Thais Discriminate? What About Expats Exploit?

[BrianDavidson]

We read in this forum on an almost daily basis about some scam or another where some poor Expat dunce has been ripped off for a few hundred Baht or in the more extreme cases a few thousand Baht. But what about the other side of the equation?

There are lots of expat companies actively exploiting Thai labour and for more than just a few thousand Baht. I know of Thai engineers who get paid between 30,000 Baht and 45,000 Baht a month...but what are their charge out rates....? Around 300,000 Baht a month! But if that isn't bad enough their expat colleagues are being paid a whole lot more..... try 500,000+ a month!

Bad isn't it? Makes you put that 200 Baht you paid for speeding into perspective?

No? Well it gets worse. the charming expats shunt most of their pay offshore and do not bother declaring it to the Thai Tax Man. So not only do they get paid lots more than their Thai counterparts they get to keep it by defrauding the taxman. Now you might argue that an expat is more experienced than their Thai equivalent...and that may be of course true. But just a minute the Thai engineer is charged out at 300,000 baht a month and the expat at....600,000 baht double the Thai rate but the Thai doesn't get paid half of the expat rate oh no the Thai gets about one twelfth of the rate!!!!!!!

So who is ripping off whom? What makes matters worse so many of the expats go around bragging about it. One idiot even has a blog that boasts to the world about his swanky apartment and the gravy train that he is riding in Bangkok; talk about rubbing people's noses in it. The expat WAGs have their coffee mornings and social events as though they are BKK aristocracy when their husbands are little more than pimps living off the earnings of others; because lets be honest its the exploited Thai who is underwriting the comparably huge expat income.

It really does sicken me to see just how much the expat community has become the pigs in clover society at the expense of people who are really struggling to eke out a living here. Frequent holidays in the Maldives are a far cry from a long weekend in Cha-Am.

If you think this is bad there is a whole lot more!

[mpetersen]

I don't know if that kind of extreme is standard practice. I don't know alot of junior farang engineers getting paid 600,000 THB a month in any country, and I dont' know any senior engineers in Thailand who would work for 30,000 or 45,000 THB.

It's more likely that a mid-level farang engineer (say 4-6 years experience) costs around 100-250K THB per month, while a similar mid-level Thai engineer might cost 99-140K THB. That's not a 12x difference.

The deal about declaring income offshore can and does happen anywhere. Some offshore income might be legitimate if some of their services were performed outside Thailand. Depends on the situation.

But back to engineers. A fresh university Thai graduate is no more use than a chocolate fireguard, to be truthful. Probably at Grade 12 level when compared to US/Canada, and therefore probably overpaid even at 20-30K starting salary. To run an office full of Thai people requires far more management/admin personnel than in the west, due to the overall business and government regulation structure. Severance, pregnancy and sick leave, are more generous, and if any project requires senior farang talent (liability, responsibility, ability to travel wtihout visas freely, communication, professional qualifications etc etc), then this adds significant overhead to the collective Thai engineering team and local admin costs. Lastly, Thai employees have notoriously high turnover, further adding to the net lack of efficiency after training, hiring, and retraining are considered.

The original post might be a bit of a troll, but I just don't believe that there are too many qualified people working for a pittance (in Thai terms) because they are a very mobile workforce and have access to a great number of employers. Note, I say "qualified". "Engineer" means as little as "VIP", and one has to look way past the resume, degree, and past job experiences to really "qualify" Thai technical and management resources.

I am speaking from experience, not hearsay.

[9ninetynine]

Yes, chuck them out of the country the dirty, vermin scum

[bkkjames]

To the op.

You need to ask the employer's why they pay this way. Oh and by the way, 99% of them of Thai companies that operate in this country.

You sound like you are jealous of those expats who are being paid well.

[needforspeed]

First off all some expats been ripped off for a lot more than a few hundred or thousand baht but isnt intresting as this happened every where in the world.

There are lots of expat companies actively exploiting Thai labour and for more than just a few thousand Baht.

Many company's dont exploited Thai labour but developing the Thai labour market by given people to earn money under good conditions and opportunity learn and develop in work, language and management.

I know of Thai engineers who get paid between 30,000 Baht and 45,000 Baht a month...but what are their charge out rates....? Around 300,000 Baht a month! But if that isn't bad enough their expat colleagues are being paid a whole lot more..... try 500,000+ a month!

Incorrect, Thai Engineers get paid between 18,000 and with years experience around 70,000, i dont know any engineer get paid 500,000+ a month even not the offshore engineers.

