Thai Girls Working Abroad

julius · December 22, 2004

I have a very very dear girlfriend who has signed up to go to Ghana and work

at hotel there in their spa as a masseuse. She has gone tru courses arranged by Ministry of labour in Bangkok for the last two months to have papers to show she is qualified, and the agreement has been made tru same office.

Anybody know if it is safe for Thai girls to go to Ghana? Will this office be responsible for her safety there??

She told me she will be paid about 50000bht pr month. Good money for her, but

I feel a little unsafe of her going there.

Anyone know anything or anyone can be of help or good advise??

Thanks in advance

Julius

nogutsnoapplepie · December 22, 2004

I have a very very dear girlfriend who has signed up to go to Ghana and work
at hotel there in their spa as a masseuse. She has gone tru courses arranged by Ministry of labour in Bangkok for the last two months to have papers to show she is qualified, and the agreement has been made tru same office.

Anybody know if it is safe for Thai girls to go to Ghana? Will this office be responsible for her safety there??

She told me she will be paid about 50000bht pr month. Good money for her, but

I feel a little unsafe of her going there.

Anyone know anything or anyone can be of help or good advise??

Thanks in advance

Julius

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thai girls lured to sex trade in Africa

Gang members stay in Pratunam area

Anucha Charoenpo

The disappearance of two Thai women in Africa's Ivory Coast has highlighted the presence of "sex slave" gangs in Bangkok's Pratunam area luring girls into prostitution by offers of well-paid jobs as waitresses and dancers.

There have been reports that some Thai women are forced to work from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and face fines and even torture if they are late.

Police believe that Thai prostitutes, both voluntary and forced, have been active in Western Africa for several years. The numbers are said to be increasing because of Thailand's economic downturn.

While reliable information is difficult to come by, there are thought to be at least 50 Thai women working in Western Africa. Interpol has confirmed that Bangkok is a hub for gangs running prostitution rackets in Africa.

"The gang members usually stay in Pratunam and comprise African husbands and Thai wives who are also drug traffickers," said a senior police source.

Gangs charge the women between 300,000 baht to one million baht per head for jobs as waitresses or dancers in restaurants. The gangs meet all expenses, including air fares and visas. To pay off their debts, the women are forced to work as "slaves" or are forced into prostitution, he added.

The women travel to France before reaching their final destinations in Western Africa. Visas are easier to obtain in France because many African countries were former French colonies.

Human trafficking in Africa came to public attention recently when Paveena Hongsakul, a Bangkok MP of Chart Pattana Party, asked the Thai Foreign Ministry to trace the whereabouts of two Thai women thought to be forced into prostitution in Ivory Coast.

Although Thai women have been known to work as prostitutes in African nations such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Senegal for about a decade, Thai authorities were only alerted to the problem a few years ago.

Initially, there was incredulity that Thai women would be working in countries considered to be comparatively poorer than their own. Nevertheless, a probe was conducted and more information emerged about the shadowy human trafficking network.

Udom Saphito, chief of the Foreign Ministry's overseas Thai protection division, admitted that information about Thai people in Western Africa was very scarce as Thailand only has an embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

"The Thai authorities do not know exactly how many Thai women stay (for prostitution) in the region because they did not identify Western African countries as their destinations when they left Thailand," he said.

The authorities would know about their presence there only when there were requests for help to the embassy, he said.

Thai police are trying to trace the women but the senior police source said they receive poor cooperation from African Interpol units. It is known only that at least 50 Thai women stay in the region for prostitution.

Another source who had stayed in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, for eight years, said Thai prostitutes worked at a place called the "Thailand Bar."

There are also believed to be girls from Morocco and the Phillipines. The owner is said to be over 70 years old and holds both French and Egyptian nationalities, the source said.

The source help repatriate two out of four Thai women who had sought his help to get out of forced prostitution in Abidjan. He said the fate of the other two missing women was still unknown.

"One of the Thai girls said she had been invited to work as a waitress but then forced into prostitution. She had to work from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. and had to report to her pimp by 9 a.m. if she was taken out by a client at night. Failing to do that, she would be tortured and fined," the source said.

He expects there are more than 10 Thai prostitutes working in the country in Abidjan.

http://www.globalmarch.org/worstformsrepor.../thai-girls.htm

Edited December 22, 2004 by nogutsnoapplepie

cdnvic · December 22, 2004

I have a very very dear girlfriend who has signed up to go to Ghana and work
at hotel there in their spa as a masseuse. She has gone tru courses arranged by Ministry of labour in Bangkok for the last two months to have papers to show she is qualified, and the agreement has been made tru same office.

