250 Thais deceived into overseas work

[webfact]

250 Thais deceived into overseas work

BANGKOK, 7 August 2014 (NNT)- The Director General of the Department of Employment has revealed that more than 250 workers were induced to work overseas in July, as a result of false promises.

According to the survey, a total of 13,411 Thai citizens had applied to work overseas. A workforce of 5,585 had gone to Europe, 5,413 workers had gone to the Middle East while groups of 1,968 , 238 and 173 Thais have sought their fortunes in North America, Africa and Australia respectively, said the Department of Employment Director-General Sumet Mahosod.

During the month most Thai citizens were rejected from South Korea since they were likely to be involved in human trafficking and prostitution.

Most Thai workers are lured by lucrative incomes and alleged good fortune.

Thai workers are however, warned of propaganda offering work in the foreign labor market by undocumented recruitment agencies.

[nnt]2014-08-07[/nnt]

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm afraid that a big part of the problem here,  and in other Asian countries,  is that the authorities can issue as many warnings as they want but intending workers will ignore them as they want to believe the ' streets paved with gold ' pitch from recruiters.

[chooka]

A lot of these scams are being run by Thais who are feeding off their own.

[Bender]

yes like Chooka, said, most of the scammer, certainly 99.9% are thai themselves...

they should have titled this news : 250 thais deceived by 250 thai scammers

[Pimay1]

A lot of these scams are being run by Thais who are feeding off their own.

You're right chooka. I have lived in four villages in Esaan and it's the same in every village. Two or three smooth talking guys show up and have a big meeting with the poor souls they are getting ready to deceive. They quote outlandish prices for air tickets, visas and agency fees. It's always more than two hundred thousand Baht. They promise salaries of 40,000 Baht or more per month. And of course the locals are salivating and believing every word. Many of the locals hock their land and transfer the money to these guys never to be heard from again. I had intentions of attending one of the meetings and exposing these shysters until my current old gf at the time asked me how long I wanted to live. 

[SteveFong]

you would think the local leaders would be aware of these scams, and would prevent this from happening

 

a few lynchings would do it, as word spreads to the scammers bosses that, rather than find more victims, they can [pick up their smooth talking human trafficker off the tree outside the village

[cardinalblue]

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

[craigt3365]

 

A lot of these scams are being run by Thais who are feeding off their own.

You're right chooka. I have lived in four villages in Esaan and it's the same in every village. Two or three smooth talking guys show up and have a big meeting with the poor souls they are getting ready to deceive. They quote outlandish prices for air tickets, visas and agency fees. It's always more than two hundred thousand Baht. They promise salaries of 40,000 Baht or more per month. And of course the locals are salivating and believing every word. Many of the locals hock their land and transfer the money to these guys never to be heard from again. I had intentions of attending one of the meetings and exposing these shysters until my current old gf at the time asked me how long I wanted to live. 

 

 

Problem with prosecuting these firms is they are normally associated with an "influential" person, and if caught, they just close up shop and disappear.  I knew a Thai girl who's father was jailed for a year for being part of this.  He hosted these meetings in his area as he was a member of the local government.  When it all fell apart, the owners jumped ship and left him holding the bag.  He had no idea what was going to happen.  Horrible thing.  Ruined his life.

 

On the other hand, my wife has a cousin who's husband has been in Israel for almost 10 years.  Making very good money.  Sends a big chunk home every month.  Horrible way to live though....

[Franky Bear]

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

I have had more than a few Thais work for me in the oil patch in the Middle east. All of them were good at their jobs. Welders, Toolk makers and general hands. I'd take them over Indians any day of the week.

So, you're wrong in your assumption

[bushwacker]

250 deceived is only 1.86% of the total that went over.  That is not a big news story in my book.... must be a slow news day.

 

[Pimay1]

 

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

I have had more than a few Thais work for me in the oil patch in the Middle east. All of them were good at their jobs. Welders, Toolk makers and general hands. I'd take them over Indians any day of the week.

So, you're wrong in your assumption

 

Agree. I took a Thai to another country to operate a concrete batching plant. I couldn't ask for a better employee.  

[Pimay1]

250 deceived is only 1.86% of the total that went over.  That is not a big news story in my book.... must be a slow news day.

 

Considering the going rate for the scam is minimum two hundred thousand Baht, that would be 1.6 million USD scammed out of the 250 people. It's not the biggest news story of the day but in my book it deserves reporting. 

[Franky Bear]

 

 

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

I have had more than a few Thais work for me in the oil patch in the Middle east. All of them were good at their jobs. Welders, Toolk makers and general hands. I'd take them over Indians any day of the week.

So, you're wrong in your assumption

 

Agree. I took a Thai to another country to operate a concrete batching plant. I couldn't ask for a better employee.  

 

The Thais i worked with were on 56 on 28 off and i think they were on roughly 50,000 baht a month

[NongKhaiKid]

you would think the local leaders would be aware of these scams, and would prevent this from happening

 

a few lynchings would do it, as word spreads to the scammers bosses that, rather than find more victims, they can [pick up their smooth talking human trafficker off the tree outside the village

You are right but if the local leaders are given an ' incentive ' to allow and promote these meetings they couldn't care less about those they are supposed to represent.

