‘ Many Foreigners Working Illegally’, Say Thai Officials

[renrut salohcin]

I'm not familiar with Phuket and only hear about it's problems through the media but one of the things I do hear is that many of the taxi-drivers are illegal, being non-licenced. I'm assuming the protesting "large group of mainly Thai taxi-drivers" were of the licenced variety.

It would be wonderfully ironic and hypocritical if any of those protesters belonged to the unregistered group.

[Melyn]

Isn't it kind of strange how yesterday the Phuket Tuk Tuks and Taxis were protesting and today "authorities saying many foreigners are working here without work permits, or doing different jobs to what their work permit states."?

Were the authoroities not doing their jobs?

[techboy]

Then, government officials and police in the area called for a new round of bribing to sort things out properly.

There ya go. I knew that one was coming--

[techboy]

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.

that's not an excuse to defend mafia. what needs to be done is to make better laws about transportation, over charging, and immigrant workers.

why not make a law according to countries?

for example, Thais get a 90 days Visa visa on arrival to go to Brazil, how nice? same for Brazilians in thailand...

BUT, americans need visa to go to Brazil.

see, why not do the same with work permits? if Thais can work freely in Russia, why not let Russians work "more" freely in Thailand?

just a fair-fair game.

I am Thai.

I do speak very good Russian.

I have been to russia and many countries in Europe, of course not only as a tourist but a long term visitor without making money and being a **rik in the country.

To be honest I dont like "Too Relaxing" laws in Thailand as they make things not organized and clean like those call themselves "developed countries".

but common guys

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO CHANGE THAILAND to become the country where you coming from????

Well, I dont mind to put a bit of nonsense laws like in England or raise more TAX or let the government make money from gun like the US... but let's

not turn this country to be RUSSIA as those Russians and russian businesses and other stupid expats do.

THAILAND is THAILAND and there is NO LAND like THAILAND.

If you want to change please respect and ask the locals if they want to.

or if you CHOOSE this land to spend the rest of your peaceful life....just GET ON WITH IT. : )

Great post. And don't let terminology like "developed countries" get you down. Not everyone judges the "development" of a country by the size of its industrial machine.

[dighambara]

Illegal working has 2 solutions:

1.) Have honest BIB, so you can not bride them with monthly payments to look the other way.

2.) Make the rules a lot easier, with the current strict rules and demands (2 Mil Baht minimum for an LTD to be manager, but still can not really work), they create an environment to work illegally.

Honest BIB requires honest bosses and politicians.

Weird rules - amen to that. In most countries, anyone living legally can work, without a work permit. Residence can be acquired legally by anyone in the country legally and all residents can work.

Thailand has multiple strange rules about foreigners, which only european foreigners must follow, as Asians who sneak across the border are ignored and work as anyone else.

These folks are ranting against their employers - the foreign population. I this a repeat ofthe 70's when Thailand chased out most American business, forcing a mini recession..??

[homelyboy]

Weird rules - amen to that. In most countries, anyone living legally can work, without a work permit. Residence can be acquired legally by anyone in the country legally and all residents can work.

Hmm... You claim it is true for most countries, but it'd be wonderful even if you named a single one - it'd be the first one for me to know.

[bangon04]

The Phuket taxi/tuktuk mafia, who robs, scams, beats up and kills toursist, is the single most damaging thing to Phuket and it's tourism industri. Yet nothing is EVER done about it. But when a few russians, who do no damage to anyone except a few taxi driver scumbags, contribute to the tourism industry by taking good care of russian tourists, then suddenly it is a big problem that must be stopped!?!?

Thai logic?

On the other hand, if/when the Russian mafia starts to feel comfortable and "at home" , they will become a much bigger and much nastier problem for the short-sighted Thai police to deal with. Let us hope the geniuses in the Thai police are not sleepwalking into a real bloodbath later down the line.

[lizardtongue]

It's called competion wheter it be illegal or legal and that is something Thai's cant cope with! Rather than improve their services and become more competative it is easier to get rid of the competion!

To echo a previous poster, '3rd world mentality'

[rattler]

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

Why not arrest the Thais who own the businesses which hire illegal workers?

Finally the critical point here. Protection for workers both foreign and Thai. This is a common theme throughout Thai legislation, those with power and money are above the law. Surely the onus should be on the THAI EMPLOYER to provide the necessary legal documentation to ensure that their employees are working legally? Thai companies are left to operate with impunity and while this thread concentrates on the Russian workers, the same laws enable Thais to exploit Burmese labour in construction, European/ US labour in education and so on. It's an absolute disgrace and the issue of foreigners working illegally in Thailand would disappear if Thai companies were actually held accountable over this issue.

Off topic but it's exactly the same when it comes to Government officials here engaging in corruption; they hold no liability for their mistakes and the law of the land protects and nurtures their corrupt antics. A corrupt land official decides to deliberately issue a chanote title for national park land in collusion with powerful local families planning to sell the land to foreign developers. The same corrupt land official can then simply admit his "mistake" once they've pocketed their ill gotten gains and the law absolves him of any wrong doing. The land is taken from the foreign developer, who loses all funds invested, the land official rescinds the chanote and is free to repeat and rinse ad nauseum while remaining untouchable by law.

