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Foreign Tour Operators Flood Phuket, Taking Jobs from Locals


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On 10/9/2024 at 11:21 PM, webfact said:

On October 9, a popular Facebook page, "Hodjung Phuket," shared a video clip revealing a foreign man openly selling tour packages to tourists from a street-side booth in Phuket.

 

Are Thai people somehow hindered to do this ?

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So I could make jewelry out of platinum?  

Could a falang draw up  house plans for a house on his wife's land?    Was it legal for me to repair a bamboo chair at mum's or house?  

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On 10/10/2024 at 11:50 AM, arithai12 said:

 

This is part of what you get. The other things are buying condos and villas like peanuts, giving jobs to restaurants and hotels and taxi drivers... basically boosting PhuKet's economy to unseen level - even if I agree that for many of us it was better before. You know there is always two sides to a coin. 

btw, I didn't read the nationality, do you know it?

Disagree. They keep things to their own, not much benefits to locals.

 

The guy was Russian.

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On 10/10/2024 at 1:03 PM, madmitch said:

If the business is legal and the foreigners selling the tours have work permits then they are doing nothing illegal. No different to to the many foreign owned dive shops that have been operating for years.

 

Many Russians prefer to deal in their own language 

Can't sell as a foreigner. One can make suggestions, but the tickets and money for that have to be done by a Thai.

Which makes all the foreigners sitting alone in 'their' shops selling, acting illegally.

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19 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

that is not a official list underlined is what they can not do

Under Thai Law foreigners are prohibited to engage in any of the following occupations

  • Manual work
  • Work in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry or fishery excluding specialized work in each particular branch or farm supervision
  • Bricklaying, carpentry or other construction works
  • Wood carving
  • Driving mechanically propelled carried or driving non-mechanically-propelled vehicle, excluding international aircraft piloting
  • Shop attendance
  • Auction
  • Supervising, auditing or giving service in accountancy excluding internal auditing on occasions
  • Cutting or polishing jewelry
  • Haircutting, hairdressing or beauty treatment
  • Cloth weaving by hand
  • Weaving of mate or making products from reeds, rattan, hemp, straw or bamboo pellicle
  • Making of Sa paper by hand
  • Lacquer ware making
  • Making of Thai musical instrument
  • Niello ware making
  • Making of products from gold, silver or gold-copper alloy
  • Bronze ware making
  • Making of Thai dolls
  • Making of mattress or quilt blanket
  • Alms bowls casting
  • Making of silk products by hand
  • Casting of Buddha images
  • Knife making
  • Making of paper of cloth umbrella
  • Shoemaking
  • Hat Making
  • Brokerage or agency excluding brokerage or agency in international trade business
  • Engineering work in civil engineering branch concerning designing and calculation, organization, research, planning, testing, construction supervision or advising excluding specialized work
  • Architectural work concerning designing, drawing of plan, estimating, construction directing or advising
  • Garments making
  • Pottery or ceramic ware making
  • Cigarette making by hand
  • Guide or conducting sightseeing tours
  • Street Vending
  • Type setting of Thai characters by hand
  • Drawing and twisting silk-thread by hand
  • Office or secretarial work
  • Legal or lawsuit services

 

Thank you for your post in response to mine.

Can you please allow me some fresh questions?

 

I sometime hear about commercial establishment that is openly advertising 1st World Level  Service by the 1st World staff/technicians.

 

Do they make it possible by dodging the system/using legal loopholes?

Such as putting up the Business Owner Just In Name(Thai national) for camouflage?

I have heard of that method all the time since my settlement here though.

 

Does that sort of practice (always) come with Under-The-Table transaction involving  a Brown Envelop(with the local police/immigration?

 

Some examples of the shops where the foreigners are working  in the Prohibited Field.

 

Unisex beauty saloons(There are quite a few of them).

