In June I was interviewed for a job in a new international school. I was sent a copy of an employees book and a contract to sign. I agreed to the contract and signed it after reading the employees book and agreeing to the conditions stated in it.

I started work in July and since then they have changed my working hours from 7.30 am till 3.45 pm to 7am till 4pm. My lunch time has been cut to 45 minutes from a full hour and I have one more break for around ten minutes.

They have now added an extra hour a week after school as a staff meeting and notified us that we will be working some Saturdays, Sundays and National holidays with no extra pay, as staff ''training days'' or days for meetings.

None of these were stated in the original employees manual. When I queried it they said they had changed the book which had been a ''proof '' copy. We were not consulted or notified about the changes until they were implemented.

If anyone has any advice I would be very grateful,

Thanks

Was the contract particulars different to the hand book, the contract is usually binding, the hand book a reference, which allows room for challenge. Just a suggestion really, not sure how thai law will operate, or just the practicalities of challenging the situation anyway.

You could contact the Labor Office or an attorney.

One assumes you have copies of the original documents you signed, including the hand book ?

Further what does your contract say about the T&C, s ?, this is what governs, not the handbook, if the handbook is intended as part of your T&C,s then it should be appended to your signed contract every page initialed as this is what you agreed to.

In an honest world they should have told you what they have done, but from a "legal " perspective you need to be able to prove what was signed differs from what they are telling now

You can get a labor attorney and take them to court, but assume your job will be done, they will fire you for any real or made up reason after you take legal action. Thais don't like to be called on their cheating. Decided if it is worth it before you take action.

Keep track of your hours, and when you are finished working for them, go to the labor department and they will get you paid for the extra hours.

Keep track of your hours, and when you are finished working for them, go to the labor department and they will get you paid for the extra hours.

But only if the OP can prove the T&C,s are different from from what was agreed to at the signing of the contact or what the employer is requiring to the OP to do somehow breaches the labour act in terms of hours worked, break times etc.

If the OP can prove in writing that conditions they are working under now are not the same as what was agreed originally, highly unlikely there is a case with labour court, as it turns into a he said she said scenario

The one will thing would be certain, raise this formally with the DOL and the OP will be looking for another job one would imagine

Muaythaifan: Next to your visa-problems, you now have to deal with work-permit, contractual problems with your employer. I would not want to be in your shoes, honestly. To rectify all this you will need nerves of steel and a lot of money. You have landed in the administrative treadmill of Thailand (the worst place you can possibly end up in this country).

Thailand can be a nice place to retire, but not for Farangs that must depend on "gainful-employment" to pay their way in Thailand. Wrong place and wrong time.

No doubt, you will be contacted by "legal-firms" that will offer "instant-remedy" for a price. Especially if the legal-firm has a 49 % Farang-Minority-Shareholder.

I wish you luck.

Cheers.

The labor department will get at least half of it.

At the labor department, if it comes down to he said she said, the employee wins.