Thailand is sending a very clear message to foreigners - your money is welcome but you are not. It makes me sad to say it but it's about time we voted with our wallets and our feet; only when Thailand suffers a major downturn because of lost tourism/ foreign income will they be forced to update their arcane and xenophobic laws.

Which wont happen for a long time as the country is run on fear under the guise of culture where no one complains for fear, ultimately of death.

What a lovely smiling society.

[ginjag]

Quit complaining about the Thai way. If you do not like it leave.

We give our views--so get PAXO'd

[metisdead]

An off topic inflammatory post has been removed as well as the replies.

[Gulfsailor]

Hey, ScotsExpat, you are one ignorant AH, the USA is by far the most diversified country on the face of the Earth. Our country is made up of people's from every corner of the globe and t hey came there of their own free will looking for opportunity that wasn't afforded them in their home countries. Where do you come off saying that Americans think they are superior, we are proud of our country, it's people, and our accomplishments throughout history, we never said we were superior to no one. Anytime there is an emergency in this world we have always offered our help. There's a whole lot of Americans buried on European soil from protecting what was the right thing to do so people like you can call Us superior. As far as the Russians, they to are a proud and brave people that throughout history have been shit on and tied down, the chains are off now and they are enjoyIng the freedoms that we in the west have had for many years. As far as blaming Canada and Mexico, just what the hell is that statement about, you sure come up with some stupid statements.

The folks arriving in chains from the west coast of Africa would disagree.

Transported there by those wonderful shipping companies from the UK

As a Dutch person I object! The Dutch were clearly in charge taking over the local tribal slavery in Africa, and globalizing the slave trade and transportation to the new world. The others were just copying yet another great Dutch invention.

[Tanaka]

are they going to shut down the 70% of Thai businesses that are operating illegally in one form or another too?

Of course not! Silly question.

[JonBreadMan]

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?

Yes you will, my bother was talking to me in my house, that was over my shop, and he was done for not having a work permet as he was seen talking to the owner of the shop (me) He no longer has anything to do with Thailand,

[SABloke]

Quit complaining about the Thai way. If you do not like it leave.

I shall call all my friends who complain about the "Thai way" immediately and tell them to leave. Oh wait...THEY'RE THAI!! This ridiculous comment has been used ad nauseum. Please come up with something new.

[Thai at Heart]

Quit complaining about the Thai way. If you do not like it leave.

I shall call all my friends who complain about the "Thai way" immediately and tell them to leave. Oh wait...THEY'RE THAI!! This ridiculous comment has been used ad nauseum. Please come up with something new.

Hear hear.

Billy, if you are encouraging people to disengage from Thailand, why are you in a chat room about it?

[hellodolly]

What if the foreigners made a protest and complained about the mafia taxi drivers, tuk-tuk and song-teaos that charge exuberating ripped off amounts?

I'm not saying that I approve the illegal workers, but it's not honest thai workers protesting, it's the mafia taxi that are protesting, they are dishonest, over charge, and many are cheaters...

The russians might be overtaking the business because they charge competitive price. Those dishonest taxi drivers don't like competitive markets, they wanna be mafia monopoly and charge as much as they want, you take a taxi or walk!

Some how I think that when a tourist or for that matter any falong takes a taxi or tuck tuck at a inflated price they are still getting the ride for about 35% of what they would pay at home. So to them if they are honest it is a good deal.

[Thai at Heart]

What if the foreigners made a protest and complained about the mafia taxi drivers, tuk-tuk and song-teaos that charge exuberating ripped off amounts?

I'm not saying that I approve the illegal workers, but it's not honest thai workers protesting, it's the mafia taxi that are protesting, they are dishonest, over charge, and many are cheaters...

The russians might be overtaking the business because they charge competitive price. Those dishonest taxi drivers don't like competitive markets, they wanna be mafia monopoly and charge as much as they want, you take a taxi or walk!

Some how I think that when a tourist or for that matter any falong takes a taxi or tuck tuck at a inflated price they are still getting the ride for about 35% of what they would pay at home. So to them if they are honest it is a good deal.

dolly, a taxi ride is a taxi ride, it has a price. Dual pricing for taxis?

That will bring the tourists flocking.

Why not just charge a 500 usd surcharge at customs to replace gouging?

[Kudzu]

Russian Mafia quiet and legal.

[attrayant]

If they close down all the Russian companies, then I suspect that all the Russian tourists will disappear as well. They protesters haven't though this one through. If the Russian companies can't work in Phuket, they will work somewhere else, and take the tourists with them.

Are you under the impression that Russians come to Thailand to patronize Russian-owned businesses?