 

Concept - Rikyu BOY (boyrikyu.com)

 

MOGA MOGA Hair Salon Thailand - Story - MOGA

Edited by black tabby12345
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14 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Thank you for your post in response to mine.

Can you please allow me some fresh questions?

 

I sometime hear about commercial establishment that is openly advertising 1st World Level  Service by the 1st World staff/technicians.

 

Do they make it possible by dodging the system/using legal loopholes?

Such as putting up the Business Owner Just In Name(Thai national) for camouflage?

I have heard of that method all the time since my settlement here though.

 

Does that sort of practice (always) comes with Under-The-Table transaction involving  a Brown Envelop(with the local police/immigration?

 

Some examples of the shops where the foreigners are working  in the Prohibited Field.

 

Unisex beauty saloons(There are quite a few of them).

 

Concept - Rikyu BOY (boyrikyu.com)

 

MOGA MOGA Hair Salon Thailand - Story - MOGA

No comment  read the forum rules

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22 hours ago, Maitdjai said:

About the students: As long as they didn't run a kind of "Language School" enterprise, it's just the typical overreaction. Still, I don't think, they've been deported in cages and put on a "naughty list".

The basic question is, how many locals can teach the Korean language or even halfway decent English?
Foreign "NES" tourists, who finished a TEFL-crash course in Phuket are not a solution.

When I determine "stupid laws" in my personal view, it doesn't mean it's the correct choice to ignore or break the law.  Those young students surely got somehow along with the consequences.

But details help to clarify.
You didn't mention, that the student was attending a "degree in Thai language".
But, I ask myself, what is the degree? Master in translation? Master in Thai language history, the development of different dialects...Is it a master's or bachelor's "degree" course?

As long as dinosaurs are in charge, it continues with the one-step up, two-step back syndrome.

So, as you're partly agreeing about the average university degrees,
I'm curious about those completely "foreign-run" programs in the "mid-tier" universities.
 
The acceptance and efficiency within an ancient, traditional education-, bureaucracy-system, and the corresponding society are mediocre at most. Despite all mantras.


BKK is in Thailand, but Thailand is not only BKK.
 

I don't believe "The basic question is, how many locals can teach the Korean language or even halfway decent English?" I believe the basic question at hand is the kind of visa the foreigner is on. How many locals can speak any given language is irrelevant.

You're right, I didn't mention that the students were attending degree programs. I suppose I figured that since I mentioned the university names, it would be understood, although I imagine some people do attend university with no intention of attaining a degree. I didn't think it mattered much, since the issue at hand is the visa. But if you'd like to know, one of them was a bachelor's student and one a master's. The bachelor's was something along the lines of Communicative Thai Language (I guess it makes more sense in Thai? To me that degree name sounds strange.) The master's student... I don't know. I only know she was studying in the Thai Language department. But I do know that her thesis had something to do with translation of an epic Chinese poem in Thai. It may have even been Thai linguistics, I don't know.

As to the program completely run by foreigners (I only mentioned that I know of one like this), I'd be reticent to share about it to a stranger or in a public forum because there is conflict at that university about it and it is in a precarious position. There is massive amounts of envy and insecurity among a lot of the Thai faculty and administration about it. There are regular incidents of sensitivities that need assuaging.... It seems to sometimes be on the brink of getting booted. But, I imagine it brings some good money to the university, as well as helps them with university rankings due to the research papers produced by the professors and students. It is also a degree recognized by the US and American students are even eligible for some kinds of US financial assistance, if they qualify, of course. As for other foreigner run programs... I've come across some others over the years. No idea if they still exist. But at one time, there were programs nearly completely staffed by foreigners in Chula and Mahidol. Of course, I can't imagine the position of Dean or even Department Head in those universities ever being allowed to be taken by/given to a foreigner. That would be far too humiliating to the Thais.