Anybody know if it is safe for Thai girls to go to Ghana? Will this office be responsible for her safety there??

She told me she will be paid about 50000bht pr month. Good money for her, but

I feel a little unsafe of her going there.

Anyone know anything or anyone can be of help or good advise??

Thanks in advance

Julius

I would check with the Thai consular office responsible for Ghana, or if you're a different nationality, yours as well and inquire as to if there have been problems with other girls in the same situation.

cv

SK1972 · December 22, 2004

She told me she will be paid about 50000bht pr month. Good money for her, but
I feel a little unsafe of her going there.

I dont think thats enough to be going anywhere!!! Ghana is very different from Thailand and depending on how well she adjusts there, its gonna be ###### for her!!

I dont think she should go.

Rinrada · December 22, 2004

Used to work in Ghana a few years ago and although "nicer"that most of the other Sh**h*** countries in that part of the world I never ever came up against any Thais working in any of the Hotels,any companys and/or in any positions-anywhere.

There was a couple of chinese restuarants in Accra and one (only 1)in Kumasi but that was it.

Things might have changed but dont think so....rawang

Highwayman · December 22, 2004

The average salary in Ghana according to a quick search l did with Google is equivalent to 50 baht per day. If she is being told she will be earning 30 times the average monthly salary for working in a spa then that would raise red flags for me, big time. The suggestion about contacting the Thai government representative in Ghana sounds a sensible idea to me. Also a Google for the hotel concerned might prove interesting.

If it's too good to be true....it usually is.

farang24 · December 22, 2004

It is definintely a scam.

Warn her before it is too late.

Highwayman · December 22, 2004

You also need to ask why someone would have to offer 50,000 baht per month to get a suitable Thai person to work in an overseas spa. I'd be surprised if many staff working in a legit spa here in Thailand would be earning more than 10,000 per month, so why the need to offer five times that amount? I would have thought there would be many trained and experienced employees available who would jump at even half the amount on offer.

richardb · December 22, 2004

Has she been told the name of the Hotel and spa she will be working for?

Richard

julius · December 22, 2004

Thank you all good friends.

She has not yet been given any details of hotel or anything, except she told me

she would be going with her manager together with 10 other thai girls and they will fly out via India.

But why do the Ministry of labour in Bangkok give her advise to go there???

And manager flying with them???

There must be some seriousness her. I would not like her to go. but she is persistent.

Trying to recommend her to go to Europe instead, many good well renowned places

chuchok · December 22, 2004

I would call the Hotel direct and talk to the GM as a start off point. If it's a half reasonable place they will also have a web site.

Kathe · December 22, 2004

It is definintely a scam.
Warn her before it is too late.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree with you. Warn her before it's too late. In Africa, she has to work as a prostitute I am sure. I have seen many cases here, they dreamed about big money by working overseas and landed in bar. Thailand is better to earn the money than in Africa.

julius · December 22, 2004

I'll stop her, its good , thank you all for your contribution

Good to have a forum like this

Dagfinn

Now in Norway , but later ......... Thailand , here we come

LaoPo · December 23, 2004

Thank you all good friends.
But why do the Ministry of labour in Bangkok give her advise to go there???

And manager flying with them???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe someone got bribed.....

sorry Julius, and I really appreciate your concern, but I think the story stinks...

try your utmost to stop your friend, going to Africa!

Remember, the people in Africa are even MORE POOR than Thai people...so.....it stinks.

cdnvic · December 23, 2004

She has not yet been given any details of hotel or anything, except she told me
she would be going with her manager together with 10 other thai girls and they will fly out via India.

Hate to say, but this has brothel written all over it.

cv

shemmy · December 23, 2004

It is definintely a scam.
Warn her before it is too late.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree with you. Warn her before it's too late. In Africa, she has to work as a prostitute I am sure. I have seen many cases here, they dreamed about big money by working overseas and landed in bar. Thailand is better to earn the money than in Africa.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Absolutly it's a scam,,, if it's on the level it would be at one of the few international hotels there ie hilton who have branches in Thailand..............save her from ######

Pudgimelon · December 23, 2004

Look, scam or no scam, that's a lot of money being offered. Heck, if I knew how to do massage, I'd try to get on that flight too .

My point is, that if you try to prevent her from going, she's going to resent it. Even if you think you are looking after her best interests, she's still going to resent it (and you).

It's a lot of money, and my bet is that she's not going to be thinking about the risks, she's only going to be thinking about the return.

