120.000+ Non-registered Workers On Samui ?

[LaoPo]

120.000+ non-registered workers on Samui ?

Member Animatic posted a message about the non-registered inhabitants (workers) on Samui in another, non-Samui related, topic.

The message* was as follows:

"Yes they did try counting them here.

A small team went around the island (SAMUI, LP) and, unofficially, asked for the number of people at the camps.

This calculation over 3 nights work came to well over 120,000 'non family book people' on island.

The point being to find out 'how many bodies are out there needing water and other unavoidable services'.

I know one of the counters. This is what he said.

The OFFICAL population is just 50,000 at all times. This is registered family book people on island.

And doesn't come close to actual bodies. Many people work the resorts, but return home to vote etc.

Often the young don't change a family book listing until married. The government makes it too hard to.

But they wanted/needed to know something approximating to actual numbers.

Not including tourist flow through.

So that puts the island around 175k - 200k at most tourist prone times.

And it roughly reflects water usage on island too.

This was a big point during the last election."

* From: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thaksin-Begs...99#entry2308099

I don't know. The message speaks of a small team visiting ''the camps'' during 3 nights and I assume Animatic meant the places where construction workers stay and sleep off work.

If that would be the case (120.000 workers in camps) the number should be even a lot higher as there are many bar-, restaurant- and hotel workers who do NOT live in such camps but in small off-the-road housing places like in the back of Chaweng, Lamai and Maenam to name a few.

Comments please ?

Hard-liner Samuians only please

LaoPo

[pothai]

That is the reason for the high number of burglaries.

[loiner100]

But why is this a problem for us Fahrangs?

TIT and I for one am happy to live here in Samui with my Thai family. I keep my head down and enjoy my life here co-habiting with the local population.

We do not live in a first world country and have to accept the lifestyle and ways of the indigenous population.

Too many westerners have too many 'personal' issues here (especially some TV members).

Relax and enjoy your life here or go 'home'.

[sbk]

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

[PoorSucker]

Wouldn't it be easier to count the amount of rice imported to Samui.

That would give a good estimate of how many people there are here.

By the way, how many "lives" on Koh Phangan?

[loiner100]

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

I think I understood Lao Po's point.

I was making my own thank you.

[highdiver]

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

absolutely right..

ad add to those 120K another batch of long staying foreigners and over 25,0000 tourists in the hotels and the islands resources are way over the the marker. even the new electric cable put in 3 years ago is already over the limit.

i think the new administration needs to halt the building permits for new projects until they get the infrastructure in order.

i am not proposing to stop the development but do it slowly so the island has time to catch up with all those projects.

[sbk]

Wouldn't it be easier to count the amount of rice imported to Samui.

That would give a good estimate of how many people there are here.

By the way, how many "lives" on Koh Phangan?

According to the Kamnan for Ban Tai, I have heard that there are around 7,000 registered locals and perhaps more than 22,000 people living here.

[angiud]

plus, say 10,000 myanmar immigrant?

[LaoPo]

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

I think I understood Lao Po's point.

I was making my own thank you.

I'm not sure but I have a feeling that you create an odd kind of answering to the original question in my OP.

The question was if there were indeed 120,000 non-registered people/workers on Samui or maybe even more (or less).

I didn't say that it was or would be a problem for the Farang living or visiting the island, but you mentioned that.

If you are living on Samui with your Thai family you will sooner or later face problems if this growth of non-registered people/workers continues. It's a slowly building-up bubble which will burst sooner or later and will, thus, affect you and your family as well.

Food prices, water supply (!), garbage, traffic, accidents, health care...I could go on, but if those 120,000 would register (which is not going to happen..I know), infrastructure and the other things i mentioned will improve drastical.

Your sentence in your first message: "Too many westerners have too many 'personal' issues here (especially some TV members)." is asking for an explanation....Please explain.

Your way of posting messages is a kind of negative in my opinion....a bit sour..... and not from a friendly happy person (you claim to be), enjoying his life on Samui...

Your last sentence in your previous message shows that: "Relax and enjoy your life here or go 'home'".

I've seen too many people writing such dxxb sentences, as if they have more rights in Thailand or Samui than others.

LaoPo

[thaierless]

120.000+ non-registered workers on Samui ?

Member Animatic posted a message about the non-registered inhabitants (workers) on Samui in another, non-Samui related, topic.

The message* was as follows:

"Yes they did try counting them here.

A small team went around the island (SAMUI, LP) and, unofficially, asked for the number of people at the camps.

This calculation over 3 nights work came to well over 120,000 'non family book people' on island.

The point being to find out 'how many bodies are out there needing water and other unavoidable services'.

I know one of the counters. This is what he said.

The OFFICAL population is just 50,000 at all times. This is registered family book people on island.

And doesn't come close to actual bodies. Many people work the resorts, but return home to vote etc.

Often the young don't change a family book listing until married. The government makes it too hard to.

But they wanted/needed to know something approximating to actual numbers.

Not including tourist flow through.

So that puts the island around 175k - 200k at most tourist prone times.

And it roughly reflects water usage on island too.

This was a big point during the last election."

* From: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thaksin-Begs...99#entry2308099

I don't know. The message speaks of a small team visiting ''the camps'' during 3 nights and I assume Animatic meant the places where construction workers stay and sleep off work.

