Can This Be Called "Work" And Req Work Permit?

[svenivan]

Four years ago me and my wife bought 40 rai of land with rubbertrees and lumjaitrees. I bought a used tractor to be able to cut grass. Me and my wife cut all grass ourselves. We got no income from this place so it only cost us money for diesel and gas. We bought the place because of it is in the mountains and has fantastic views and we don´t mind the work.

The place is 8 km from our house so when I go there on the tractor everyone on the fields stop to look at "the farang on the tractor". I probably be on the tractor 12 days per year and cut grass by "whippetsnipper" maybe another 20 days per year.

So my question is, will immigration call this work and can arrest me for no workpermit?

We have 3 rai of garden around our house, will it be same problem when I cut grass in my wifes garden?

First year I also helped the farmers in our village and plowed their ricepaddies. I did not get paid anytning, even paid the diesel myself. I do not do that anymore because it might be problem.

Can this be a problem?

[jubby]

I suspect someones going to say 'Yes' it is work and does require a work permit.

A work permit we wouldn't qualify for.

I think quite a lot of us do this sort of thing. Its more a hobby than work in my opinion. I do the Tractor thing too, but its only 2 kms from home and everyone looks and smiles. But don't really care.

I cut some of the grass around the Village and temple when the Villagers have their work days but I wouldn't get involved helping others in case you upset someone who percieves you taken away their work

[IMA_FARANG]

I think you're okay...but just be really careful at staying very far away from accepting any payment of any kind for your "non-work". Secondly as "this is Thaland" a good relationship with the "powers that be" in your village is a very good idea. Cutting the grass for free for the local farmers is a great way of building friends. That will go a long way to getting you well thought of, and that is what you need. If you can get to the hand-shaking glass tipping stage with the local "head man", you shouldn't have any problems. But be careful, because if you are in good favor with the local authorities everything may be great, but if that ever changes you could be in trouble.

A lot of things in Thailand work on "friendship"...and "friendship" is all, but can be fickle and change quickly.

[sceadugenga]

You guys just make sure you're in the union.

[thurien]

a foreigner working on one's own land is not the problem - but the tractor: Do you have a tractor operating / driving licence ??

somebody who envies you about the tractor might take this to a case... special "gaan khaset" licences (operating farming machinery)

have to be obtained for tractors, caterpillers, excavators, combined harvesters, even for the 4-wheeled truck-like Isaan TukTuk

[jubby]

You guys just make sure you're in the union.

[Mario2008]

I think one should read the alien labour law in the context of what it is trying to regulate, labour. There is no work permit needed when you cut your own grass. But when it is a farm and it is for farming purposes you will need a work permit. This isn't the grass around your house, but at a rubber tree farm. As such I would consider it working.

[moe666]

Cut your own grass at home, hire a couple of the locals to cut at the rubber plantation this will help out a few who could use the money and keep you out of trouble.

[Naam]

You guys just make sure you're in the union.

and refrain from having sex with your wife without a work permit

[gotlost]

I think one should read the alien labour law in the context of what it is trying to regulate, labour. There is no work permit needed when you cut your own grass. But when it is a farm and it is for farming purposes you will need a work permit. This isn't the grass around your house, but at a rubber tree farm. As such I would consider it working.

40 rai of land. As Mario2008 says its work. That's would take 4 people 5 days to cut. You have just done in their salary. Being agriculture you can not get a work permit.

[Robby nz]

a foreigner working on one's own land is not the problem - but the tractor: Do you have a tractor operating / driving licence ??

somebody who envies you about the tractor might take this to a case... special "gaan khaset" licences (operating farming machinery)

have to be obtained for tractors, caterpillers, excavators, combined harvesters, even for the 4-wheeled truck-like Isaan TukTuk

Sorry this is off topic but this is the first time i have come accross someone who seems to know about driving licences.

Have a camper van at home (light truck) that can be driven on car licence.

Seen one for sale here and could be interested but dont know what sort of licence I would need to drive it.

Pleased if you could help Thurien.

[thomo]

There is no work permit needed when you cut your own grass

How can it be your own grass, if it is owned 100% by a Thai?

Surely cutting the grass on a Thai's private land is taking the work of a gardener.

Unless you've gone the 49/51 PLC route to 'owning' the land, in which case wouldn't you still need a WP to designate your duties, of which cutting the grass probably isn't going to be one of them?

[ozzieovaseas]

As always the shades of grey never get greyer than in LOS..

Surely if the OP's situation was ever brought to anyones attention, the people looking into such matters wouldnt have to treat each case with its own merits?

I often wonder of such cases that i have heard about ...

What of this scenario: You (as an expat) were to produce certain farang food from your home kitchen for your own use?..obviously ok...

But what then if you made extra and your wife happened to go out and sell said products???

Would probably be considered to be breaking multiple laws, but how prooven?

[thomo]

Would probably be considered to be breaking multiple laws, but how proven?

By a refusal to pay the 10,000thb that it costs to get the case thrown out?

[billd766]

You guys just make sure you're in the union.

Thanks for that.

I now feel really old as I remember seeing the Strawbs live in Torquay back in 1973 when I was in my late 20s.

Memories of a librarian.

I also cut the grass at home with both my hand held and wheelie kruang tatya machines and there is about 4 rai to cut plus another 1 rai up at the wife's shop.

Most of the locals that see me doing it smile and wave and we sometimes drink a Sang Som or 5 with the puyaiban.

[thomo]

drink a Sang Som or 5 with the puyaiban.

That will help things.