Chinese expats arrested in Phuket for work permit offences

[bbbbooboo]

BORING

[yourauntbob]

stepping on toes by taking unearned money out of a Thai nationals pocket.

[kingstonkid]

Good to see that the police is taking care of the real problems:

Farangs drink beer in Soi Nana during election day

Farangs drink beer on Valentine day in Pattaya

Farangs go drinking in Pattaya without Passport

is bad enough and the law should punish them without mercy.

But now they found even worse things:

Chinese made photos of Chinese couples marrying in Phuket!!!

One of the worst crimes......

h90 i THINK YOUR RECORD IS STUCK.

Rules are menat to be there for a reason. I am sure that if they were taking money out of a persons pocket in your country you would complain.

DAMN ILLEGAL ALIENS

[marquis22]

Do something about the real issues, then less people would find less to complain about.

To me, a legal worker, illegal workers are a real issue.

real, yes....but minor in compare to all the other problems the police could take care off, but does not.

You are forgetting that this happened because a complaint was made. When there is a complaint made, the police are obliged to act. It's not like they went out looking for Chinese photographers without WP's.

Yes complaint from another photo studio owned by Thais.

But it is ok for Thais to have 2 pet shops next to each other, 25 sewing machines all in a row, 3 shoe repair shops together, 4 barbers within 100 metres in the same street. But 2 photo studios . no way ......

[Jbax]

That guy on the end doesn't look very Chinese...

[AloisAmrein]

How many 1000 Thais work illegally abroad?

[shirtless]

Its a fair call, The law is very clear on Foreign nationals working in Thailand without a work permit, Those arrested have tried to avoid the costly process of setting up a company and obtaining workpermits .

[elzach]

Good to see that the police is taking care of the real problems:

Farangs drink beer in Soi Nana during election day

Farangs drink beer on Valentine day in Pattaya

Farangs go drinking in Pattaya without Passport

is bad enough and the law should punish them without mercy.

But now they found even worse things:

Chinese made photos of Chinese couples marrying in Phuket!!!

One of the worst crimes......

Hmmm, if you do the same in China, you will be arrested, detained for a few days (automatic, no arguing), will have to pay a fine (at least 10,000-20,000 yuan), deported and entered on a black list never to come back to China.

Edited February 23, 2014 by elzach

[stevenl]

When there is a complaint made, the police are obliged to act.

็Really? I thought the police only bothered to act when you paid them a little (or big) something under the table. This is a clear example of someone with a grudge.

It also underlines the Thai authorities shortsightedness. A Chinese couple coming here wants to deal with the arrangements in their own language, and with someone who understands their own standards, expectations and traditions. A Thai-only business simply won't be able to do that. The net effect is that Chinese couples will simply get wed elsewhere. The knock on effect is fewer hotel bookings, extravagant ceremonies and meals. Thai laws requiring the employment of four locals for every foreigner make this sort of business pretty much impossible for a foreigner to set up and run profitably.

You're confusing operating illegally and providing service in a certain language. Nothing is stopping them from opening and operating e legal wedding studio with chinese language services.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[olddoc]

There is no Western country which allows "illegals" to work! Many Westerners complain about "illegals" taking advantage in their countries of origin.

The Thai's have rules about working which may not be liked but there is a choice ignore the rules and risk arrest or abide by the rules.

Same in Western countries!

[NeilSA1]

My friend who is a magistrate often trots out that old saying - "two wrongs don't make a right", regardless of how unfair some things may look, a person may not work in Thailand without a work permit, that's it.

[unanimosity]

Good to see that the police is taking care of the real problems:

Farangs drink beer in Soi Nana during election day

Farangs drink beer on Valentine day in Pattaya

Farangs go drinking in Pattaya without Passport

is bad enough and the law should punish them without mercy.

But now they found even worse things:

Chinese made photos of Chinese couples marrying in Phuket!!!

One of the worst crimes......

Indeed, one of the worst. God forbid that anybody might introduce work ethic into the culture.

[oldsailor35]

Do something about the real issues, then less people would find less to complain about.

To me, a legal worker, illegal workers are a real issue.