No? Well it gets worse. the charming expats shunt most of their pay offshore and do not bother declaring it to the Thai Tax Man. So not only do they get paid lots more than their Thai counterparts they get to keep it by defrauding the taxman.

Also incorrect, many offshore people get paid in other country than Thailand and therefore paying tax there, i pay tax in Malaysia at this moment but live in Thailand.

So who is ripping off whom?

Nothing to do with ripping, salaris been paid on bases from country of origin, reliability, quality and experience, as one poster mention there is big difference between a Thai engineer and a European or American engineer just released from school, can't compare with each other.

the pigs in clover society at the expense of people who are really struggling to eke out a living here.

Most labour been employed by foreign company's have better benefits than local company's, so they not struggling at all.

So basically your post isn't based on facts at all, but just based on emotion and your personal feeling,

Edited February 15, 2010 by needforspeed

[BrianDavidson]

First off all some expats been ripped off for a lot more than a few hundred or thousand baht but isnt intresting as this happened every where in the world.

There are lots of expat companies actively exploiting Thai labour and for more than just a few thousand Baht.

Many company's dont exploited Thai labour but developing the Thai labour market by given people to earn money under good conditions and opportunity learn and develop in work, language and management.

I know of Thai engineers who get paid between 30,000 Baht and 45,000 Baht a month...but what are their charge out rates....? Around 300,000 Baht a month! But if that isn't bad enough their expat colleagues are being paid a whole lot more..... try 500,000+ a month!

Incorrect, Thai Engineers get paid between 18,000 and with years experience around 70,000, i dont know any engineer get paid 500,000+ a month even not the offshore engineers.

No? Well it gets worse. the charming expats shunt most of their pay offshore and do not bother declaring it to the Thai Tax Man. So not only do they get paid lots more than their Thai counterparts they get to keep it by defrauding the taxman.

Also incorrect, many offshore people get paid in other country than Thailand and therefore paying tax there, i pay tax in Malaysia at this moment but live in Thailand.

So who is ripping off whom?

Nothing to do with ripping, salaris been paid on bases from country of origin, reliability, quality and experience, as one poster mention there is big difference between a Thai engineer and a European or American engineer just released from school, can't compare with each other.

the pigs in clover society at the expense of people who are really struggling to eke out a living here.

Most labour been employed by foreign company's have better benefits than local company's, so they not struggling at all.

So basically your post isn't based on facts at all, but just based on emotion and your personal feeling,

My post is unfortunately based on facts not the twaddle you seem to believe and I can PROVE what I say.

But what is so hard to believe? For example expat engineers at say company X get at least $100AUD an hour for a 45 hour week. Thats $4,500AUD or around $18,000AUD a month with an exchange rate around 30 to 1 thats let me see....540,000 Baht a month. Thais receiving training now that is a joke personnel development is not even on the agenda for most companies.

You don't know of any engineers even offshore that earn 500,000 a month? You really do need to get out more offshore Exxon Mobil engineers no even the janitors get at least $150USD AN HOUR. Now let me see... 4 weeks on is 4 x 7 x 12 (hours a day) x 150 = 50400 a month. Divide by 2 to average monthly income = $25,2000USD or 856,800 Baht! An expat here at $100AUD an hour $33,600 + Chevron pays 20% uplift = $40,320AUD or 1,209,600 BAHT.

As I said that Thai engineers may be less experienced or qualified but that doesn't rank a ratio of 12:1. Lets face it the Thai engineers are out there doing it now if they weren't up to it then there wouldn't be any Thai engineers allowed near any company and everything would be done by expats. But we know that is not the case.

You pay tax in Malaysia but I told you in the post about offshore accounts based in Singapore and Hong Kong where residents are not charged tax! These are called tax havens. The expat Aussies, brits and Americans do not declare the money in their home countries also.

So basically your response to my post is based on what?????????? Thai rates of 1800 Baht an hour, and expat rates of 3,700 an hour are a reality or do you think I dreamt them?

[StreetCowboy]

Brian

You should set yourself up a business to under-cut these gross margins.

I'd be delighted to work for you, if you could offer me a fair and competitive salary which would support my family in reasonable comfort. That works out about 400 - 500 K per month, all told, before the taxman takes his slice. I can then help you get 300 K worth of work out of your 100K Thai Engineers. Otherwise, they could work without world-class guidance and assistance, and you can get 100K worth of work out of them. But that won't set aside any contingency for when times are hard, pay for any marketing and sales, or support your office overheads.