[stoli]

There are more Illegal businesses than illegal workers, First close near all the boy/girl bars, tip of the iceberg--for prostitution is illegal for starters. Who comes out with these statements-- walking street was mentioned, european go go girls, selling themselves, enough said, boring all this illegal rubbish, Most things here are illegal -or are run on similar lines.

Gogos are not illegal and prostitution does not take place in gogo bars.

I am trying to understand if you are serious, or just being funny. You are correct that the act of prostitution does not occur on premises, but the financial aspect of acquiring a prostitute does take place at the gogo bars. You think those dancers are for you to take home and introduce to your mothers?

[Thai at Heart]

There are more Illegal businesses than illegal workers, First close near all the boy/girl bars, tip of the iceberg--for prostitution is illegal for starters. Who comes out with these statements-- walking street was mentioned, european go go girls, selling themselves, enough said, boring all this illegal rubbish, Most things here are illegal -or are run on similar lines.

Gogos are not illegal and prostitution does not take place in gogo bars.

I am trying to understand if you are serious, or just being funny. You are correct that the act of prostitution does not occur on premises, but the financial aspect of acquiring a prostitute does take place at the gogo bars. You think those dancers are for you to take home and introduce to your mothers?

Technically you pay the bar for the girl to leave. That's legal.

[jackr]

Knowing how most Thais love their country dearly, I doubt any are going to the cold, un-hospitable and dangerous Russia.

I take it you've never been to Sochi then?

[jackr]

THAILAND is THAILAND and there is NO LAND like THAILAND.

If you want to change please respect and ask the locals if they want to.

or if you CHOOSE this land to spend the rest of your peaceful life....just GET ON WITH IT. : )

Yes, I think most of us are well aware there is no other country quite like it (), but isn't Buddhism supposed to transcend such mortal trivialities as nationalism? And surely you must agree the transport mafia down there is the scourge of your wonderful country, tarnishing its blissful image somewhat?

[Beetlejuice]

Not forgetting the many Russian hookers working openly in the bars, brothels and escort agencies in Phuket and Pattaya.

This is happening all across Thailand, nationwide.

Farangs, illegally working, illegally owning property, illegally owning businesses, illegal real estate and land speculating, illegally running and owning farms, illegal agricultural producing and general illegal wheeling and dealing.

This is trend continues, than the Thais tolerance levels towards the forever tourists and the farangs residing here will ware down to wafer thin.

Clamp down on these people, stop they’re activities and throw the lot out of the country, they are not needed or wanted here.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[robblok]

Not forgetting the many Russian hookers working openly in the bars, brothels and escort agencies in Phuket and Pattaya.

This is happening all across Thailand, nationwide.

Farangs, illegally working, illegally owning property, illegally owning businesses, illegal real estate and land speculating, illegally running and owning farms, illegal agricultural producing and general illegal wheeling and dealing.

This is trend continues, than the Thais tolerance levels towards the forever tourists and the farangs residing here will ware down to wafer thin.

Clamp down on these people, stop they’re activities and throw the lot out of the country, they are not needed or wanted here.

Or make it easier to work legally here, but that would mean competition the Thais don't like that. They want to be able to rip off the tourists alone.

[ginjag]

There are more Illegal businesses than illegal workers, First close near all the boy/girl bars, tip of the iceberg--for prostitution is illegal for starters. Who comes out with these statements-- walking street was mentioned, european go go girls, selling themselves, enough said, boring all this illegal rubbish, Most things here are illegal -or are run on similar lines.

Gogos are not illegal and prostitution does not take place in gogo bars.

I am trying to understand if you are serious, or just being funny. You are correct that the act of prostitution does not occur on premises, but the financial aspect of acquiring a prostitute does take place at the gogo bars. You think those dancers are for you to take home and introduce to your mothers?

Don't forget my friend that it DOES happen on many premises where rooms are available. (short time) then it is back to work for the next customer.

[PoodMaiDai]

They don't care if they are legal or not.

That sums it all up.

I honestly wish tourism would completely stop in Thailand and all of these dirt bags and complaining Thais would end up sleeping in their tuk-tuks and shacks and have to scrounge for food. Not that it would be any different than how they live now, but at least they wouldn't have beer money. And I bet not one of those sorry a-holes can speak a lick of Russian or have lost a single baht due to Russian business.

[ginjag]

There are more Illegal businesses than illegal workers, First close near all the boy/girl bars, tip of the iceberg--for prostitution is illegal for starters. Who comes out with these statements-- walking street was mentioned, european go go girls, selling themselves, enough said, boring all this illegal rubbish, Most things here are illegal -or are run on similar lines.

Gogos are not illegal and prostitution does not take place in gogo bars.

I am trying to understand if you are serious, or just being funny. You are correct that the act of prostitution does not occur on premises, but the financial aspect of acquiring a prostitute does take place at the gogo bars. You think those dancers are for you to take home and introduce to your mothers?

Technically you pay the bar for the girl to leave. That's legal.

Technically you pay the bar the room fee and have sex and pay for that----then you leave ???

[OZEMADE]

Can't they get the Russian business out of walking street?

NO they pay too much money to stay there.