But the Jet Ski scams are perfectly legal because only Thai operators.

[wvavin]

Oh dear, they have arrived in Thailand already after being clamped down by the Singapore & Malaysia authorities. So its the Thais turn to receive these problems. There are more to come in regards to the work permit issues with the Chinese nationals.

[moe666]

The killer was them being rude, bam complaint filed good on you BIB stop this crap before there are road signs in Chinese.

[AyG]

็Really? I thought the police only bothered to act when you paid them a little (or big) something under the table. This is a clear example of someone with a grudge.

It also underlines the Thai authorities shortsightedness. A Chinese couple coming here wants to deal with the arrangements in their own language, and with someone who understands their own standards, expectations and traditions. A Thai-only business simply won't be able to do that. The net effect is that Chinese couples will simply get wed elsewhere. The knock on effect is fewer hotel bookings, extravagant ceremonies and meals. Thai laws requiring the employment of four locals for every foreigner make this sort of business pretty much impossible for a foreigner to set up and run profitably.

You're confusing operating illegally and providing service in a certain language. Nothing is stopping them from opening and operating e legal wedding studio with chinese language services.

No, I'm not. The barriers against a foreigner operating a legal wedding studio or similar are ridiculously high. From memory, two million Baht registered capital required. Four Thai employees for every foreign employee.

How is one going to find four Thai employees who speak the required Chinese language fluently and are sensitive the the clients' needs to employ even one Chinese member of staff? (After all, arranging a wedding requires an enormous amount of cultural sensitivity - it's the couple's big day - the biggest day of their lives.)

I don't condone operating illegally, but I do condemn the powers-that-be's narrow-minded attitude to businesses that provide a service to foreign tourists that can't be provided by Thai people. It's very similar to the situation with tour guides. It's legally impossible to employ Korean, Japanese, Russian people to provide guide services, even though the number of Thai national tour guides fluent in these languages is very limited. When it comes to Basque, Georgian, Ainu, Swahili, Navajo, Welsh or Quechua, is there even a single tour guide in Thailand competent in any of these languages?

Edit: I forget to mention that any such company must be majority-owned by Thai people. If they're stooges, then one runs the risk that in the future the company may be ruled illegitimate and one loses all one's invested.

Edited February 23, 2014 by AyG

[Loles]

It was a "catch of the year" I guess, congratulation for phuket imm. team

A few years ago I have heard about a phuket expat old falang who just painted his fence and caught by phuket imm. team cause he had not work permit for it.

I don't know this is an urban legend or isn't but I can imagine very easily.

[stevenl]

็Really? I thought the police only bothered to act when you paid them a little (or big) something under the table. This is a clear example of someone with a grudge.

It also underlines the Thai authorities shortsightedness. A Chinese couple coming here wants to deal with the arrangements in their own language, and with someone who understands their own standards, expectations and traditions. A Thai-only business simply won't be able to do that. The net effect is that Chinese couples will simply get wed elsewhere. The knock on effect is fewer hotel bookings, extravagant ceremonies and meals. Thai laws requiring the employment of four locals for every foreigner make this sort of business pretty much impossible for a foreigner to set up and run profitably.

You're confusing operating illegally and providing service in a certain language. Nothing is stopping them from opening and operating e legal wedding studio with chinese language services.

No, I'm not. The barriers against a foreigner operating a legal wedding studio or similar are ridiculously high. From memory, two million Baht registered capital required. Four Thai employees for every foreign employee.

How is one going to find four Thai employees who speak the required Chinese language fluently and are sensitive the the clients' needs to employ even one Chinese member of staff? (After all, arranging a wedding requires an enormous amount of cultural sensitivity - it's the couple's big day - the biggest day of their lives.)

I don't condone operating illegally, but I do condemn the powers-that-be's narrow-minded attitude to businesses that provide a service to foreign tourists that can't be provided by Thai people. It's very similar to the situation with tour guides. It's legally impossible to employ Korean, Japanese, Russian people to provide guide services, even though the number of Thai national tour guides fluent in these languages is very limited. When it comes to Basque, Georgian, Ainu, Swahili, Navajo, Welsh or Quechua, is there even a single tour guide in Thailand competent in any of these languages?