If she's anything like some of my friends, she's going to be thinking about all the things she can do with that money when she gets home (take care of her family, buy a car, buy some clothes, new purse, LOTS of shoes, etc....). In her eyes, it's almost as if that stuff is already bought, and if you try to persuade her not to go, you're fighting a losing battle. She's just going to get mad at you for being a big meanie.

Your best bet is to find a way to ensure her safety while she is over there. For example, buy a bunch of phone cards. Make sure you purchase ones that will work FROM Ghana (you can probably get them online). Then tell her that she has to call you at a specified time after arrival, and at least once a week after that. If there are any problems, or if she doesn't contact you, go to the police.

In fact, it would be a good idea to go in and talk to the police beforehand. Let them know that she's making this trip and that you are concerned about it being a scam or a shady deal. Ask them what they can do if something goes wrong, and/or how she can get out of Ghana if there is a problem. Make sure that they understand BEFOREHAND that she is going to Africa because she has been promised a LEGITIMATE job. That way, there'll be no question about her intentions later on if there is a problem. Otherwise, you might run into a snotty police captain who'd give you a hard time by asking questions like, "How can you be sure she didn't go to Africa to be a prostitute?" or "Why should we search for a lost hooker?", etc... If the police know ahead of time that she's going there as part of a legitimate employment offer, then they'll be more likely to help out if there is a problem.

I don't believe Thailand has a mission in Ghana, but perhaps a "friendly" embassy would help. Call up the Australian or United States embassy in Ghana and ask them if she can contact you through them if there is an emergency.

One other thing, you should make sure that she understand that HIV/AIDS isn't a "remote possibility" in Africa. The transmission rates on that continent are truly frightening. So make sure she understands that no matter how handsome, smooth or rich some African guy is, she should exercise EXTREME caution before deciding to have a wild fling. Also, let her know that the first thing she'll be doing after coming back from the trip is going to the Red Cross for an AIDS test. Make sure that is promised before she goes. For her health and yours.

In other words, your concern is well-placed, however, she is an adult too, and perfectly within her rights to take some risks to improve her financial situations and/or lifestyle (just like we all did when we came here). You can do your best to minimize that risk, but you don't have the right to shelter her like a child.

Be supportive, not smothering. That's the best way to keep a woman's respect.

Edited December 23, 2004 by Pudgimelon

nogutsnoapplepie · December 23, 2004

Look, scam or no scam, that's a lot of money being offered. Heck, if I knew how to do massage, I'd try to get on that flight too .
My point is, that if you try to prevent her from going, she's going to resent it. Even if you think you are looking after her best interests, she's still going to resent it (and you).

It's a lot of money, and my bet is that she's not going to be thinking about the risks, she's only going to be thinking about the return.

If she's anything like some of my friends, she's going to be thinking about all the things she can do with that money when she gets home (take care of her family, buy a car, buy some clothes, new purse, LOTS of shoes, etc....). In her eyes, it's almost as if that stuff is already bought, and if you try to persuade her not to go, you're fighting a losing battle. She's just going to get mad at you for being a big meanie.

Your best bet is to find a way to ensure her safety while she is over there. For example, buy a bunch of phone cards. Make sure you purchase ones that will work FROM Ghana (you can probably get them online). Then tell her that she has to call you at a specified time after arrival, and at least once a week after that. If there are any problems, or if she doesn't contact you, go to the police.

In fact, it would be a good idea to go in and talk to the police beforehand. Let them know that she's making this trip and that you are concerned about it being a scam or a shady deal. Ask them what they can do if something goes wrong, and/or how she can get out of Ghana if there is a problem.

I don't believe Thailand has a mission in Ghana, but perhaps a "friendly" embassy would help. Call up the Australian or United States embassy in Ghana and ask them if she can contact you through them if there is an emergency.

One other thing, you should make sure that she understand that HIV/AIDS isn't a "remote possibility" in Africa. The transmission rates on that continent are truly frightening. So make sure she understands that no matter how handsome, smooth or rich some African guy is, she should exercise EXTREME caution before deciding to have a wild fling. Also, let her know that the first thing she'll be doing after coming back from the trip is going to the Red Cross for an AIDS test. Make sure that is promised before she goes. For her health and yours.

In other words, your concern is well-placed, however, she is an adult too, and perfectly within her rights to take some risks to improve her financial situations and/or lifestyle (just like we all did when we came here). You can do your best to minimize that risk, but you don't have the right to shelter her like a child.

Be supportive, not smothering. That's the best way to keep a woman's respect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>