[fisherd3]

you would think the local leaders would be aware of these scams, and would prevent this from happening
 
a few lynchings would do it, as word spreads to the scammers bosses that, rather than find more victims, they can [pick up their smooth talking human trafficker off the tree outside the village

Will be on commission.

[Just1Voice]

Woman in my moo ban had parents involved in these scams who got out of town just before the Thai authorities came knocking.  They went to the US, where they continued to operate, till the US authorities finally busted them, convicted, fined and jailed them.  A few year later the women applied for passport for her and two daughters to go to the US to visit husband, who was working legally, but a week or so before they were to leave, her visa was cancelled.  Seems she used her maiden name, not married name, and when they ran it, up popped her parents.  She was called to the Consulate here in Chiang Mai and questioned as to if she was related.  When she admitted they were her parents, her visa was cancelled on the spot.  Since then the husband divorced her, married another Thai woman with American citizenship, and had both daughters brought over to live with him. It's a shame, because the woman really is a nice person, with no criminal involvement, not to mention a very attractive 39 yr old woman. Parents in US prison, husband dumped her for another woman, and then took the kids. 

 

EDIT for typo

 

Edited August 7, 2014 by Just1Voice

[ezzra]

I'm shocked.. really? not really....

[Tomtomtom69]

 

 

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

I have had more than a few Thais work for me in the oil patch in the Middle east. All of them were good at their jobs. Welders, Toolk makers and general hands. I'd take them over Indians any day of the week.

So, you're wrong in your assumption

 

Agree. I took a Thai to another country to operate a concrete batching plant. I couldn't ask for a better employee.  

 

 

Maybe but why aren't there more of these agencies recruiting unemployed Europeans say (of course I am referring to recruiters based in Europe)? Thais have excellent job prospects at home with only 1% unemployment (though I suspect that's because the underground economy consisting of street food vendors, prostitutes etc. are counted as officially "employed" persons), whereas parts of Europe still have very high unemployment reaching up to 25%, especially for younger people. If I was an unemployed Greek or Spaniard, I too might be interested in a concrete batching job in Saudi Arabia and would be bitterly resentful of such a job going to a Thai, Indian or Bengali, just because they are cheaper to hire. Or maybe that's why? If it's all about employers paying lower wages, then people from low wage developing countries are easy prey.
 

Edited August 7, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[Soutpeel]

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

 

plenty of Thais working the oil patch world wide, welders, electrican's etc etc and they are making good money

 

I know a couple of Thai lads who work the international game, new car every two years, 6-7 million house with all the toys ( all paid for BTW)

 

But I will defer to your knowlege of all things Thai and your oneness with your Thainess, yes they have no skills..

 

Get out of Isaan mate, it might open your eyes...

 

 

 

 

[Tao Diver]

I met a nice girl in Pi Pi that I used to message. She mentioned she was off to Korea to work and has simply disappeared and doesn't return any messages now. Normally she is pretty quick. I hope she is OK. Nothing sexual just friends so would be happy if she had hooked up with a rich Farang.

[bangon04]

250 deceived is only 1.86% of the total that went over.  That is not a big news story in my book.... must be a slow news day.

 

Thailand has a very long way to go before it gets close to the Philippines in trafficking their workers overseas.

[belg]

sex sells... and is exported and some people make fortunes on it

 

isn't there a famous politician who was in the massage buisiness and got super rich ?

 

 

[Pimay1]

 

 

 

You should expose them and go out with a bang...Thais deceiving Thais...why would a westerner recruit a thai? They have no skills....

Unlike Mexicans...yes being recruited by Mexicans but the vineyard and farm owners are behind labor recruitment....

CB

I have had more than a few Thais work for me in the oil patch in the Middle east. All of them were good at their jobs. Welders, Toolk makers and general hands. I'd take them over Indians any day of the week.

So, you're wrong in your assumption

 

Agree. I took a Thai to another country to operate a concrete batching plant. I couldn't ask for a better employee.  

 

 

Maybe but why aren't there more of these agencies recruiting unemployed Europeans say (of course I am referring to recruiters based in Europe)? Thais have excellent job prospects at home with only 1% unemployment (though I suspect that's because the underground economy consisting of street food vendors, prostitutes etc. are counted as officially "employed" persons), whereas parts of Europe still have very high unemployment reaching up to 25%, especially for younger people. If I was an unemployed Greek or Spaniard, I too might be interested in a concrete batching job in Saudi Arabia and would be bitterly resentful of such a job going to a Thai, Indian or Bengali, just because they are cheaper to hire. Or maybe that's why? If it's all about employers paying lower wages, then people from low wage developing countries are easy prey.
 

 

Cheaper to hire, lower wages and easy prey were not a consideration to me. There was no agency involved. This man was a friend of mine and for one year had been operating the same Thai batching plant I sent to Afghanistan. I expect his wages were comparable to someone recruted from Europe. If an employer accepts a recruit based on the reasons you gave, they will probably only do it once.