If that would be the case (120.000 workers in camps) the number should be even a lot higher as there are many bar-, restaurant- and hotel workers who do NOT live in such camps but in small off-the-road housing places like in the back of Chaweng, Lamai and Maenam to name a few.

Comments please ?

Hard-liner Samuians only please

LaoPo

wait, ok, 50,000 registered Thais? How many non-registered Thais??? LOADS! Wait, 120,000 non-registered workers (you mean the Burmese, etc??) that include all of em from the UK and other western countries?? Wait...what about all the non-registered non-worker westerners here???? Wait what about all the registered non-Thai workers here????

[loiner100]

I think Lao Po's point is that with all the unregistered residents the island's resources are being stretched thin. Budget, in the past, has been allocated by the mainland govt according to how many registered residents a district has. If that budget only allocates for 50,000 people yet there are more than 150,000 using resources, then it is a problem.

I think I understood Lao Po's point.

I was making my own thank you.

I'm not sure but I have a feeling that you create an odd kind of answering to the original question in my OP.

The question was if there were indeed 120,000 non-registered people/workers on Samui or maybe even more (or less).

I didn't say that it was or would be a problem for the Farang living or visiting the island, but you mentioned that.

If you are living on Samui with your Thai family you will sooner or later face problems if this growth of non-registered people/workers continues. It's a slowly building-up bubble which will burst sooner or later and will, thus, affect you and your family as well.

Food prices, water supply (!), garbage, traffic, accidents, health care...I could go on, but if those 120,000 would register (which is not going to happen..I know), infrastructure and the other things i mentioned will improve drastical.

Your sentence in your first message: "Too many westerners have too many 'personal' issues here (especially some TV members)." is asking for an explanation....Please explain.

Your way of posting messages is a kind of negative in my opinion....a bit sour..... and not from a friendly happy person (you claim to be), enjoying his life on Samui...

Your last sentence in your previous message shows that: "Relax and enjoy your life here or go 'home'".

I've seen too many people writing such dxxb sentences, as if they have more rights in Thailand or Samui than others.

LaoPo

OK the LaoPo, let me clarify my post.

First, I understood the original post and have no issue with it.

Second, I agree no-one probably has any idea of the number of 'non family book people' and an attempt to arrive at an educated estimate by whatever means is to be applauded.

Third My point is, that as a fahrang neither I nor any other group of expats are able to influence local or national government to improve to infrastructure on the island. Nor are we able to do anything about the itinerant Thai population that is living and working here. We cannot vote and, but for a few, are not able to speak the language fluently enough to help or advise with the anticipated problems regarding sufficiency of potable water, foul water drainage, garbage collection etc., etc.,

With all that in mind, that is why I say I keep my head down and enjoy my life here.

I didn't say that it was or would be a problem for the Farang living or visiting the island, but you mentioned that.

In your first post, correct, yet in YOUR next post you are saying exactly the same thing as me.

If you are living on Samui with your Thai family you will sooner or later face problems if this growth of non-registered people/workers continues.

Indeed you then go further:

It's a slowly building-up bubble which will burst sooner or later and will, thus, affect you and your family as well.

Yes, I agree again, but am at a loss to know what I can do about it, what is your solution?

Finally, my comments about personal issues and the need for some to relax was NOT intended as a slur on you,( I apologise if you felt it was) but a general comment and you have to agree there are some very confrontational posters on TV, many of whom, do not perhaps like you and me do as much as possible to make our own and others lives here as happy and fulfilling as possible.

[LaoPo]

OK the LaoPo, let me clarify my post.

First, I understood the original post and have no issue with it.

Second, I agree no-one probably has any idea of the number of 'non family book people' and an attempt to arrive at an educated estimate by whatever means is to be applauded.

Third My point is, that as a fahrang neither I nor any other group of expats are able to influence local or national government to improve to infrastructure on the island. Nor are we able to do anything about the itinerant Thai population that is living and working here. We cannot vote and, but for a few, are not able to speak the language fluently enough to help or advise with the anticipated problems regarding sufficiency of potable water, foul water drainage, garbage collection etc., etc.,

With all that in mind, that is why I say I keep my head down and enjoy my life here.

I didn't say that it was or would be a problem for the Farang living or visiting the island, but you mentioned that.

In your first post, correct, yet in YOUR next post you are saying exactly the same thing as me.

If you are living on Samui with your Thai family you will sooner or later face problems if this growth of non-registered people/workers continues.

Indeed you then go further:

It's a slowly building-up bubble which will burst sooner or later and will, thus, affect you and your family as well.

Yes, I agree again, but am at a loss to know what I can do about it, what is your solution?

Finally, my comments about personal issues and the need for some to relax was NOT intended as a slur on you,( I apologise if you felt it was) but a general comment and you have to agree there are some very confrontational posters on TV, many of whom, do not perhaps like you and me do as much as possible to make our own and others lives here as happy and fulfilling as possible.

Thanks for your clarification.

I didn't post the thread to find a solution, although it would be nice to brainstorm with the expat community on Samui (and the rest of Thailand) about a solution.

I posted it to ask if anyone on Samui knew more about the real number of citizens, both registered and non-registered.

LaoPo