Phuket crackdown on Russians heads north
Phuket Gazette


Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said Russians would be targeted first as he had received many complaints from local Thai people about Russians allegedly 'stealing people's jobs'. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Local officials will start conducting raids across Phuket’s Thalang District, which covers the northern third of the island, targeting any businesses involving foreigners.

The raids will first target businesses involving Russians, a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall was told yesterday.

As have other recent immigration crackdowns, the Thalang operation will specifically target foreigners either working illegally in Thailand or using Thai nominees to open businesses.

“The raids, starting from today [March 26], will target Russians first because we have received a lot of complaints from Thai people accusing Russians of stealing their jobs,” explained Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada.

“We will not only check their work permits, but also check that the workplace address cited in their work permits matches the place where they are working,” he added.

Present at the meeting to hear the latest orders were Thalang District Chief Supoj Chanakij, Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO) chief Yawapa Pibulpol, Phuket Immigration officer Capt Angkarn Yasanop and officers from other government agencies who will be involved in the raids.

“We are collecting and checking the details of foreigners working in Thalang to help solve the problem of foreigners stealing local people’s jobs,” Vice Governor Chamroen explained.

According to Phuket Employment Office records, there are currently 1,005 foreigners of 17 nationalities registered to work in Thalang, including 109 English, 99 Russian, 80 French and 69 Italian nationals.

V/Gov Chamroen asked for monthly meetings to keep him abreast of the campaign’s progress.

The recent arrest of a Russian woman found working illegally as a tour agent in Patong (story here) highlighted the penalty for working without a work permit: a fine from 2,000 to 100,000 baht, or up to five years in prison, or both.

The penalty for illegally entering the country is a fine of up to 20,000 baht and deportation from Thailand.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-crackdown-on-Russians-heads-north-20617.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-03-27

And how are they stealing Thai's jobs..... Are there any Thais living and working on Phuket who speak fluent Russian????????????????????????????????????

The poor Russians

another Witches hunt ..... When Thais will speak Russian they will be able to complain , but Russians dont speak English so 2 choices , you forbid them to come to Thailand and you will see a lot of hotels and places closing down Or you accept the fact that there are people more qualify to take care about those tourists. How many Thais work illegally in foreign country ?

Some one should tell the local officials that the taxis and jet skis are operated by Russians. Then we may start to see some action on a similar level to this.

So "Russians stealing people's jobs". Why only Russian companies?...

Stealing jobs? This is a Taximob short tinking idea. And, do they realize who brings the money to Phuket? If close all the foreign businesses, locals loses their job as well. Put all on the media, will see who gonna invest in Phuket. Will see who gonna buy their high price properties? Russians will turn away and and their tourists to. Other foreigners will not invest as well. Let the locals do business with local customers.

people you all sound like u've been paid by Russians really there's too many of them there, they are trying to survive doing anythibg that brings money ( remember the couple of Russians who were offering to tourists make photo with their monkey ) its rediculous!!! Soon you will see beggars and street bums from CIS countries !!! Really, i hope this will help to clear up the space a bit. Thailand is a nice place no need to fill it with rubbish people.

people you all sound like u've been paid by Russians really there's too many of them there, they are trying to survive doing anythibg that brings money ( remember the couple of Russians who were offering to tourists make photo with their monkey ) its rediculous!!! Soon you will see beggars and street bums from CIS countries !!! Really, i hope this will help to clear up the space a bit. Thailand is a nice place no need to fill it with rubbish people.

I agree to 100% in what you are saying here. There is good people and there is bad people. The good ones can stay and are welcome, but the shit.... may thai come down hard on them

glegolo

I can actually see why they're doing this. Pattaya and Phuket in particular are being swallowed whole by Russians and their 'legitimate businesses'. If they don't act, they'll end up colonised by the mob.

How effective it's going to be against Russians who are quite capable of paying bribes is another matter.

people you all sound like u've been paid by Russians really there's too many of them there, they are trying to survive doing anythibg that brings money ( remember the couple of Russians who were offering to tourists make photo with their monkey ) its rediculous!!! Soon you will see beggars and street bums from CIS countries !!! Really, i hope this will help to clear up the space a bit. Thailand is a nice place no need to fill it with rubbish people.

I agree to 100% in what you are saying here. There is good people and there is bad people. The good ones can stay and are welcome, but the shit.... may thai come down hard on them

glegolo

Yes. Unfortunately, Thai law enforcement has a very simple, if not very effective way of telling the 'good' people from the 'bad'.

it gets serious when Russian Mafia start displacing Thai/Chinese Mafia's business

Time to wakeup Thailand And not only Phuket !!

but... but English beat them, there are 109 English against 99 Russians, shouldn't they start with English?

How Phuket people are stupid !

As most of Thai people don't speak another language than thai, they cannot serve Russian tourists who don't speak english while coming to Thailand on holidays.

Also the Russians don't steal the jobs of unskilled thai people !

Being bored of whiny mafia people !

