‘ Many Foreigners Working Illegally’, Say Thai Officials

[Larry Banks]

‘Many foreigners working illegally’, say officials

by: Nattha Thepbamrung

PHUKET: Santi Udomkiratak, Deputy Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation for the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, has spoken about yesterday’s “anti Russian business” protest in Bang Tao, saying Thai people cannot complain about Russian businesses that are operating legally.

Yesterday's protest in Bang Tao.

But yesterday's protest has drawn attention to the issue of foreigners working illegally in Phuket, with authorities saying many foreigners are working here without work permits, or doing different jobs to what their work permit states.

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.

newsjs

The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out – but they also asked officials to check the legality of the businesses.

In trying to deal with the problem, local government officials have suggested a crackdown on business licences and work permits for foreigners, which they hope might help solve the problem.

Some of the businesses targeted yesterday are suspected of operating illegally, authorities say.

Yesterday afternoon there was a meeting between the protestors and provincial officials, lead by Ma-ann Samran, the president of Cherngtalay Or Bor Tor.

The meeting concluded that to help solve the problem, authorities must ensure businesses are operating legally, and staff have work permits, Mr Ma-ann said.

Mr Ma-ann said local authorities are going to strictly enforce these requirements.

If foreigners are caught working without a work permit, they will be arrested immediately, he said.

Mr Ma-ann said there were two main issues, the first was foreigners holding a work permit but doing a different job than was stated on the permit, and the second was foreigners who didn’t have a work permit at all.

Mr Ma-ann said that the owner of Alex Tour, a Thai man named Dan Wannabaworn, visited him yesterday to confirm his business was now closed.

Mr Ma-ann said Alex Tour, targetted yesterday by the protesters, was operating legally with a business licence, but the Russian staff did not have work permits.

There were six other businesses in the same area that were also closed yesterday, which were suspected of operating illegally, Mr Ma-ann said.

Mr Ma-ann told The Phuket News, “there are only 51 foreigners who hold a work permit to work in the Thalang area,” which included the three main “foreigner areas” of Pak Lok, Cherng Talay and Bang Tao.

There were many people working illegally in the area, he said.

Many of the people who held the correct work permit were connected to hotels in high positions, so if officials saw foreigners working in jobs such as tour guides, they might be suspected of having no work permit, added Mr Ma-ann.

Meanwhile, Mr Santi told The Phuket News that another meeting will be held soon to try to find a solution, involving him, the Tourist Police, Immigration Police and Provincial officials.

“This is a complicated issue so, we must have a talk among many sectors involved,” Mr Santi said.

“When Russian businesses are operating illegally, they can be prosecuted. But the ones that are legal – we cannot complain about them. Authorities must strongly manage this issue.”

Representatives from two Russian-owned businesses had already approached Mr Santi to discuss the issue of some Thai people opposing Russian businesses.

“I agree with the cases where Russian businesses have been closed because a Thai person opens the tour business, but hires Russian staff who do not have work permits.

“But when the Russians do business legally, we cannot ask them to close.”

-- The Phuket News 2013-01-29

Edited January 31, 2013 by george
Fixed massive image size

[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.

[TommyUK1960]

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

[davejones]

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

[davejones]

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.

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. But there probably needs to be some sort of crackdown on illegal workers.

[happysanook]

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

[lemoncake]

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

and what is your problem with russian business on walking street?

[caykay]

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

[brfsa2]

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!

[tragickingdom]

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.

[lemoncake]

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

they could start with protesting taxi drivers who do not pay taxes, do not have insurances, without a taxi or drivers license

[Equalizer]

Thai Taxi drivers 555555 you must be joking. Those plastic gangsters need culling. As for the Russians, all farang will be look at as an ignorant, tight fisted, bad mannered tosser if these are not culled as well.

[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.

Edited January 29, 2013 by metisdead
: Bold removed.

[JhonD]

"Phuket Thai taxi drivers" and "protestors" in one sentence?

[ronthai]

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.

[ivamg]

A lot of Thai Tourist companies (such as Matreshka tours or Marusya tours) have russian staff, and they are too greedy to make work permits to their staff.

What about them? With their powerfull support here they will never have problems with police.

[abhaya]

I find it hard to imagine how many Russian speaking Thai tour guides are being deprived of jobs.

[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.

[jpp2bkk]

Here we can see (with the speaker) a perfect sample of the local garbage called taxi & tuk tuk mafia complaining that foreign business are stealing their customers. They themselves rip off their customers for decades and do not accept any competition. It is time those morons gets out of business, do not use them.

