‘ Many Foreigners Working Illegally’, Say Thai Officials

[Thai at Heart]

I an sure every licensed tuk tuk was being driven by the same guy as on the license.

What a ridiculous situation. If the Russians can't access services from Russians they will disappear, and then the tuk tuk drivers won't have any business. Dumb.

[Kananga]

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out

There are a surprising number of Thai businesses including restaurants etc operating in Russia. How about if the Russians decide to kick out all the hardworking Thais in Russia in retaliation because they want them out?

Third world mentality at its worst.

I have a hard time believing any of this. Russia is an extremely dangerous place for dark-skin foreigners. Mobs of skinhead gangs attack Asians, Indians, Africans, Arabs and just about anyone who appears non-white on a daily basis in broad daylight. Most of the time they get away with murder and/or a small slap on the wrist. Knowing how most Thais love their country dearly, I doubt any are going to the cold, un-hospitable and dangerous Russia.

Well you can't argue with Google. http://www.baanthai....cc=100&curPos=9 These chaps dont seem to be carrying any skinhead inflicted head wounds. Let alone look like they are subjected to attacks on a daily basis.

Or here

• 
  Bangkok Restaurant
  Four levels of spiciness and two Thai chefs earn Bangkok the certificate of quality from the Thai government. Knowledgeable staff can assist you in making choices. Traditional Thai dishes are fine-tuned and simply delicious.
  Bangkok restaurant, 10 Bolshoi Strochyonovsky Pereulok, +7 495 2373074
  

http://www.royalthai...en/masters.html - These girls don't look like they have been attacked recently either.

And those are just the ones I found in 30 seconds.

Sorry to prove you wrong. But you are.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Kananga

[afr490872]

I'm sure that even without Russian tour guides and those annoying street Russian tour desks every 20 m Russians will continue coming here in droves simply because Thailand still offers the best value in budget tropical holidays for them. And even if fewer Russians will come to Thailand other tourists will rejoice and starting coming in bigger numbers.

[rubl]

Something not really right here. Dept PM Pol. Captain Chalerm got rid of the mafia in three months time (a period which ended September 2012). He's busy that's why we haven't seen a 'mission acomplished' report yet. Might it be that k. Chalerm got rid of the wrong mafia? That's assuming he got rid of something

Edited January 29, 2013 by rubl

[3SoiDogNight]

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out

There are a surprising number of Thai businesses including restaurants etc operating in Russia. How about if the Russians decide to kick out all the hardworking Thais in Russia in retaliation because they want them out?

Third world mentality at its worst.

I have a hard time believing any of this. Russia is an extremely dangerous place for dark-skin foreigners. Mobs of skinhead gangs attack Asians, Indians, Africans, Arabs and just about anyone who appears non-white on a daily basis in broad daylight. Most of the time they get away with murder and/or a small slap on the wrist. Knowing how most Thais love their country dearly, I doubt any are going to the cold, un-hospitable and dangerous Russia.

have you been to russia and witnessed that?

if true, the same happens in thailand. how many foreigners get nabbed and beat up? I see almost everyday at the bumrungrad and camilian foreigners with totally beat up legs and face.

Yes I have been to Russia and had two skinheads throw a bottle at me as I was exiting the Moscow Metro. Luckily they missed but they gave me the Hitler salute.

The crimes in Thailand is nothing like the crimes in Russia. The mafia has nothing to do with the skinhead gangs in Russia. There are so many Farangs here in Thailand that live safely and freely here in Thailand and don't have any of the problems some people complain about here at ThaiVisa.

Rather than question whether or not I'm telling the truth, just type in 'Russia skinheads' in Google and you'll see hundred of results. In fact, these skinhead gangs are so brazen that they upload their attacks on YouTube.

No outsider goes to Russia to get rich in Russia. If a Thai goes abroad to earn money, they can make much more in Western Europe, Middle-East, United States, Canada or nearby Singapore or Hong Kong.

[ginjag]

I work illegally....I clean the garden and carport each day.......what a load of wank!

Sounds tough stuff, By the way who cooks, cleans the home, shops . washes clothes. irons, cleans the car,--you sound too busy to do any of that ???.... sorry for my English humour.

[yummypizza]

Blasphemy, they are cheating us out of our cheatings....

[Wat dee]

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out

I suppose these greedy morons also want the Russian tourists who pay their rip off charges out as well? Idiots.