There are far more Singaporean consultants doung business in Thailand than vice versa, so if you wnat international standard engineers to work for your company, you will need ot pay international rates.

The problem is that Thai companies won't pay their best staff international rates, so a few top class people go to work overseas - Malaysia, if they want to be near home, or the Middle East...

SC

[bkkjames]

Brian did you just lose your job or something? Are you a Thai Engineer?

Why the rant?

[BrianDavidson]

To the op.

You need to ask the employer's why they pay this way. Oh and by the way, 99% of them of Thai companies that operate in this country.

You sound like you are jealous of those expats who are being paid well.

Why should I be jealous when I get the same deal?

No you just proved my point, you don't seem to condemn the fact that expats are ripping off Thais? But I have no doubt that you complain like a hen-pecked husband to a barmaid if you get scammed by a Thai?

[SeanMoran]

My post is unfortunately based on facts not the twaddle you seem to believe and I can PROVE what I say.

But what is so hard to believe? For example expat engineers at say company X get at least $100AUD an hour for a 45 hour week. Thats $4,500AUD or around $18,000AUD a month with an exchange rate around 30 to 1 thats let me see....540,000 Baht a month. Thais receiving training now that is a joke personnel development is not even on the agenda for most companies.

You don't know of any engineers even offshore that earn 500,000 a month? You really do need to get out more offshore Exxon Mobil engineers no even the janitors get at least $150USD AN HOUR. Now let me see... 4 weeks on is 4 x 7 x 12 (hours a day) x 150 = 50400 a month. Divide by 2 to average monthly income = $25,2000USD or 856,800 Baht! An expat here at $100AUD an hour $33,600 + Chevron pays 20% uplift = $40,320AUD or 1,209,600 BAHT.

As I said that Thai engineers may be less experienced or qualified but that doesn't rank a ratio of 12:1. Lets face it the Thai engineers are out there doing it now if they weren't up to it then there wouldn't be any Thai engineers allowed near any company and everything would be done by expats. But we know that is not the case.

You pay tax in Malaysia but I told you in the post about offshore accounts based in Singapore and Hong Kong where residents are not charged tax! These are called tax havens. The expat Aussies, brits and Americans do not declare the money in their home countries also.

So basically your response to my post is based on what?????????? Thai rates of 1800 Baht an hour, and expat rates of 3,700 an hour are a reality or do you think I dreamt them?

Mr Davidson, I agree that there is a balance between international relations here, and that just as the actions of some Thai criminals puts a negative sleight on the entire population in forums like these, the actions of a few foreigners puts a negative sleight on the bank balances of the rest of the foreigners.

It's worth a mention, but remember that only the rich have ADSL to be here with.

[BrianDavidson]

I don't know if that kind of extreme is standard practice. I don't know alot of junior farang engineers getting paid 600,000 THB a month in any country, and I dont' know any senior engineers in Thailand who would work for 30,000 or 45,000 THB.

It's more likely that a mid-level farang engineer (say 4-6 years experience) costs around 100-250K THB per month, while a similar mid-level Thai engineer might cost 99-140K THB. That's not a 12x difference.

The deal about declaring income offshore can and does happen anywhere. Some offshore income might be legitimate if some of their services were performed outside Thailand. Depends on the situation.

But back to engineers. A fresh university Thai graduate is no more use than a chocolate fireguard, to be truthful. Probably at Grade 12 level when compared to US/Canada, and therefore probably overpaid even at 20-30K starting salary. To run an office full of Thai people requires far more management/admin personnel than in the west, due to the overall business and government regulation structure. Severance, pregnancy and sick leave, are more generous, and if any project requires senior farang talent (liability, responsibility, ability to travel wtihout visas freely, communication, professional qualifications etc etc), then this adds significant overhead to the collective Thai engineering team and local admin costs. Lastly, Thai employees have notoriously high turnover, further adding to the net lack of efficiency after training, hiring, and retraining are considered.

The original post might be a bit of a troll, but I just don't believe that there are too many qualified people working for a pittance (in Thai terms) because they are a very mobile workforce and have access to a great number of employers. Note, I say "qualified". "Engineer" means as little as "VIP", and one has to look way past the resume, degree, and past job experiences to really "qualify" Thai technical and management resources.

I am speaking from experience, not hearsay.

