I was looking at the list off "Occupations and Professions Prohibited To Aliens" in the TV Visa section and my GF asked an interesting question.

"Do you think the law will change when Thailand becomes part of ASEAN? Because there will be Malaysians and Filipinos etc wanting to bring business into Thailand and wanting to employ their own people."

I thought it was a good question.

Thoughts on that people?

Then I thought.....if there is a law change, it would probably only apply to ASEAN citizens.

Then I thought..... If ASEAN citizens (citizens of ASEAN member countries, before the pedants pull me up) will get easier visas and work permits, will that be a back door into long stays in Thailand? For example, it is easier for me to get Malaysian visa etc as my country has reciprocal agreement with Malaysia.

Thoughts on that, people?

Edited March 27, 201412 yr by Seastallion

My thoughts are this. At the last min TH will try to pull a fast one and insert a bunch of conditions to ensure as little competition as possible occurs.

As a Thai passport holder all this ASEAN 2015 thing means to me is there will be shiny lines at airports for ASEAN citizens. But we will still get the same crappy visa conditions and no benefits above and beyond any other non ASEAN national.

If you become a CITIZEN of an ASEAN nation yes, otherwise probably even residency won't change anything, and certainly not lesser visa/stay status.

Note that the "community" provisions are currently proposed only for certain licensed professions, and of course these will override any older local laws in conflict, that's the whole point of the treaty arrangement.

Any ASEAN-owned foreign businesses wanting to employ people in Thailand will be hiring Thais and fellow ASEAN nationals as the law allows, will definitely NOT make things easier for farang looking for work, in fact I think will act as a further/continuing downward drag on wages offered us honkeys.

The long-term trend globally will for wages and conditions to equalize over time, and of course those of us from earlier-developed are on the wrong side of that particular trend.

Only counterbalance to it is to be entrepreneurial, flexible and constantly re-train so you have multiple up-to-date in-demand skillsets. Gone are the days when you could just learn a single trade and just perform that job expecting to get secure employment at a decent wage.

There are of course exceptions, but those are the long-term trends.

If you become a CITIZEN of an ASEAN nation yes, otherwise probably even residency won't change anything, and certainly not lesser visa/stay status.

Note that the "community" provisions are currently proposed only for certain licensed professions, and of course these will override any older local laws in conflict, that's the whole point of the treaty arrangement.

Any ASEAN-owned foreign businesses wanting to employ people in Thailand will be hiring Thais and fellow ASEAN nationals as the law allows, will definitely NOT make things easier for farang looking for work, in fact I think will act as a further/continuing downward drag on wages offered us honkeys.

The long-term trend globally will for wages and conditions to equalize over time, and of course those of us from earlier-developed are on the wrong side of that particular trend.

Only counterbalance to it is to be entrepreneurial, flexible and constantly re-train so you have multiple up-to-date in-demand skillsets. Gone are the days when you could just learn a single trade and just perform that job expecting to get secure employment at a decent wage.

There are of course exceptions, but those are the long-term trends.

Do you know what visa excemptions Malay citizens have currently? It's possible that Malaysian residents would get the same, just like Australia and NZ have reciprocal rights (mainly)

No idea, but doubt that Malaysia and Thailand are nearly as cozy as ANZ. . .

I think when Thailand is faced with better educated, motivated workers from other ASEAN countries taking jobs of the mai pen rai work force they have now, they will find a way out of ASEAN as soon as they can.

They have really done nothing t prepare their work force to compete for the better jobs.

As usual, they will protect their own by blocking the more qualified from employment.

Just saying...

Sea. I have been working in Malaysia for the last 6ish years. Have a residence and work permit there. I have used it in Thailand but it does not seem to work the same as you or I would think. Just because one Asean country accepts me the next one does not allow me the benefits of the Asean Pact.

I think when Thailand is faced with better educated, motivated workers from other ASEAN countries taking jobs of the mai pen rai work force they have now, they will find a way out of ASEAN as soon as they can.

They have really done nothing t prepare their work force to compete for the better jobs.

As usual, they will protect their own by blocking the more qualified from employment.

Just saying...

I take it you have never worked with some members from the other Asean countries? Google the list of the laziest countries in the work and see who pops up. Thailand is not even close be being mai pen rai. Waking people up in some places is a full time job.

Where can i find that list of Occupations and Professions Prohibited To Aliens?

How can those Russian companygirls work in Thailand legally? Or in Phuket the Nepalese streetsellers?

How come there's so many farangs selling dead-sea salt cosmetics in every mall here, when my work permit is stamped "not allowed to work in retail outlets"?

Lots of foreigners of all types working illegally here. If their employer is well connected to dangerous mafia types like the police - then no problem, just a matter of sharing the profits.

If a farang tries the same - as an entrepreneur - they'll either get shut down or be forced to "share" so much there are no more profits?

As an employee with a powerful boss, not such a problem, but then you've got to worry about the boss.

Better to just follow the law and avoid getting entangled with such vipers.

Where can i find that list of Occupations and Professions Prohibited To Aliens?

In the Thaivisa section - http://www.thaivisa.com/330-0.html