I totally and 100% wholeheartedly agree that the traditional bureaucratic education system is far from ideal, to say the least. It sickens me when I think about how much better it could be if the system weren't seemingly only in pursuit of making a profit. Actual education seems so very much to be greatly distant from the various universities' administrations' main pursuit. The detriment to a serious education is overwhelming. But, until someone (or some group) is wealthy enough and cares enough to do differently... it seems this is what society is burdened with.

I have no idea what you meant by, "BKK is in Thailand, but Thailand is not only BKK." I mentioned nothing at all about Bangkok. I don't know what you may be referring to here. It seems to be a statement that virtually anyone in the civilized world would know already without the need of it being stated. I'm guessing that it has some sort of meaning that is going right over my head?

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6 hours ago, Elkski said:

So I could make jewelry out of platinum?  

Could a falang draw up  house plans for a house on his wife's land?    Was it legal for me to repair a bamboo chair at mum's or house?  

There are thousands of post on this forum regarding exactly what you are posting  use the search

but in a nutshell if you are working  you are not allowed without a work permit  over the years its a bit more relaxed but i would check if you intended to do anything  people have been fined and banned for cutting the front lawn

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7 hours ago, Sig said:

I don't believe "The basic question is, how many locals can teach the Korean language or even halfway decent English?" I believe the basic question at hand is the kind of visa the foreigner is on. How many locals can speak any given language is irrelevant.

You're right, I didn't mention that the students were attending degree programs. I suppose I figured that since I mentioned the university names, it would be understood, although I imagine some people do attend university with no intention of attaining a degree. I didn't think it mattered much, since the issue at hand is the visa. But if you'd like to know, one of them was a bachelor's student and one a master's. The bachelor's was something along the lines of Communicative Thai Language (I guess it makes more sense in Thai? To me that degree name sounds strange.) The master's student... I don't know. I only know she was studying in the Thai Language department. But I do know that her thesis had something to do with translation of an epic Chinese poem in Thai. It may have even been Thai linguistics, I don't know.

As to the program completely run by foreigners (I only mentioned that I know of one like this), I'd be reticent to share about it to a stranger or in a public forum because there is conflict at that university about it and it is in a precarious position. There is massive amounts of envy and insecurity among a lot of the Thai faculty and administration about it. There are regular incidents of sensitivities that need assuaging.... It seems to sometimes be on the brink of getting booted. But, I imagine it brings some good money to the university, as well as helps them with university rankings due to the research papers produced by the professors and students. It is also a degree recognized by the US and American students are even eligible for some kinds of US financial assistance, if they qualify, of course. As for other foreigner-run programs... I've come across some others over the years. No idea if they still exist. But at one time, there were programs nearly completely staffed by foreigners in Chula and Mahidol. Of course, I can't imagine the position of Dean or even Department Head in those universities ever being allowed to be taken by/given to a foreigner. That would be far too humiliating to the Thais.

I totally and 100% wholeheartedly agree that the traditional bureaucratic education system is far from ideal, to say the least. It sickens me when I think about how much better it could be if the system weren't seemingly only in pursuit of making a profit. Actual education seems so very much to be greatly distant from the various universities' administrations' main pursuit. The detriment of a serious education is overwhelming. But, until someone (or some group) is wealthy enough and cares enough to do differently... it seems this is what society is burdened with.

I have no idea what you meant by, "BKK is in Thailand, but Thailand is not only BKK." I mentioned nothing at all about Bangkok. I don't know what you may be referring to here. It seems to be a statement that virtually anyone in the civilized world would know already without the need for it being stated. I'm guessing that it has some sort of meaning that is going right over my head?

 

In context to repeatedly implementing "half-cooked" laws,

flip-flopping, insisting on outdated "stupid" laws, if considering the economic outlook and demands, it's a basic question. Because it reveals the deficits (Korean language excluded ;-).

 

Especially in those petty

"Win-Win" examples within student circles.

 

A lot of empty talk about "hubs" and "boosting"...

In the end, the crash into the same car is obligatory.

