Occupatins Restricted To Foreigners - "advertising"

[Marvo]

Does anyone have any experience of what "work" the Labour dept. deems as advertising (which is prohibited to foreigners)?

There are many professions "allied" to the advertising business but I was wondering how the Labour Dept. sees it.

Photography, graphic design, web site construction, copy writing....... or do they actually mean "Advertising Agency"?

Any thoughts/experience anyone?

[InterestedObserver]

The only way to get a clear answer is to ask the Labour Department. They can suggest what not to put on your work permit application.

[ubonjoe]

Have a look at this handbook from the BOI. Starting at page 44.

I can't find that advertising is prohibited. But is advertising hawking?

http://www.boi.go.th/english/services/bizzg.pdf

[Marvo]

Have a look at this handbook from the BOI. Starting at page 44.

I can't find that advertising is prohibited. But is advertising hawking?

http://www.boi.go.th/english/services/bizzg.pdf

Hi ubonjoe, thanks for the link. I thought I was going mad for a moment there.....

Page 45, line 10: Advertising

Interestingly, it also lists "Agency" as a separate item also.

Don't you love that "List 3"! - The ultimate sweeping insult to a nations' entire population: "Businesses in which Thais are not ready to compete in undertakings with foreigners"

[InterestedObserver]

Have a look at this handbook from the BOI. Starting at page 44.

I can't find that advertising is prohibited. But is advertising hawking?

http://www.boi.go.th/english/services/bizzg.pdf

Check List 3 of the Foreign Business Act (FBA), you'll find Advertising listed.

[Marvo]

The only way to get a clear answer is to ask the Labour Department. They can suggest what not to put on your work permit application.

Is it for real that they would be that helpful, or would your name go into their little black book of "possible future tea money sources".

Sorry, I'm a cynical bugger - been reading TV too long .

[ubonjoe]

Sorry I guess my eyes missed it the first time. But that is why I posted the link. There is a lot of useful information in it.

Edit: But that is what is allowed for a forign business to be in. If you are working for a Thai company they they can be in the business. See the list on page 49 for what cannot be put on the work permit.

[jts-khorat]

Don't you love that "List 3"! - The ultimate sweeping insult to a nations' entire population: "Businesses in which Thais are not ready to compete in undertakings with foreigners"

One of the few instances where the Thais have realized how backwards they still are in business matters compared to the rest of the world.

[Marvo]

Sorry I guess my eyes missed it the first time. But that is why I posted the link. There is a lot of useful information in it.

Edit: But that is what is allowed for a forign business to be in. If you are working for a Thai company they they can be in the business. See the list on page 49 for what cannot be put on the work permit.

That's very interesting ubonjoe, thanks for pointing that out....

I never twigged the difference between the list 3 foreign company "activities" and the actual "occupations" prohibited to foreigners working in a Thai company. I will be working for my girlfriend's Thai company - 4 Thai employees and me. So as you rightly point out, the company's activity is not restricted - only my "occupation" within that company according to that list of prohibited occupations.

In that case, it looks like the company can do anything (if written into the articles) and if I read the list on page 49 correctly, I am clear to do photography, graphic design, web site design, but NOT Thai character typesetting.

I guess I could phone the local (prachuap khiri khan) labour office and ask if "Photographer and Computer Graphic Designer" is OK for a job title/description for the work permit.

[Cuban]

Your WP also states your job description, this is the area to avoid having reserved ocupations listed or outlined, keep it general and open to interpretation. As consultant and project manager in charge of non-Thai relations and projects it's able to encompass anything you are likely to do across the board.

Also consder the addresses listed as places of work, allowing you to 'work' at customer sites or from home.

[Marvo]

Your WP also states your job description, this is the area to avoid having reserved ocupations listed or outlined, keep it general and open to interpretation. As consultant and project manager in charge of non-Thai relations and projects it's able to encompass anything you are likely to do across the board.

Also consder the addresses listed as places of work, allowing you to 'work' at customer sites or from home.

Good advice Cuban, - all taken on board. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[Arkady]

Only restricted professions are law, accounting, architecture and engineering. Even so, you can work in these professions in an advisory or training capacity as long as you are not seen to be practicing the profession in a strict sense. That means you just can't plead in court, sign or audit accounts or sign construction plans. The top firms in these business rely on foreign expertise and there has never been any aggressive move to flush out the foreign workers which would cripple them. Advertising is open to foreigners and many work for advertising agencies. The list of restricted occupations is not to be confused with the list of restricted businesses that foreign controlled companies cannot engage in under the Foreign Business Act. Advertising is certainly on this list and only 51% Thai owned firms and American owned firms can do it.