Edit: I forget to mention that any such company must be majority-owned by Thai people. If they're stooges, then one runs the risk that in the future the company may be ruled illegitimate and one loses all one's invested.

Many others manage for similar services, so they should as well. It realy is not that hard.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thai at Heart]

When there is a complaint made, the police are obliged to act.

็Really? I thought the police only bothered to act when you paid them a little (or big) something under the table. This is a clear example of someone with a grudge.

It also underlines the Thai authorities shortsightedness. A Chinese couple coming here wants to deal with the arrangements in their own language, and with someone who understands their own standards, expectations and traditions. A Thai-only business simply won't be able to do that. The net effect is that Chinese couples will simply get wed elsewhere. The knock on effect is fewer hotel bookings, extravagant ceremonies and meals. Thai laws requiring the employment of four locals for every foreigner make this sort of business pretty much impossible for a foreigner to set up and run profitably.

You're confusing operating illegally and providing service in a certain language. Nothing is stopping them from opening and operating e legal wedding studio with chinese language services.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually photography is a business that is categorised off limits to foreigners. As is hairdressing.

So, no, a chinese person cannot get a work permit as a professional photographer.

[Suradit69]

I say hang 'em high in public and let them twist in the wind for a few days to show what doing something illegal such as jet ski scams, taxi scams, bar girl drink scams, tea money, bribes, taking pictures will get you.

Right! They have done on of the most evil things people can imagine.

So unless something is really, really bad they shouldn't be arrested for breaking the law?

Until all the murderers have been arrested, thieves shouldn't be arrested. Until all the thieves are arrested, all foreigners who are in Thailand illegally should be given a free pass. Unless all jet ski renters are complying with the law, then no one else should be stopped from breaking the law?

Some of you really sound like little children whining about their parents being unfair. No one said these guys won the prize for evil. They broke the law. The only ones making a big deal of it are the usual TV authorities on police procedure ... i.e., the clueless brigade.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Suradit69

[CMfoodie]

Since when have Chinese been called Expats? Another misleading headline!

[BudRight]

Do nothing, people complain, do something, people complain.

In short: people will always find a reason to complain.

They're not the usually the same people, or the same something.

[stevenl]

Since when have Chinese been called Expats? Another misleading headline!

And why would a chinese living abroad not be called an expat?

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NomadJoe]

To me, a legal worker, illegal workers are a real issue.

real, yes....but minor in compare to all the other problems the police could take care off, but does not.

You are forgetting that this happened because a complaint was made. When there is a complaint made, the police are obliged to act. It's not like they went out looking for Chinese photographers without WP's.

Yes complaint from another photo studio owned by Thais.

But it is ok for Thais to have 2 pet shops next to each other, 25 sewing machines all in a row, 3 shoe repair shops together, 4 barbers within 100 metres in the same street. But 2 photo studios . no way ......

A pointless comment. All those things you mentioned are not illegal.

[NomadJoe]

When there is a complaint made, the police are obliged to act.

็Really? I thought the police only bothered to act when you paid them a little (or big) something under the table. This is a clear example of someone with a grudge.

It also underlines the Thai authorities shortsightedness. A Chinese couple coming here wants to deal with the arrangements in their own language, and with someone who understands their own standards, expectations and traditions. A Thai-only business simply won't be able to do that. The net effect is that Chinese couples will simply get wed elsewhere. The knock on effect is fewer hotel bookings, extravagant ceremonies and meals. Thai laws requiring the employment of four locals for every foreigner make this sort of business pretty much impossible for a foreigner to set up and run profitably.

You're confusing operating illegally and providing service in a certain language. Nothing is stopping them from opening and operating e legal wedding studio with chinese language services.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually photography is a business that is categorised off limits to foreigners. As is hairdressing.

So, no, a chinese person cannot get a work permit as a professional photographer.

Source please. It's not on any list I have ever seen. There are a number of foreign photographers working openly in Thailand, presumably legally.