Unfortunately its not hearsay its fact. Even a top Thai Graduate is lucky to get more than 10 to 15,000 Baht a month. I have worked with a handful of Thai graduate engineers so far and chocolate fireguards they are not! I have also worked with many fellow American engineers and I can say that if they had even 50% of the intellect and enthusiasm of a Thai Engineering graduate I would be amazed.

I am sitting next to a Thai Senior Engineer at this very moment, a degree qualified engineer with almost 10 years experience who gets 35,000 Baht a month or 32,000 Baht after tax. Is it that you don't want to believe or what? I don't know what you call a pittance but this is $12,000USD a year. This guy is being charged out at almost $130,000USD a year! I am a Senior Engineer earning $90USD an hour. Thats $180,000 a year. I came here during the boom years and probably that rate has fallen but it is still going to be in excess of $120,000USD a year. Thats at least 10 times the rate of the Thai.

Thai turnover is maybe a little high in some companies because pay is so bad that they have to leave to get a rise or in most cases threaten to leave to get a rise and little wonder on these rates!

[needforspeed]

But what is so hard to believe? For example expat engineers at say company X get at least $100AUD an hour for a 45 hour week. Thats $4,500AUD or around $18,000AUD a month with an exchange rate around 30 to 1 thats let me see....540,000 Baht a month. Thais receiving training now that is a joke personnel development is not even on the agenda for most companies.

You don't know of any engineers even offshore that earn 500,000 a month? You really do need to get out more offshore Exxon Mobil engineers no even the janitors get at least $150USD AN HOUR. Now let me see... 4 weeks on is 4 x 7 x 12 (hours a day) x 150 = 50400 a month. Divide by 2 to average monthly income = $25,2000USD or 856,800 Baht! An expat here at $100AUD an hour $33,600 + Chevron pays 20% uplift = $40,320AUD or 1,209,600 BAHT.

As I said that Thai engineers may be less experienced or qualified but that doesn't rank a ratio of 12:1. Lets face it the Thai engineers are out there doing it now if they weren't up to it then there wouldn't be any Thai engineers allowed near any company and everything would be done by expats. But we know that is not the case.

You pay tax in Malaysia but I told you in the post about offshore accounts based in Singapore and Hong Kong where residents are not charged tax! These are called tax havens. The expat Aussies, brits and Americans do not declare the money in their home countries also.

So basically your response to my post is based on what?????????? Thai rates of 1800 Baht an hour, and expat rates of 3,700 an hour are a reality or do you think I dreamt them?

Now give me a adress off drilling or Oil company that pay that kind off salaris, highest paid engineer (exclusive Company man and OIM) gets around 1.000 USD a day that is 28 on 28 days off so about 500 average.

[steelepulse]

I'm just curious, but does having what the market will bear have any effect? Employees and employers have a choice in what they pay and what they will accept to work in their environment, correct?

[SeanMoran]

I'm just curious, but does having what the market will bear have any effect? Employees and employers have a choice in what they pay and what they will accept to work in their environment, correct?

Yes. Proportionately speaking, it costs a lot more to hire someone qualified to stuff things up completely than to hire some incompetent to make a few minor errors during their adjustment to the new employment.

[bkkjames]

To the op.

You need to ask the employer's why they pay this way. Oh and by the way, 99% of them of Thai companies that operate in this country.

You sound like you are jealous of those expats who are being paid well.

Why should I be jealous when I get the same deal?

No you just proved my point, you don't seem to condemn the fact that expats are ripping off Thais? But I have no doubt that you complain like a hen-pecked husband to a barmaid if you get scammed by a Thai?

Totally wrong Brian. I complain like a hen-pecked husband to my wife.

[needforspeed]

I'm just curious, but does having what the market will bear have any effect? Employees and employers have a choice in what they pay and what they will accept to work in their environment, correct?

Yes. Proportionately speaking, it costs a lot more to hire someone qualified to stuff things up completely than to hire some incompetent to make a few minor errors during their adjustment to the new employment.

Yes thats why still the most top paid jobs are foreigners in the offshore business as they can't effort small errors.

But that doesn't take long anymore as better education and experience locals slowly going to take it over.

[SeanMoran]

I'm just curious, but does having what the market will bear have any effect? Employees and employers have a choice in what they pay and what they will accept to work in their environment, correct?

Yes. Proportionately speaking, it costs a lot more to hire someone qualified to stuff things up completely than to hire some incompetent to make a few minor errors during their adjustment to the new employment.

Yes thats why still the most top paid jobs are foreigners in the offshore business as they can't effort small errors.