 

My interest in the foreigner-run programs was serious because my daughter is heading to university in two years. But your description of the situation is not  very surprising to me.

The "surprise" to me is its (still) existence.

 

The BKK area, on average, is the most developed  innovative and intellectual "modern" part of TiT society.

The rest is at least 30 years behind.

With, or without tourism and it's attached Photocopy-, and Visa-"Industry".

Exceptions confirm the rule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Maitdjai
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34 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

Glad you think it nonsense  but it is the LAW

Examples please. You claimed "people have been fined and banned for cutting the front lawn". 

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8 hours ago, Maitdjai said:

 

In context to repeatedly implementing "half-cooked" laws,

flip-flopping, insisting on outdated "stupid" laws, if considering the economic outlook and demands, it's a basic question. Because it reveals the deficits (Korean language excluded ;-).

 

Especially in those petty

"Win-Win" examples within student circles.

 

A lot of empty talk about "hubs" and "boosting"...

In the end, the crash into the same car is obligatory.

 

My interest in the foreigner-run programs was serious because my daughter is heading to university in two years. But your description of the situation is not  very surprising to me.

The "surprise" to me is its (still) existence.

 

The BKK area, on average, is the most developed  innovative and intellectual "modern" part of TiT society.

The rest is at least 30 years behind.

With, or without tourism and it's attached Photocopy-, and Visa-"Industry".

Exceptions confirm the rule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your daughter is being educated in a Thai high school, she'll be well prepared for the nonsensical childlike treatment the university will treat her with, unless you find an exceptional program. It takes an excessive amount of research to really know what one is getting into, unless you're living/working in that industry and have direct knowledge and contacts. I recall talking with an Australian professor and his Thai colleague at Chula some years ago and they were candid enough to talk about the immaturity of the Thai students (and particularly international programs, there seem to be a lot of very spoiled and entitled students) and the frustration of trying to have a high level program. Most of the professors I've met at international colleges or international programs have their postgrad degrees from overseas, although some of the degrees are a bit suspect IMO (from little private colleges that are more like diploma mills), but many of them are very highly qualified. Whether or not they are able to teach or not is a different story. The Thai professors, from my experience are a broad mix, many completely inept and some younger, bright professors who wish the system would change and get the old fashioned ideas out and start acting like a professional body rather than a place to build one's ego at the expense of students. The foreign professors, on the other hand, surprised me. I was not expecting many highly qualified people, but more like people who couldn't cut it anywhere else. It was eye opening to find some genuinely excellent professors and many others who are very good. The inept ones were fewer. One of the things that was pretty amazing to me, when I learned of it, was that some international programs have maybe one or two international students in them! Some probably don't have any. Many of the programs are money makers for the college and that's the sole reason for their existence. I don't know if it's true, but I've heard standards are lower to enter international programs, although English ability needs to be higher. But I've seen some students in international programs, who somehow graduated, without being able to converse in English without some serious struggle. There's so much cheating and being carried along by other students, somehow they make it. Thankfully, bribery seems to be waning. I remember a friend telling me about one wealthy Chinese mother who came with a thick brown envelope, to let her son pass the program, who was sent home crying because the head of the department refused her and her son flunked out. Then, there's this professor I spoke with at a top uni... he would fail 80% of the class if he could (and he's a decent teacher, so I know it wasn't because of poor teaching), but he can't for whatever pressures are put on him. So, there are a LOT of students passing who should be failing. More than once, I've heard about Thai students coming to their professor on their knees crying and waiing, begging to be passed. Personally, if I were sending a kid to college, I'd avoid any program that is nearly all Thai students. I couldn't care less if it's at Chula or anywhere. Although there are a fair number of Thai students who studied high school overseas. Those on many occasions prove to be diligent students.

