Advise On Applying For A Work Permit In Regard To The Number Of Thai Employees

[Firfox]

Dear Friends

Hope you are all well.

I am in the process of relocating to Thailand where I will set up a limited company in order to open an English school. The English school will then employ me as the teacher. I have all the information on how to aquire a license for the school and have the relevant Master Degree and Cert TESOL qualification to be able to teach in Thailand. The aim is to keep the school small just enough to supplement our income from the UK.

I am married to a Thai National who will be one of the shareholders of the company. I have been informed I will need to have 2 million baht registered capital (1 million due to been married to a Thai National) in order to apply for a work permit. No problem with none of this.

My question is in regarard to having to employ four thai nationals in order to apply for a work permit. The school will not need four thai employess. The school will only be open 24 hours per week and my wife and I will be able to fulfill all the teaching. Any help with the below questions will be much appreciated.

(1) Any one who has set up a company - Did you have to employ four Thai Nationals if not how did you get aroiund this issue?

(2) If I employ four (been told 2 may be ok for new company for first year) do you have to evidence what you pay them?

(3) Do you have to pay Tax or social fund on their behalf and lets say I show I am paying them 5,000 baht per month. How much tax and social fund would that be per month per employee?

Any help with this will be most appreciated.

Kindest regards

Andy

[tombkk]

You need four Thai staff (maybe less for married people, I don't know), and of course you have to pay salaries and social security. If they earn less than THB 150,000 per year, no income tax needs to be paid.

The law does not specify whether or not they can be relatives of your wife. People can be employed as maids or drivers, as not all employees in a school have to be, or are qualified to be, teachers.

The Labour Department used to require you to bring pictures of all emplyess at their work place when you apply for the Work Permit. I think this requirement has been cancelled, but you'd better check. I have heard of one case where the people from the Labour Department actually came to the company to see these employees.

HTH.

[EvilDrSomkid]

You need four Thai staff (maybe less for married people, I don't know), and of course you have to pay salaries and social security. If they earn less than THB 150,000 per year, no income tax needs to be paid.

The law does not specify whether or not they can be relatives of your wife. People can be employed as maids or drivers, as not all employees in a school have to be, or are qualified to be, teachers.

The Labour Department used to require you to bring pictures of all emplyess at their work place when you apply for the Work Permit. I think this requirement has been cancelled, but you'd better check. I have heard of one case where the people from the Labour Department actually came to the company to see these employees.

HTH.

Latest information I have is that they do require minimum 4 staff even when married. Btw, minimum wage is 5500 per month.

They might cut some slack on a new company, but keep in mind they will only issue WP for 3months at a time.

Oh, and they do visit your company if it is new and they would like to see pictures. Just get the pics, just in case.

We are applying next week.

[digitalchromakey]

Number of employees (normally 4 per Work Permit) can vary depending on the company's business, some Labour Departments still accept two Thai employees, if the WP applicant is married to a Thai.

In my area, payment evidence is required by Labour of Social Insurance contributions made for Thai staff.

Social Contributions are often not allowed for Directors and any employees with the same family name as any of the Directors.

So if you are married to a Thai who is working in the company as say a General Manager/Director, then Labour may only need evidence of Social contributions for one additional Thai employee, say a part time Secretary/Clerk, who could be on a low salary with no requirement to pay income tax.