There are a surprising number of Thai businesses including restaurants etc operating in Russia. I would imagine some of this money makes its way back to Phuket. How about if the Russians decide to kick out all the hardworking Thais in Russia in retaliation because they want them out?

Third world mentality at its worst.

That is interesting,name few Thai businesses in Russia?

[LuckyLew]

same <deleted> different day

So many stories coming from Phuket about the BS that goes on there

The problems run way too deep for it too change now

Too many people are making too much money

Nothing gets done and nothing will change because you do not

bite the hand that feeds you

[Kananga]

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out

I suppose these greedy morons also want the Russian tourists who pay their rip off charges out as well? Idiots.

There are a surprising number of Thai businesses including restaurants etc operating in Russia. I would imagine some of this money makes its way back to Phuket. How about if the Russians decide to kick out all the hardworking Thais in Russia in retaliation because they want them out?

Third world mentality at its worst.

That is interesting,name few Thai businesses in Russia?

See reply 35.

[chrisrazz]

Talking of working illegally, I was asked by a local hospital administrator if I'd like to teach English. There is a program within government offices and the like to encourage staff to learn English. Thay are often reasonable with grammar but hopeless with conversation. This is part of the ASEAN integration where government officials will be able to visit other ASEAN members to see how things are done over there. I stated that I had no qualifications and no work permit, yet English is my language. The reply, oh, don't worry about any of that detail. So, do you think I'd even entertain English conversation classes for government workers, given the law on this matter. I can just see myself getting arrested for teaching the head of the local labour department how to make himself understood on his freebie junket to Indonesia.

[balo]

So what about us foreigners that have some important work to do on our laptops , like answering messages to our business back home.

Will we be hunted down and deported?

Edited January 29, 2013 by balo

[stevehaigh]

sounds like their problem is nothing to do with work permits, they just don't want Russians taking jobs. but how many thai taxi drivers speak russian?

[chrisrazz]

So what about us foreigners that have some important work to do on our laptops , like answering messages to our business back home.

Will we be hunted down and deported?

No, the new rules will be: Just send your money, but don't bother coming.

[Kananga]

So what about us foreigners that have some important work to do on our laptops , like answering messages to our business back home.

Will we be hunted down and deported?

No

[hansnl]

It's not complicated at all. Just arrest all the illegal workers and businesses. Problem solved.

Oh really?

And what about......................

[upena]

They checked. The businesses the Thai taxi drivers were protesting against were run by Thais

[belg]

taxi maffia telling governement to cut out the russian maffia

woehahaha

[Jimi007]

The same thing happened the other week in Karon Phuket. Taxi and Tuk Tuk mafia surround the police station, and blockaded the road to demanded that Russian tour desks and one Russian massage parlor be closed. The Labor Department and police investigated all the business and only the massage parlor was closed. These taxi and tuk tuk drivers want to be the only game in town so they can rip off the tourists. It's a locals only club and they don't want anyone, not even other Thais to get any part of their local extortion racket....

[Loptr]

It's not complicated at all. Just arrest all the illegal workers and businesses. Problem solved.

Well, if they kick out all the unlicensed tuk tuks, how will anyone get a ride around the island?

[lineofentry]

Can we have images that are not about ten times bigger than my netbook screen - or make them width=90% rather than a fixed width ?

This topic is basically unreadable on a netbook (eeepc) screen

My netbook works fine, it was the cheapest in the shop lol.

[Misterwhisper]

"The large group of mainly Thai taxi drivers protested in Bang Tao yesterday (January 28) against Russian businesses who are, they say, undercutting the market and taking business from locals."

There is no such thing as "undercutting the market". Every viable business still has to turn a profit in order to stay alive. "Undercutting" is equivalent o "competition", something Thai people are not used to.

The mafia-like shenanigans of Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk drivers have often been a matter of scornful discussion not only on TV but also in the local media.

A fare of $100 from Phuket airport to Patong is even considered shameful in "more advanced" countries, yet the local twits seem to think that they are somehow entitled to such outrageous prices for a single fare. The motto seems to be in unison with local "sabai" practices, though. One fare a day at an inflated price is enough to bring your family through - AND still be able to afford a minor wife without having to worry.

Phuket? Not 10 horses could drag me to that "neck of the Thai woods", yet it seems incredibly popular with Russians. I am not sure how expensive taxi fares are in Russia these days.