You have your work cut out for you to find a good program for your daughter. On the bright side, a bachelor's degree is pretty useless anyway IMO. So, even if it's not the greatest program, it's not the end of the world, since the value is already low to begin with. Depending on the field, it can of course be important, but I personally don't put much of any weight on the majority of bachelor's degrees anymore (I don't care what country or university they are coming from). Postgrad is another story. Bachelor's diplomas have become the new high school diploma. One time ago, it was a nice achievement to graduate from high school. Depending on where one lives, that can still be the case, but in a relatively well educated society, a high school degree is expected to be the absolute minimum and a bachelor's is expected in many fields of work. In my circles of friends, I'd say that around 50% of the people have done postgrad work. But, again, it depends on the field of work. If one is going to be a tradesman, college is a waste of time and money. There are many careers for which college would just be an exercise to inflate one's ego while deflating their pocketbook. One of my closest friends is also one of the wealthiest and he never did a day of college. He learned his business as he went, directly from high school. I think most 18 year olds are completely clueless as to why they want a degree or even what they want to do for a career, in which a college degree may or may not be useful. It is a very individually circumstantial situation or decision.

Good luck!

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5 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

read the post  do your research i am not your lackey !!

Make claims, substantiate them. Your claims are nonsense therefore you can't substantiate them.

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4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Make claims, substantiate them. Your claims are nonsense therefore you can't substantiate them.

not making claims just stating the law  and that there are thousands of post on here in regard to this  and again i am not your lackey  so go away!! come back when you can disprove the law

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1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

not making claims just stating the law  and that there are thousands of post on here in regard to this  and again i am not your lackey  so go away!! come back when you can disprove the law

Still waiting for a link to your claim

"people have been fined and banned for cutting the front lawn". 

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5 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Still waiting for a link to your claim

"people have been fined and banned for cutting the front lawn". 

and keep waiting do your own research  If you can not enter a search string you need computer lessons but i don't have a work permit so you will have to find some who has a permit 

Edited by MikeandDow
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10 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

and keep waiting do your own research  If you can not enter a search string you need computer lessons but i don't have a work permit so you will have to find some who has a permit 

Make a claim, substantiate the claim 

"people have been fined and banned for cutting the front lawn".

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On 10/10/2024 at 6:21 AM, webfact said:

image.jpeg

 

On October 9, a popular Facebook page, "Hodjung Phuket," shared a video clip revealing a foreign man openly selling tour packages to tourists from a street-side booth in Phuket.

 

The 23-second video shows the man serving customers at a tour counter near Kata and Karon beaches, an area known for attracting tourists. The post included a caption stating, “Who needs Thais? Selling tours ourselves! No wonder locals are upset.”

 

The video quickly sparked outrage online, with many expressing frustration over foreigners taking over jobs typically held by Thai locals.

 

Commenters voiced their concerns, some describing Phuket as a “lawless land” and pointing out that this issue has persisted for a long time. Others noted the growing presence of foreign operators in popular areas like Kata and Karon and questioned why authorities haven’t intervened.


 

Following the post, local reporters verified the location, identifying the tour counter near Karon Temple in Mueang district. There was no evidence of officials on-site enforcing regulations, raising questions about the oversight of such activities.

 

The clip prompted calls for relevant authorities to investigate and regulate these businesses, which are perceived as undercutting Thai operators and evading local laws.

 

This incident reflects a broader issue where unregulated foreign-run businesses in Phuket seem to be skirting regulations, while locals are left feeling sidelined.

 

The page’s post has since gained significant traction, with numerous users calling for immediate action to address the influx of foreign-run tour businesses in popular tourist areas, reported Daily News.

 

Picture courtesy: Daily News

 

news-logo-btm.jpg

-- 2024-10-10


news-footer-2.png

 

image.png

So the evidence of these broad statements of being 'flooded' by foreign tour agents or whatever is a single person who allegedly engages in prohibited business activities. Did you verify any facts? Visa? Work permit? Registered business owner with employees? No - you didn't. Shoddy reporting (I won't grace such nonsense with the term journalism) at best, defamation at worst.