The only positive thing here is that the Russians have to understand that they are not at "home".

[brewsterbudgen]

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.

[monkeycountry]

"The Thai protestors were not concerned about whether the Russians were operating legally or not – they just wanted them out – but they also asked officials to check the legality of the businesses."

Once again the Phuket taxi and tuktuk mafia can do what they want, and once again the Phuket authorities bow to their outrageous demands.

Anyone remember when the Phuket taxi and tuktuk mafia with the help of the Phuket authorities illegally forced THAI tour operators to hand over their customers from cruise ships and american warships. I am surprised the Phuket taxi and tuktuk mafia don't just stand outside one of the local banks and ask for the money in the vault. I am sure the Phuket authorities will show up and arrange some kind of settlement whereby the bank only has to give them half the money in the vault!

Phuket authorities and the taxi/tuktuk mafia are a disgrace to the human race!

[skiller]

The Thai´s are looking for a way to crack down the competioners. That´s it!

[brfsa2]

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.

[gemguy]

Well...a big part of the problem is how difficult it is to form a company and or obtain a work permit.

Because of the "Thai Way" of doing things many foreigners simply take the chance and operate a business or work illegally while knowing that something can be "arranged" if and when they are arrested.

If the means of getting a work permit and or forming a company was not so dam_n frustrating and bureaucratic and considerably costly then less foreigners would be operating a business illegally or working illegally.

Meantime, like another person pointed out...this will involve some cash payments made to the police to smooth things out...as always.

Better than kicking everyone out of town and or throwing them in jail.

Edited January 29, 2013 by gemguy

[monkeycountry]

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?

Edited January 29, 2013 by monkeycountry

[Fozfromoz]

Well...a big part of the problem is how difficult it is to form a company and or obtain a work permit.

Because of the "Thai Way" of doing things many foreigners simply take the chance and operate a business or work illegally while knowing that something can be "arranged" if and when they are arrested.

If the means of getting a work permit and or forming a company was not so dam_n frustrating and bureaucratic and considerably costly then less foreigners would be operating a business illegally or working illegally.

Meantime, like another person pointed out...this will involve some cash payments made to the police to smooth things out...as always.

Better than kicking everyone out of town and or throwing them in jail.

You have hit the nail.........smack in the middle.

[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.

Ha Ha----are you winding me up--so no rooms are available for sex UPSTAIRS ?????---- so no money changes hands for services rendered, and Mama Sam does NOT advise customers what the boy/girl can do ??? and how much to pay. ??? I didn't say it was bad to have go go places, Big business here and many satisfied customers, as from day one 40 years ago or so the fishing village of Pattaya started off with the Americans paying for SERVICES RENDERED

[KhunNene]

"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."

I do not get it. Is this protest against Russian taxi drivers in Phuket?

And why the bombastic ? ‘Many foreigners working illegally’, say officials

Well, I do not thing many farang repatriate funds to their origins, but largely expend those illegally obtained in LOS in buying condos and beers and supporting girl- or boyfriends, right?

[chrisrazz]

So, the local authorities visit all foreign businesses to check licenses and work permits. Lo and behold more money collected for the tea party. TAT talks about increases in tourism yearly, with a target of over 24mil this year. As I sad on another thread, what is it that these tourists come for? To enjoy the illegal bars and clubs and to exploit young women and the occasional counterfeit woman, that are nothing more then prostitutes. Yet the hypocritical taxi mafia, not exactly been a well kept secret that one, wish to bully and rip off tourists and foreign owned business so they can lay claim to the transport monopoly that ferries the sleaze tourism to and from bars and clubs that are operating and providing services illegally, though, it would seem with the blessings of whatever authority is paid off at the time.

I read on TV that the government were going to check that foreign owned businesses with Thai shareholders will be required to prove the capital investment of the Thai partners. It has been my belief for many years that Thailand is more than happy to get foreign money, but, the reality is they don't really want us here and are effectively racist regarding immigration and busines ownership policies and even on a more grass roots level. We farangs are seen as nothing more than a cash cow, be it the government, police or any other entity that involves money. I even had a guy claiming I reversed into his car, I didn't of course, he showed me the damage to a rusty chrome bumper. I laughed, asked if I looked stupid and suggested we go around to corner to the police station to sort it out. No need to say he was off quick sharp.

[ChrisY1]

Taxi and Tuk Tuk operators in Phuket and elsewhere are Xxxx_heads!

Edited January 29, 2013 by metisdead
: Vulgarity