P.S. LOL so ugly his shirt. Too many ugly shirts to sell in supermarkets in Thailand. Difficult for a farang to look handsome with Big C ugly clothes !

And how are they stealing Thai's jobs..... Are there any Thais living and working on Phuket who speak fluent Russian????????????????????????????????????

Are there any Thais living and working on Phuket who speak fluent English, Italian, German, French, Dutch, Chinese, Korean, Greek, Spanish, Norse, Danish, Swedish, Arabic, Portuguese, or [insert language here]?

Why would anyone expect that they should speak fluent Russian?

Great!!! I hope they head all the way up north and clean them out of Pattaya too!

How Phuket people are stupid !

As most of Thai people don't speak another language than thai, they cannot serve Russian tourists who don't speak english while coming to Thailand on holidays.

Also the Russians don't steal the jobs of unskilled thai people !

Being bored of whiny mafia people !

P.S. LOL so ugly his shirt. Too many ugly shirts to sell in supermarkets in Thailand. Difficult for a farang to look handsome with Big C ugly clothes !

Some would say that expecting everyone to speak your language wherever you go might be seen as arrogant and ignorant. Seriously, have you never been in a country where no-one speaks your language? You get by, unless you're an insular, ignorant bully who expects the world to fall down to you.

Lets all say boo hoo Russians, but this is Thailand and there are rules I myself have a business here and I spent a ton of money to get it going and obtaining the proper licenses and let not forget a WORK permit,, this Russian garbidge is not following the law so should they be picked on and arrested, I say yes, if they do the wrong thing they should pay,,, I wonder what the price is if a Thai person went to Moscow and opened a food shop without the correct documents,, and to those still crying about the taxis and jet skiis we put up signs warning people away from them, no business no food no more problems

And how are they stealing Thai's jobs..... Are there any Thais living and working on Phuket who speak fluent Russian????????????????????????????????????

"Are there any Thais living and working on Phuket who speak fluent Russian?" - No, but ALL Thai's expect ALL Russians to speak fluent English - how's that going to work for the tourism industry here? :)

I have zero sympathy if they break the laws by hiring foreigners to work illegally whether they be maids from myanmar, construction workers from Cambodia or Russian travel agents/motorbike rental shop people. Follow the laws or pay the penalty.

Wait a minute folks. Thailand tourist association wanted these high quality tourists from Russia. Now that they have arrived and sought to establish Russian tour agencies and other businesses serving the greater russian tourists the Thai business association is up in arms over incursions by Russian business into their previously held manopoly?

This is pretty much a central issue to Thai's everywhere in Thailand. We want tourists as long as we control the tourism trade. Any non-Thai enterprise is not welcome regardless of the needs of Foreign tourists. As a foreigner you are simply not allowed to do business in thailands tourist business unless owned by a Thai.

There will no doubt be more flashing of nationalism by all parties but in the end, if you are not Thai, I would begin the long and painful process of packing up my business and moving to another location more user friendly. Read the small print: Thailand is for Thais. Tourists and all foreigners simply leave your money at the last gate before departure. We only want your money and recent studies show that the Russian Chinese and Indian tourists spen less than 3,000 baht per day, so no loss if they never return. Incidentally same attitude as before just a different group of tourists. Nothings changed.

Some one should tell the local officials that the taxis and jet skis are operated by Russians. Then we may start to see some action on a similar level to this.

people you all sound like u've been paid by Russians really there's too many of them there, they are trying to survive doing anythibg that brings money ( remember the couple of Russians who were offering to tourists make photo with their monkey ) its rediculous!!! Soon you will see beggars and street bums from CIS countries !!! Really, i hope this will help to clear up the space a bit. Thailand is a nice place no need to fill it with rubbish people.

Did it ever occur to you the Russians with the monkey were "hired/employed" by a Thai so they would ALL make money????

Maybe the Thai guy with the monkey couldn't sell any photos because he couldn't speak any Russian, and the Russian tourist couldn't speak any English.

yes agree with above post

lots of people working with no work permits

get them all out so us legal ones can do better business

hopefully they will turn up on samui as well and nab all the timeshare touts , hairdressers,realestate agents that work here illegally [thats just naming a few as well]

My god that shirt...!

people you all sound like u've been paid by Russians really there's too many of them there, they are trying to survive doing anythibg that brings money ( remember the couple of Russians who were offering to tourists make photo with their monkey ) its rediculous!!! Soon you will see beggars and street bums from CIS countries !!! Really, i hope this will help to clear up the space a bit. Thailand is a nice place no need to fill it with rubbish people.

I agree , too many rubish people in Thailand ....you included ....

I am really shocked by some comments here ... You may not like Russian tourists but they help the economy in Thailand and many businesses such as hotels restaurants etc ..... I really dont understand why some foreigners here think to have more rights than others .... All nationalities are welcome when they help the country to grow.

So there are approx 300 european however there are 1000 registered!!! Who are these other nationals? China!!! Hmmmm