners performing building work such as those listed in the protected jobs.

See:

1 hour ago, Emment said:

The said work which is forbidden to aliens shall not apply to aliens who have entered into Thailand under an agreement on hire of labour concluded between the Government of Thailand and other nations

 

 

11 minutes ago, 86Tiger said:

Of course good for me since I am Electrical PE........

Would probably fall under point 3.

I'm a bricklayer, could I be employed in a formans capacity, just keeping a eye on things and guiding them on the straight and narrow...

Okay? This is hardly news. The list has been common knowledge since forever.

56 minutes ago, lanng khao said:

I'm a bricklayer, could I be employed in a formans capacity, just keeping a eye on things and guiding them on the straight and narrow...

In theory yes, so long as you dont do any work. You may have trouble being a manager or supervisor unless you can speak Thai, and wages would be $20 US a day.

No need to shout Emment. Shhhhhh. It's against forum rules. 

Edited December 30, 20205 yr by KannikaP

An off topic post has been removed.

3 hours ago, Emment said:

1.- Labour work except labour work in fishing boats under the next category below. The said work which is forbidden to aliens shall not apply to aliens who have entered into Thailand under an agreement on hire of labour concluded between the Government of Thailand and other nations, and also aliens whose status has been prescribed as legal immigrant and who possess a residence certificate under the law governing immigration.

Do I read this correctly? None of the restrictions apply to PR holders? Didn't know that... Now it's not like I fancy brick laying or weaving Thai silk or anything, just interesting clause I didn't know about.

3 hours ago, userabcd said:

This has been known for a long time.

 

However, despite this list on many construction sites in Bangkok one sees all the foreigners performing building work such as those listed in the protected jobs.

 

Amazing that they have not upgraded it to include jobs foreigners cannot perform work/manage and supervise in the hotel industry, restaurant, food and beverage and it sectors.

You can however get visas to teach various types of construction which cover you to handle tools in your capacity to teach a particular trade 

zMaking mattresses or quilts.

 

I foolishly explained to Madame that I have no WP for bedmaking, she instantly replied then your 'customary breakfast special" in bed is under consideration for 3o days.

Damn - I see my hand rolling cigarette business in jeopardy. 

I'd think a much shorter list would be those that are allowed. 

 

 

Who wants to work in Thailand ? 

Came here to try and forget about work.

The list is shorter than when I arrived, almost 30 years ago. If I remember well there used to be 48 on that list.

 

18 hours ago, 86Tiger said:

It has always puzzled me they ban foreign Civil Professional Engineers and Architects but not other disciplines of professional services. 

 

Of course good for me since I am Electrical PE........

The reason (excuse) that I have heard is that they are difficult to track and prosecute when something goes wrong. 

20 hours ago, Emment said:

31.- Cigarette rolling by hand.

Damn! I thought there was an opening for me there.

19 hours ago, 86Tiger said:

It has always puzzled me they ban foreign Civil Professional Engineers and Architects but not other disciplines of professional services.

You will note that the relevant section (No.27) also bans construction supervision, excluding work requiring specialised techniques.  The supervisor of the pile driving rig on the Lam Takhong section of the new M6 motorway was a Scotsman.  In this day and age, I wouldn't have thought pile driving was particulary specialised plus there are many pile driving companies in Thailand.  I suppose they can bend the rules when it suits them.

So Yoga teaching is allowed?

 

21 hours ago, Emment said:

26.- Brokerage or agency except in international trading.

Seems to me some of these are left to interpretation. What type of brokerage? What type of Agency? I know foreigners work for Real Estate Agencies and Business Brokerages. This labor law doesn't stop foreigners from owning but what about managing. Seems to me considering this just say you can't get a work permit for these jobs that would include managing? I know a lot of foreigners may not be doing the job but they are managing. 

As I understand it, not long ago they changed the rules so that a foreigner can work on his own property ??  Therefore must assume one can do the plumbing / bricklaying / other work on ones own property ( House ) with out any problem ??

My Thai Mrs owns/runs a shop. I go there and assist, sometimes serving customers as far as able (can't speak Thai). I am on retirement extensions which prohibit work. Front shop work is on this prohibited list. However, I am advised that you are allowed to assist your spouse in their business. Which of these 'regulations' takes precedence in this case?  

23 hours ago, Emment said:

Unwinding and twisting silk by hand

 

Ohh no, that was why arrived here for, what I am I going to do now?

22 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

My Thai Mrs owns/runs a shop. I go there and assist, sometimes serving customers as far as able (can't speak Thai). I am on retirement extensions which prohibit work. Front shop work is on this prohibited list. However, I am advised that you are allowed to assist your spouse in their business. Which of these 'regulations' takes precedence in this case?  

Who advised that one could assist ones spouse in their business, labour dept?

On 12/30/2020 at 1:34 PM, Emment said:

2.- Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry or fishery, except work requiring specialized knowledge, farm supervision

Harvest time here in Issan. They asked if I'd like a go at it. I said nah I'm good. I then proceeded to engage in farm supervision. Father in law still proudly chucks those bales at age 70.

23 hours ago, 86Tiger said:

It has always puzzled me they ban foreign Civil Professional Engineers and Architects but not other disciplines of professional services. 

 

Of course good for me since I am Electrical PE........

Probably because Civil and Architectural work is kind of local, basic and the skill transfer is easy.

 

For electro mechanical, industrial work it's more varied and specialised and depends a lot on foreign equipment and innovation and expertise.

Edited December 31, 20205 yr by userabcd

13 hours ago, Prince77 said:

Damn - I see my hand rolling cigarette business in jeopardy. 

Mine too