[fish fingers]

The local thais mafia are genuinely scared of russian mafia, they are even more crazy and unpredictable

[dluek]

According to Thai law, no foreigners are allowed to work as tour guides in Thailand whether they have a work permit or not. But tour companies in the islands desperately need Russian speaking guides because they have entire boatloads of Russian customers booking daily tours. The majority of the Russian visitors speak very limited English (and not many Thais are fluent in Russian) so many of these companies rely on Russians to lead tours. This could be big problems for the tour companies, which are mainly owned by well-meaning Thais. Personally I think the law that says foreigners can't be tour guides is dumb.

[Suradit69]

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out

I suppose these greedy morons also want the Russian tourists who pay their rip off charges out as well? Idiots.

There are a surprising number of Thai businesses including restaurants etc operating in Russia. I would imagine some of this money makes its way back to Phuket. How about if the Russians decide to kick out all the hardworking Thais in Russia in retaliation because they want them out?

Third world mentality at its worst.

"Third world mentality at its worst. "

A lot of third world mentality popping up everywhere these days.

I wonder if these first world mental titans have pondered the international implications of their actions:

Mass strikes and protests are sweeping Britain this morning over jobs being given to foreign workers at a giant oil refinery.

In Scotland 1,600 workers at several sites walked out on unofficial strike this morning and in south Wales, police were called to Aberthaw power station near Barry after a protest was staged there.

The workers are supporting strikers at the £200m Lindsey oil refinery, North Lincolnshire, who walked out over a decision to bring in hundreds of Italian and Portuguese contractors

One placard said “Right to Work UK Workers”, while another banner read “In the wise words of Gordon Brown UK Jobs for British Workers”.

Pommie Commies Protest Against Foreign Workers…. in Australia!

by sheikyermami on July 5, 2012

http://sheikyermami....s-in-australia/

I doubt the Thai workers first concern is for Thai workers in other countries and I also doubt any money repatriated from Russia trickles into their pockets. The same would be true of workers in UK, Australia, Germany, the US ...

Most people who find their income threatened because of foreign businesses, whether they are in Thailand, UK or USA, don't say to themselves: "hey I'm making less money, but it doesn't matter as long as someone else working in Russia is free to make money."

Of course they put themselves first, just as most workers would do in any country on earth. It's not third world mentality, it's common sense for someone to put his welfare, that of his family and that of his community before worrying about the international ramifications.

It probably will be counter-productive if fewer Russians come to Phuket because of this, but if a sizeable amount of Russian spending was going into the pockets of other Russians it's unlikely to have the dire impact that our Thai Visa First World International Labour Specialist predict either.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

How about an immedeate crack down on meter taxis working illegally and not using their meters

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Every year I get a new work permit. it is about 400 pages every year and take 2 office girls nearly 4 weeks to prepare. Once I have that I have to prepare the same 400 pages for immigration because I guess they don't trust the Thai labor department. Then every year, they interview all 89 employees at my work to check if I really do work there, each and every one.

Why not make it a little easier to get a work permit. And I know a few Expats working at Government schools where the government didn't want to bother getting the proper work permit

[robblok]

Every year I get a new work permit. it is about 400 pages every year and take 2 office girls nearly 4 weeks to prepare. Once I have that I have to prepare the same 400 pages for immigration because I guess they don't trust the Thai labor department. Then every year, they interview all 89 employees at my work to check if I really do work there, each and every one.

Why not make it a little easier to get a work permit. And I know a few Expats working at Government schools where the government didn't want to bother getting the proper work permit

Of course not that would mean competition to the Thais, they don't like fair play.

[lemoncake]

I guess if we hear of some drivers being shot in Phuket, will know the reasons

[MacChine]

Well if the staff were foreign without permits, it is not legal. But I think any foreigner would be subject to this protectionist application.

I operate a small business and follow the WP rules and it seems I may well be in the minority.

Solving problems the Thai way. Never mind the fact that the business in question operates legally, the locals (hence the Taxi/transportation Maffia) wants them out.

Fine, but maybe the Russian consul should tell the transportation Maffia and the Thai officials that they will discourage their foreigners to go to Phuket, just as so many Western governments are doing after their nationals are beaten up, murdered and mocked by the local legal and illegal business operators alike. bet you that we will get the immense stupidity that authorities will come check the work permits of foreigners while having a dinner meeting in a hotel only to point out that they cannot do any business there as the location is stated within an office building.

It is about time that the Thai officials round up are the criminals behind the taxi operators. Taxi operators who block cruise passengers from leaving their ship and driven up prices. Arrest the instigators not the victims for once.