But that doesn't take long anymore as better education and experience locals slowly going to take it over.

That's what it should be about, if there's a need for foreign 'experts' - train up a few likely candidates and leave it to them. If it's like was mentioned above, and these so-called experts are still around long after the trainees have moved on, then maybe sombody somewhere might have hired the wrong 'expert' along the line.

Anyway, back on topic, I myself am currently exploiting the good sense that Thailand has had in combatting inflation where my own home country has fallen victim to greed, and rent this cheap hotel by the month and get my Marlboro at a price without too much medicinal espionage, so I can take a few unhappy times at the checkout of the 711 or a bad look here and there for the unfortunate length of my nose that might remind a few people of others that they despise. It is better to give than to receive, but the trick is to recognise when NOT to give.

Then you might be able to make ends meet on the same income that would see you jailed for vagrancy in farangland.

[BrianDavidson]

Brian

You should set yourself up a business to under-cut these gross margins.

I'd be delighted to work for you, if you could offer me a fair and competitive salary which would support my family in reasonable comfort. That works out about 400 - 500 K per month, all told, before the taxman takes his slice. I can then help you get 300 K worth of work out of your 100K Thai Engineers. Otherwise, they could work without world-class guidance and assistance, and you can get 100K worth of work out of them. But that won't set aside any contingency for when times are hard, pay for any marketing and sales, or support your office overheads.

There are far more Singaporean consultants doung business in Thailand than vice versa, so if you wnat international standard engineers to work for your company, you will need ot pay international rates.

The problem is that Thai companies won't pay their best staff international rates, so a few top class people go to work overseas - Malaysia, if they want to be near home, or the Middle East...

SC

You know I have considered it forming a company here. The potential is really good. I have also considered Manila too as I have worked with no harder working or more dedicated workforce than the Filipino they really are exceptional. Plus they really do know their stuff too!

I know that there are different degrees of competency here and that isn't just applicable to local engineers. I have worked with many very good Thai engineers who are every bit as good as their international counterparts, But perhaps if there was the money available as an incentive then the standards would be raised and then more Thai students would opt to be engineers.

[BrianDavidson]

To the op.

You need to ask the employer's why they pay this way. Oh and by the way, 99% of them of Thai companies that operate in this country.

You sound like you are jealous of those expats who are being paid well.

Why should I be jealous when I get the same deal?

No you just proved my point, you don't seem to condemn the fact that expats are ripping off Thais? But I have no doubt that you complain like a hen-pecked husband to a barmaid if you get scammed by a Thai?

Totally wrong Brian. I complain like a hen-pecked husband to my wife.

Fair play to you mate I am exactly the same :-)

[britmaveric]

Who cares what Thai Engineers are being paid? Market dictates their value - this is the way in every job market in the world. Surely you can't whinge about what thai companies are paying western engineers?

[Spoonman]

Unfortunately its not hearsay its fact. Even a top Thai Graduate is lucky to get more than 10 to 15,000 Baht a month. I have worked with a handful of Thai graduate engineers so far and chocolate fireguards they are not! I have also worked with many fellow American engineers and I can say that if they had even 50% of the intellect and enthusiasm of a Thai Engineering graduate I would be amazed.

And yet we are actively looking for Design engineers straight out of Uni (don't want them coming pre installed with nasty traits from other businesses) and they are snubbing their noses at the 25k a month we are offering......... go figure.

The main issue I see is they are not creative, they are sheep and do as they are told, when asked to think outside the square they just look dumb and don't know what to do, If the Thais want the big salaries they need to grow a set of balls and be prepared to put their idea's forward.

EDIT: For what its worth, I work for a wholly owned Thai company, Iam on an Expat salary, no where near 500k a month though, where can i get me one of those ??

Edited February 15, 2010 by Spoonman

[BrianDavidson]

Brian did you just lose your job or something? Are you a Thai Engineer?

Why the rant?

It has never really bothered me in the past who earns what in comparison to myself because lets face it we are to some extent masters of our own destiny and if we don't like what we do or where we work we can always vote with our feet and find something else? But when you find out that the local guys you work with are being used, if not abused by the system then it does get under you skin? Especially when you get the people who are benefiting from the inequality boasting to you about it in the bar? But then you get the really odd guy who not only boasts about it over a beer he shouts it out from the rooftops?

http://ferret-times.blogspot.com/

How much work does this guy actually do? Check out the posts he seems to spend most of his day either writing his blog or looking for material to write about?