[NomadJoe]

Since when have Chinese been called Expats? Another misleading headline!

And why would a chinese living abroad not be called an expat?

I was wondering that too.

An expatriate (sometimes shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of the person's upbringing. The word comes from the Latin terms ex ("out of") and patria ("country, fatherland").

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expatriate

[stevenl]

็Really? I thought the police only bothered to act when you paid them a little (or big) something under the table. This is a clear example of someone with a grudge.

It also underlines the Thai authorities shortsightedness. A Chinese couple coming here wants to deal with the arrangements in their own language, and with someone who understands their own standards, expectations and traditions. A Thai-only business simply won't be able to do that. The net effect is that Chinese couples will simply get wed elsewhere. The knock on effect is fewer hotel bookings, extravagant ceremonies and meals. Thai laws requiring the employment of four locals for every foreigner make this sort of business pretty much impossible for a foreigner to set up and run profitably.

You're confusing operating illegally and providing service in a certain language. Nothing is stopping them from opening and operating e legal wedding studio with chinese language services.

Sent from my D90W using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually photography is a business that is categorised off limits to foreigners. As is hairdressing.

So, no, a chinese person cannot get a work permit as a professional photographer.

Source please. It's not on any list I have ever seen. There are a number of foreign photographers working openly in Thailand, presumably legally.

It is not Joe.

But there really is no point in any discussion with people who come up with blatant lies to prove their point.

[NamKangMan]

Don't quote me on this, but I think you need a press visa, or work permit, as a foreigner filming and photographing in Thailand, for financial gain.

Obviously, that's National incidents in Thailand to be in the foreign press, or promotional photographs for magazines etc - not weddings.

So, whilst wedding photographers are professional, because they receive payment, they may be able to get a work permit for this profession as well.

I have not seen it on the occupations for Thai's only list, however, that list does say "manual labour" which can be very broadly interpreted.

Below are the occupations a foreigner is not allowed to work in.

The 39 occupations and professions prohibited to foreigners

1. Manual Labor
2. Rice farming, animal husbandry, forestry and fishery, except supervisory or specialist work
3. Bricklaying, carpentry, or other forms of construction
4. Wood carving
5. Driving motor vehicles or non-motorized vehicles except for piloting international aircraft
6. Shop-front selling
7. Auctioneering
8. Controlling, auditing and accounting services, except occasional internal auditing
9. Gem cutting and polishing

10. Hair cutting, hair dressing and beautician work

11. Manual cloth weaving

12. Mat weaving or making of wares from reed, rattan, kenaf, straw or bamboo pulp

13. Manual rice-paper making

14. Lacquerware making

15. Thai musical instrument making

16. Nielloware making

17. Making of gold, silver and other metallic ornaments

18. Stone inlay wares making

19. Thai traditional doll making

20. Mattress and blanket making

21. Alms bowl making

22. Manual silk product making

23. Buddha image casting

24. Knife making

25. Paper and cloth umbrella making

26. Shoe making

27. Hat making

28. Brokerage or agency work, except work connected with international trade

29. Assessment, system planning, research planning, testing, and supervisory and advisory work in connection with construction and civil engineering, except work requiring specialized skills

30. Designing and preparing drawings of buildings and architectural structures including consultation, cost estimation and construction supervision of the designs.

31. Tailoring

32. Pottery or ceramics

33. Manual cigarette rolling

34. Tour guiding and tour promoting

35. Hawking of goods

36. Thai character type-setting

37. Manual silk reeling and weaving

38. Clerical or secretarial work

39. Legal service and litigation

[sydneyjed]

No work permits eh?All they had to do was play dumb and then cop the standard 5000baht fine and then allowed to stay...I don't know some people are in the wrong job!

[Old Croc]

In retrospect, we came across this group once near the boat ramp at the south end of Rawai.

We were parked taking in the view and a few pics of the fishing boats, when a minivan pulled up immediately in front of us. A wedding party and photographer alighted and milled around right next to our window. We took the hint and moved away.

We discussed at the time that it was a bit rude the way they just took over our space, instead of asking.

They were Chinese.