Thai Prime Minister Orders Crackdown on Illegal Guides, Addresses Taxi Meter Issues

[webfact]

 

Bangkok—At 8:50 AM, on February 23rd, 2024, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt, and relevant agencies held a meeting on the progress of Bangkok City development.

During the meeting, Srettha emphasized several issues on Bangkok’s development. One of the prominent issues was Taxi drivers charging extra without using meter devices. Srettha said that it is crucial for fair and transparent fares and urged the Minister of Transport to collaborate on improving this aspect to benefit both passengers and drivers.

 

Regarding the illegal tour guides in the Bangkok area, Srettha described it as a cancerous issue undermining Thailand’s tourism image. Srettha issued an order to the commissioner general of the Royal Thai Police to take strict measures against the problem.

 

By Kittisak Phalaharn

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-24

 

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[ikke1959]

Maybe the Government should start to review the outdated labour laws and requirements to get a workpermit. Sometimes people need so much paperwork and certificates and titles that it is almost impossible to get a workpermit. Best example is an English teacher and also for guides. The protection that jobs are forbidden for foreigners for jobs a Thai can do also is ouitdated. We all know that Thai education sometimes lacks the real skills such as English teachers who can conversate with you an have a lower degree than a foreigner needs. Same for guides.. where can you learn French/ or Russian or whatever language here in Thailand as many Thais not even are willing to learn English?

Edited February 23 by ikke1959

[Skipalongcassidy]

1 minute ago, ikke1959 said:

Maybe the Government should start to review the outdated labour laws and requirements to get a workpermit. Sometimes people need so much paperwork and certificates and titles that it is almost impossible to get a workpermit. Best example is an English teacher and also for guides. The protection that jobs are forbidden for foreigners for jobs a Thai can do also is ouitdated. We all know that Thai education sometimes lacks the real skills such as English teachers who can conversate with you an have a lower degree than a foreigner needs

From what you wrote here they should definitely up the requirements for English teachers if you are representative of such.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

One of the prominent issues was Taxi drivers charging extra without using meter devices. Srettha said that it is crucial for fair and transparent fares and urged the Minister of Transport to collaborate on improving this aspect to benefit both passengers and drivers.

555

High fines would be a good idea.

And obviously someone has to enforce the laws. I thought that is the job of the police, but it seems they don't think so. 

[stoner]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

described it as a cancerous issue undermining Thailand’s tourism image.

 

i can think of a much bigger cancerous issue inflicting this country. 

[SingAPorn]

Good luck to tackle the taxi crooks who refuse the meter, just like the tuk tuk mafia who openly racket and overchaerge tourists and locals.

[ikke1959]

6 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

From what you wrote here they should definitely up the requirements for English teachers if you are representative of such.

My English is terrible as you don't understand what I wrote.. please correct it and teach me what is wrong... I am never too old to learn. Easy to give comments, but look at your own

[garygooner]

Used to take a taxi every day, but now walk as much as I can & sometimes a motorbike taxi. Got fed up just sitting in traffic or at red lights. Once in a while I would notice a really fast running  meter too. 👎

[Bangkok Barry]

As I've written before, the PM (or anyone else in a position on any given day) has spoken, made his recommendations, and his job is done. Anything that happens later is not his responsibility. You, I, he and everyone else knows that what is said will be ignored and is unenforceable, but that is not the point. He has acted, done what he considers to be his job, while actually doing nothing. This happens all the time, at least once a week. Someone makes a declaration and the next day it's ignored and forgotten. But that person has done their job by 'acting'.

 

Now, what will it be next week? A crackdown on motorcycles driving on pavements/sidewalks? Again.

[hotchilli]

Yada yada yada heard it all before, stop foreigners from working, stop taxi drivers doing what they do best, and reduce PM2.5... 

[garzhe]

8 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Good luck to tackle the taxi crooks who refuse the meter, just like the tuk tuk mafia who openly racket and overchaerge tourists and locals.

 

Would be easy if the authorities actually wanted to tackle the problem. Just do what I've seen in other cities. Notice required on all Taxi dashboards saying.  "NO METER - NO CHARGE" With a number to call if any problem.

[bamnutsak]

9 hours ago, stoner said:

i can think of a much bigger cancerous issue inflicting this country. 

 

Barbeque pork stalls?

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/capitals-governor-wants-to-reduce-smoke-emitted-from-grilled-pork-stalls/

[Bangkok Barry]

8 minutes ago, garzhe said:

 

Would be easy if the authorities actually wanted to tackle the problem. Just do what I've seen in other cities. Notice required on all Taxi dashboards saying.  "NO METER - NO CHARGE" With a number to call if any problem.

 

I once called the taxi complaint number as the driver was taking his own 'sightseeing' route rather than the direct one, and they told me to call the tourist police number. I called the tourist police number and they told me to call the taxi complaint number. They don't care.

[stoner]

3 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

Barbeque pork stalls?

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/capitals-governor-wants-to-reduce-smoke-emitted-from-grilled-pork-stalls/

 

piggies lol 

[Clarkey611]

A lot of addressing by JGG, but not much action or implementation.

 

 

[Skipalongcassidy]

18 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

My English is terrible as you don't understand what I wrote.. please correct it and teach me what is wrong... I am never too old to learn. Easy to give comments, but look at your own

You missed the irony... 555

[drkenchso]

glad that smog problem eg pm2.50 in bangkok also received  due attention.

perhaps some creative or unconventional thinking is urgently needed to solve this persisting aggravating problem?! assuming that the culprit is external, for example, from cambodia, it is right step for thailand to liaise with cambodia govt to jointly solve the problem but also good to request thai friendly china govt to help, exerting some pressure on cambodia to do better? secondly,assume we can't do much to reduce external pollution source, couldn't we do more INSIDE thailand to push for more EV to replace gasoline vehicles by subsidy or increase import tax for the traditional vehicles, or bring forward European new standard sooner, or use multipronged approach? improved air quality could  attract more wealthy guys and elderly retirees ?

[n00dle]

On 2/24/2024 at 5:48 AM, ikke1959 said:

the real skills such as English teachers who can conversate with you an have a lower degree than a foreigner needs

conversate indeed.

[n00dle]

On 2/24/2024 at 5:51 AM, Skipalongcassidy said:

From what you wrote here they should definitely up the requirements for English teachers if you are representative of such.

How have you managed any better? 

[n00dle]

On 2/24/2024 at 6:33 AM, OneMoreFarang said:

555

High fines would be a good idea.

And obviously someone has to enforce the laws. I thought that is the job of the police, but it seems they don't think so. 

I don't see how enforcing taxi rate regs would be a police matter, but bringing taxi meter rates in line with today's cost of living would be a good start at reducing additional charges.

Then destroy them with fines if they transgress.

 

[Liverpool Lou]

On 2/24/2024 at 5:48 AM, ikke1959 said:

The protection that jobs are forbidden for foreigners for jobs a Thai can do also is ouitdated. We all know that Thai education sometimes lacks the real skills such as English teachers who can conversate with you an have a lower degree than a foreigner needs.

Teaching is not a protected occupation!

[Liverpool Lou]

On 2/24/2024 at 7:24 AM, SingAPorn said:

just like the tuk tuk mafia who openly racket and overchaerge tourists and locals.

Since when have there been regulated fares for tuk-tuks?  All tuk-tuk fares are negotiated.

[Skipalongcassidy]

11 hours ago, n00dle said:

How have you managed any better? 

You too have missed the irony...555