Hi Sunbelt,

In your helpful reply to my post asking about the number of Thai employees needed for a work permit for some one with a Thai wife, for which thank you very much, part of your reply was as follows:

"Bangkok has started investigating new firms, checking on their
offices and checking employees. Where Bangkok leads, the provinces will
often follow."

I am wondering which government agency in Bangkok is investigating new firms in this way. Is it:

1. The Labour Ministry's Department of Employment that issues work permits?

2. The Social Security Office checking that new employees registered for social security are genuine?

3. The Commerce Ministry's Business Development Department that registers new companies checking that new companies with foreign shareholders and/or directors are bona fide.

4. More than one of the above?

Would the same apply to long established companies applying for a new work permit and/or applying to register new employees for social security?

Thanks.

Hi

To answer your questions one by one:

1. The Labour Ministry's Department of Employment that issues work permits?

They do but it is random.

2. The Social Security Office checking that new employees registered for social security are genuine?

This is done at the initial registration of the company and the listing of the first employees.

3. The Commerce Ministry's Business Development Department that registers new companies checking that new companies with foreign shareholders and/or directors are bona fide.

This is checked at initial registration to ensure that the Thai shareholders are not nominees. They can ask for a bank statement from each Thai shareholder as well as a confirmation of the bank balance in a bank letter.

Would the same apply to long established companies applying for a new work permit and/or applying to register new employees for social security?

We have only encountered it for new company registrations as long running companies can provide supporting documentation such as audits.

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