Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

Authorities on Koh Samui have arrested an Italian sports coach for working without the required permit, in a case highlighting Thailand’s ongoing crackdown on foreigners engaged in unauthorised employment. The man, identified only as Gianluca, 30, was taken into custody on 28 October 2025 while coaching tennis and padel at a sports centre in Bo Phut subdistrict.

 

According to Pol Col Naruvat Phutthawirot of Samui Immigration, officers caught Gianluca instructing foreign clients despite holding only a tourist visa, which does not allow any form of paid work. Immigration officials began investigating after receiving public reports that the Italian national was operating as an unlicensed tennis and padel coach, allegedly offering lessons at lower rates than licensed Thai trainers.

 

Police monitoring Gianluca’s WhatsApp messages found evidence that he was charging approximately 600 baht per hour, with clients making payments through the facility. Officers approached him during a session and questioned him on-site before documenting the arrest. When confronted, Gianluca admitted to working as a freelance coach and was subsequently charged with working without a permit. He was transferred to Bo Phut Police Station for legal proceedings.

 

The arrest forms part of a nationwide enforcement initiative launched by National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Panpetch to identify foreigners working illegally or engaging in unauthorised business activities in Thailand. The campaign targets tourist hubs including Koh Samui, Phuketand Chiang Mai, and is intended to protect Thai workers, ensure fair business competition, and maintain public order.

 

Officials have not confirmed whether the sports facility employing Gianluca will face penalties for allowing the unlicensed work to take place. Immigration authorities said further checks will be made to determine whether other foreigners are operating without permits on the island.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• An Italian man was arrested on Koh Samui for working illegally as a tennis and padel coach on a tourist visa.

• Authorities found he charged clients 600 baht per hour while lacking a valid work permit.

• The arrest is part of a broader national campaign targeting unauthorised foreign workers.

 

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Khaosod 2025-10-29

 

 

 

 

Outdated laws in  a country that is not willing to enter the 21st century.. The whole process of getting a workpermit is so difficult that many Thai businesses even don't do it, but the foreigner has to pay for it, as in the eyes of Thais they are rich... But in fact the Thai business is responsible for hiring some one

19 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Outdated laws in  a country that is not willing to enter the 21st century.. The whole process of getting a workpermit is so difficult that many Thai businesses even don't do it, but the foreigner has to pay for it, as in the eyes of Thais they are rich... But in fact the Thai business is responsible for hiring some one

The laws are not that difficult to get the paperwork for obtaining a work permit for a foreigner if a business is legit and they pay taxes and the job is one approved on their list. 

The guy was on a tourist visa. Rather than attempting to find a job that can get him a work permit and an extension to stay on that permit. So, he needs to get the boot and banned from returning. 

You are only correct about one thing. Thais are not usually being made to pay for hiring people without getting them working permits. Both parties are guilty of breaking the laws but in immigrations eyes they see the foreigner as being wealthy to be able to pay any fines. Which is usually not the case since they are working illegally anyway for a reason. 

allegedly offering lessons at lower rates than licensed Thai trainers

 

That's where he went wrong

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Outdated laws in  a country that is not willing to enter the 21st century.. The whole process of getting a workpermit is so difficult that many Thai businesses even don't do it, but the foreigner has to pay for it, as in the eyes of Thais they are rich... But in fact the Thai business is responsible for hiring some one

For those institutions/businesses which frequently employ foreign workers, the process of getting a "work permit" is generally simple, as they generally have agents/contacts who can smoothly hasten the process

 

On the other hand, those seeking to employ a worker or two every few years, my not have agents/contacts to call upon, thus the process can be long and costly.

18 minutes ago, JoePai said:

allegedly offering lessons at lower rates than licensed Thai trainers

 

That's where he went wrong

There are no Thai trainers at that club.

He was dobbed in by a farang.

35 minutes ago, JoePai said:

allegedly offering lessons at lower rates than licensed Thai trainers

 

That's where he went wrong

No competition so grassed up

One guy out of how many in samui. You can literally pass restaurants/bars and see non Thai staff serving customers drinks , food etc and look on Facebook and see people advertising cars/bikes for rent that are not Thai , hotels advertising cocktails with some farang in their photos making them who works there .

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Outdated laws in  a country that is not willing to enter the 21st century.. The whole process of getting a workpermit is so difficult that many Thai businesses even don't do it, but the foreigner has to pay for it, as in the eyes of Thais they are rich... But in fact the Thai business is responsible for hiring some one

Absolutely right.
Thais still have the misconception that all foreigners are rich.

Nowadays when a Thai company hire a foreigner for a highly skilled position is because they are going to pay him LESS than what a Thai asks for the same post.

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

There are no Thai trainers at that club.