[bkkjames]

Brian did you just lose your job or something? Are you a Thai Engineer?

Why the rant?

It has never really bothered me in the past who earns what in comparison to myself because lets face it we are to some extent masters of our own destiny and if we don't like what we do or where we work we can always vote with our feet and find something else? But when you find out that the local guys you work with are being used, if not abused by the system then it does get under you skin? Especially when you get the people who are benefiting from the inequality boasting to you about it in the bar? But then you get the really odd guy who not only boasts about it over a beer he shouts it out from the rooftops?

http://ferret-times.blogspot.com/

How much work does this guy actually do? Check out the posts he seems to spend most of his day either writing his blog or looking for material to write about?

Abused by their own system? you mean the Thais. Thai Engineers underpaid compared to Western counterparts? Then do something about it. Go on strike, leave for green pastures or do the typically Thai thing, open up your own, under cut the competition and then apply for job in a year's time cause you cant handle the pressure.

Old Chinese Proverb: Man with only one eye should not look down on those with two.

Translation: It's sounds like you got a beef with some lazy overpaid prat, ok, get in line mate. We all do.

Edited February 16, 2010 by bkkjames

[needforspeed]

Brian did you just lose your job or something? Are you a Thai Engineer?

Why the rant?

It has never really bothered me in the past who earns what in comparison to myself because lets face it we are to some extent masters of our own destiny and if we don't like what we do or where we work we can always vote with our feet and find something else? But when you find out that the local guys you work with are being used, if not abused by the system then it does get under you skin? Especially when you get the people who are benefiting from the inequality boasting to you about it in the bar? But then you get the really odd guy who not only boasts about it over a beer he shouts it out from the rooftops?

http://ferret-times.blogspot.com/

How much work does this guy actually do? Check out the posts he seems to spend most of his day either writing his blog or looking for material to write about?

Isn't our business, if he can organize it that way and he is happy with it ok with me i dont have to read it.

Some people spend more time to reading it and complaining about other people who writting it, what is worse.

[ScottishThai]

Brian,

I live in Thailand but am employed by a company in Singapore and I work everywhere else apart form Thailand.

I am a qualified service engineer and only get US$200,00 a day when away working! Can you give me the address of the companies paying US $100 per hour cos I feel like a change!

BTW so what if expat compaines are exploiting the Thai workforce, the very same expat companies do the very same thing no matter what country they are in. The UK is the same, India, etc, etc!!

Just live with it!

[whistleblower]

first of all, if you have a shitload of money due to your high salary, spread it around. Share it out amongst your underpaid coworkers!

Second, if Thai people insist on 'selling their vote' to the highest bidder which ultimately results in a Govt. that doesnt give two hoots about the people of this country, only enriching themselves, it is no wonder people exploit the system.

[BrianDavidson]

I'm just curious, but does having what the market will bear have any effect? Employees and employers have a choice in what they pay and what they will accept to work in their environment, correct?

True but only to some extent. If you have no job and are presented with a take it or leave it choice what do you do? There are no trade unions here to protect the worker so we see the worst side of colonialism, exploitation. If all the engineers here had one voice then yes it would get sorted but until then companies will continue to do it. How many officials are on the gravy train to allow this to happen?

You know what surprises me is that the big multi-national Oil companies here who are paying these companies a small fortune for services that cost the vendor peanuts haven't stopped this? In North America and the Middle East the practice of using low cost labour is being challenged. Charging clients huge mark-ups is known as gouging the client and there are many companies here who are doing the same practice. Don't kid yourself about being unaffected because for every extra dollar a Chevron or Exxon is charged by these companies will be inevitably passed down the line to who else but the consumer aka me and you! I don't blame the oil companies on this they are also victims here.

Far better for the Thai based oil companies to head hunt the staff from these expat companies, pay them a decent wage and save a fortune!

Then when their Thai/Expat ratios are compromised we can wave goodbye to the greedy Pl@xA1s of this world!

[BrianDavidson]

first of all, if you have a shitload of money due to your high salary, spread it around. Share it out amongst your underpaid coworkers!

Second, if Thai people insist on 'selling their vote' to the highest bidder which ultimately results in a Govt. that doesnt give two hoots about the people of this country, only enriching themselves, it is no wonder people exploit the system.

Spot on you are absolutely right. But you know it takes the worst sort of people who can do things like this and still sleep at night.

If you don't believe it check this hero out:

http://ferret-times.blogspot.com/