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14 minutes ago, Umlungu said:

So the evidence of these broad statements of being 'flooded' by foreign tour agents or whatever is a single person who allegedly engages in prohibited business activities. Did you verify any facts? Visa? Work permit? Registered business owner with employees? No - you didn't. Shoddy reporting (I won't grace such nonsense with the term journalism) at best, defamation at worst.

for your info

 ASEAN NOW news team collects news articles from various recognised and reputable news sources. The articles  may be consolidated from different sources and rewritten with AI assistance These news items are shared in our forums for members to stay informed and engaged. Our dedicated news team puts in the effort to deliver quality content, and we ask for your respect in return. Any disrespectful comments about our news articles or the content itself, such as calling it "clickbait" or “slow news day”, and criticising grammatical errors, will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken. Please note that republished articles may contain errors or opinions that do not reflect the views of ASEAN NOW.

If you'd like to help us, and you see an error with an article, then please use the report function so that we can attend to it promptly.

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Foreign Tour Operators Flood Phuket, Taking Jobs from Locals

 

Well Phuket locals, go to Mexico, book a trip through Eagle Pass, TX, and get your free healthcare, a complimentary EBT card loaded up with USD, and a free apartment, and a job waiting for you with transportation to and from work.  Show them foreigners a thing or two and go take jobs away from them in their home countries.  Don't like the US (although North Hollywood has great weather), then head to the EU or UK.  Claim asylum and get a similar deal.  "Hello Big Money!"  Stay for five years in the US and collect Social Security when you get old and retire.  Why stay in Thailand and complain about foreigners?  Two can play this game and in the West the game is rigged in your favor!  Move and join the gravy-train today!

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15 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

for your info

 ASEAN NOW news team collects news articles from various recognised and reputable news sources. The articles  may be consolidated from different sources and rewritten with AI assistance These news items are shared in our forums for members to stay informed and engaged. Our dedicated news team puts in the effort to deliver quality content, and we ask for your respect in return. Any disrespectful comments about our news articles or the content itself, such as calling it "clickbait" or “slow news day”, and criticising grammatical errors, will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken. Please note that republished articles may contain errors or opinions that do not reflect the views of ASEAN NOW.

If you'd like to help us, and you see an error with an article, then please use the report function so that we can attend to it promptly.

 

On 10/13/2024 at 7:56 AM, MikeandDow said:

read the post  do your research i am not your lackey !!

 

17 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

and keep waiting do your own research  If you can not enter a search string you need computer lessons but i don't have a work permit so you will have to find some who has a permit 

As "not having a work permit", you have a very big mouth in "representing" (?) AN.

 

If you just "quoting" their policies,

it should be recognizable.

Otherwise,

"cutting their lawn",

even as a "lackey", or a "moderator",

you'd have a WP.

Just in context to your own interpretation of the law. 

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On 10/12/2024 at 1:08 PM, Chalong circle said:

What about the thousands of burmese taking jobs from thais in restaurant, hotels, building sites ? Maybe jobs Thais dont want to do anymore ?

Different rules for employment of ASEAN nationals.

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30 minutes ago, Maitdjai said:

 

 

As "not having a work permit", you have a very big mouth in "representing" (?) AN.

 

If you just "quoting" their policies,

it should be recognizable.

Otherwise,

"cutting their lawn",

even as a "lackey", or a "moderator",

you'd have a WP.

Just in context to your own interpretation of the law. 

not quoting any policy s   just the law  and not my  interpretation   don't start  abusing posters that is against the rules if you can not be polite don't post 

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On 10/12/2024 at 9:01 AM, Elkski said:

So I could make jewelry out of platinum?  

Could a falang draw up  house plans for a house on his wife's land?    Was it legal for me to repair a bamboo chair at mum's or house?  

I drew up the plans for our house, but I had to pay 5K to the Amphur for them to draw up the plans to their specs, i.e. Your local Amphur has to approve the plans or it would be an illigal build..

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