He was dobbed in by a farang.

Speculation or fact, if fact name him

5 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Outdated laws in  a country that is not willing to enter the 21st century.. The whole process of getting a workpermit is so difficult that many Thai businesses even don't do it, but the foreigner has to pay for it, as in the eyes of Thais they are rich... But in fact the Thai business is responsible for hiring some one

Logically...and anyone can come to your home country without a visa and of course without working there, dreamer!

6 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

Logically...and anyone can come to your home country without a visa and of course without working there, dreamer!

I don:t know where I wrote that. It is not about my country, but about this article and the outdated laws.

 

I would say it is not so easy to get work permits.
The work permit application for a general Thai company (non-BOI promoted) requires the company to have a registered capital of 2M Baht for each foreigner employed and adhere to a 4:1 Thai-to-foreigner employee ratio.

Then the salary must be at least 40,000-60,000 baht depending on nationality.

 

However there is no way to get a Free lance workpermit, not talking about that non-sense Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).

Tennis courts are no way going to apply for an expensive work permit and have this Italian guy on the payroll. IMPOSSIBLE

 

Now imagine the day Thailand will allow free-lance personal work permit without that non-sense limitations of the DTV!

How many new opportunities would that unlock having access to foreigner professionals!

 

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

For those institutions/businesses which frequently employ foreign workers, the process of getting a "work permit" is generally simple, as they generally have agents/contacts who can smoothly hasten the process

 

On the other hand, those seeking to employ a worker or two every few years, my not have agents/contacts to call upon, thus the process can be long and costly.

 

Also remember the one obvious things

 

1 these people are usually only here for a few months looking to get extra cash like the backpackers used to.

 

2.  If the business registers the person they have to get a oonger visa as well and god for bid the business has to pay the taxes and associated fees that they would pay for a real employee.

Off topic troll post about America politics removed.

 

Reminder of the topic “Italian Coach Arrested for Illegal Work on Koh Samui”

7 hours ago, Udom said:

Absolutely right.
Thais still have the misconception that all foreigners are rich.

Nowadays when a Thai company hire a foreigner for a highly skilled position is because they are going to pay him LESS than what a Thai asks for the same post.

Wrong !, Foreigners in highly skilled positions get better pay than Thais. Because Thais can not get those skills in Thailand. !

7 hours ago, Udom said:

Nowadays when a Thai company hire a foreigner for a highly skilled position is because they are going to pay him LESS than what a Thai asks for the same post.

Completely wrong. Firstly you have to legally pay a minimum wage for a foreigner with USA, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, Japan nationals a min. of THB 50,000 per month; Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan =  THB 45,000 per month; Other Asian countries (excluding Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and ASEAN), Eastern Europe, Russia, South Africa, Central and South America: THB 35,000 per month

 

Secondly, 'highly skilled positions" dictate market rates (which are much higher than this) and no one is getting foreigners to do these jobs UNLESS there is a distinct shortage of local talent (think A.I., cyber security, specialist engineers etc). It's to do with supply and demand NOT money.   

7 hours ago, Udom said:

Nowadays when a Thai company hire a foreigner for a highly skilled position is because they are going to pay him LESS than what a Thai asks for the same post.

Where are you getting this from? Why would you move from a presumably high wage country for a skilled position to get paid less than the local prevailing wage in a low wage country like Thailand. That doesn't make any sense does it?

16 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Where are you getting this from? Why would you move from a presumably high wage country for a skilled position to get paid less than the local prevailing wage in a low wage country like Thailand. That doesn't make any sense does it?

It has got to be said that Thailand does come with it's own set of 'appeals'; the weather is a big one, the low cost of living is important and of course...........the temples 😜

 

In most cases skilled individuals are on ex-pat packages but you are absolutely right - no skilled/in-demand person is coming to Thailand to get paid less than the locals. 

On 10/29/2025 at 3:49 AM, Georgealbert said:

Police monitoring Gianluca’s WhatsApp messages found evidence that he was charging approximately 600 baht per hour, with clients making payments through the facility.

 

On 10/29/2025 at 3:49 AM, Georgealbert said:

Officials have not confirmed whether the sports facility employing Gianluca will face penalties for allowing the unlicensed work to take place.

 

allowing the work to take place

Profiting from promoting his services

On 10/29/2025 at 11:21 AM, ikke1959 said:

I don:t know where I wrote that. It is not about my country, but about this article and the outdated laws.

 

So your country has outdated laws too🤣

I used to think to myself " gee falang just work in your own country for proper money, not grovel for it here" - but I'm really starting to think this protectionism is actually contributing to Thailands general lack of competitiveness and innovation. But nowhere near as much as the perennial political funk this country exists in