Hi, can anyone help me out with my work permit dillema? I am from Myanmar. Worked in Thailand after I finished my degree in ABAC.

• I quit the job when nearly end of my 3month of work permit. I returned my WP to company.
• Since then I fly back and forth with tourist visa about 3 times and everytime i stay until the last day of my tourist visa (enjoying thialand/ looking for job).
• Now got another job offer but this company too cheat me again. But they will provide me Non-B Visa and get WP for me though. But I plan to stay only a few month.

I am very concerned that is there going to be any problem with WP or Immigration for me in the future or my next job?

You are responsible for returning your work permit to the labour office....

Worst case... Fine of 1000 Baht!

I did retrun the WP on the last day of my work for my first company. And I will do the same when i leave this new job too. So if I do so, there's no problem with changing job very often?

You are responsible for returning your work permit to the labour office....

Worst case... Fine of 1000 Baht!

That rule changed a long time ago, you no longer have to return a WP to the DOL

OP you have nothing to worry about

I did retrun the WP on the last day of my work for my first company. And I will do the same when i leave this new job too. So if I do so, there's no problem with changing job very often?

There shouldn't be a problem, but if you keep changing jobs, the DOL might start wondering what you are up to

You're starting a new job and are already planning on leaving in a month! Whose paying for the Non-B visa an work permit? Sounds to me like you are cheating the company, not the other way around! I really hope that you do have a big problem!

Unless the regulations are different for people from Myanmar, do not forget the work permit is the property of the company not the individual. I have had work permits in Thailand for 10 years and have only ever retained a copy. It is the duty of the employer to cancel the work permit, not the individual.

They work permit is yours. You can keep it.. It only has to be cancelled not returned.

The work permit is almost like a passport to work. It providing your details, place of work and job description. At no time should this be held on to by anyone else but yourself. If the BIB want to check it you need to have access to it at all times , not have it sitting in your place of works safe. I have met many people here who are working for an agency and the agency hold onto their workpermits and only gave them a photo-copy. I told them this was wrong as they are not all working in the same province as the agency is located. T.I.T.

You need to be able to show it while working. Not be able to show it at all times.

You're starting a new job and are already planning on leaving in a month! Whose paying for the Non-B visa an work permit? Sounds to me like you are cheating the company, not the other way around! I really hope that you do have a big problem!

Really? I don't see it that way. People are free to accept and leave jobs as they please. Just like employers are free to hire and fire as they please.

in my defense I am just the victim here. The first company cheated me many times! They have changed the commission scheme after I signed the contract. I sign up for that job because of high commission! & found out only later that they do not have WP quota that I have to move to Myanmar office for 9 months. Many things happened along the way but I stay committed, finally get my WP and back in office. It was only until another cheating happen. I gave them one month notice and quit. Returned my WP on my last day of work. I paid for Non-B visa and WP fees is on Company. If I am not wrong every company has to pay for WP, not employee. Now this new company as well not very sincere. I don’t want to go detail here but even if I take the job, high chance I will not to stay long there. But wonder if it might be a problem for me in the future with WP. I am seriously considering not to take the job. I don’t want to risk my future.

in my defense I am just the victim here. The first company cheated me many times! They have changed the commission scheme after I signed the contract. I sign up for that job because of high commission! & found out only later that they do not have WP quota that I have to move to Myanmar office for 9 months. Many things happened along the way but I stay committed, finally get my WP and back in office. It was only until another cheating happen. I gave them one month notice and quit. Returned my WP on my last day of work. I paid for Non-B visa and WP fees is on Company. If I am not wrong every company has to pay for WP, not employee. Now this new company as well not very sincere. I don’t want to go detail here but even if I take the job, high chance I will not to stay long there. But wonder if it might be a problem for me in the future with WP. I am seriously considering not to take the job. I don’t want to risk my future.

First off, I don't think you have to defend your decisions to anyone. It is your life and your employment. As employees, we are free to leave a company when we choose. We are not indentured servants.

However, I don't think a company has to pay for work permit fees. Even if they do, there are numerous ways they can shift the cost to you anyway. Reduced pay for a 3 month probationary period is most common and often used by employers to subsidize visa and WP costs.

Lastly, if the new company seems shady and you are already thinking of leaving before you have even begun work.......you should probably look for a different job. Sounds like you think so too.

Edited August 21, 201411 yr by inbangkok

However, I don't think a company has to pay for work permit fees. Even if they do, there are numerous ways they can shift the cost to you anyway. Reduced pay for a 3 month probationary period is most common and often used by employers to subsidize visa and WP costs.

They dont, but a reputable company will pay for it without question, and not shift the cost onto the employee

First off, I don't think you have to defend your decisions to anyone. It is your life and your employment. As employees, we are free to leave a company when we choose. We are not indentured servants.

I agree.

However, I don't think a company has to pay for work permit fees. Even if they do, there are numerous ways they can shift the cost to you anyway. Reduced pay for a 3 month probationary period is most common and often used by employers to subsidize visa and WP costs.

I think they have to, and the reason is that with an issued work permit one can work for them only. Part of their recruiting and payroll costs. It would be different if a work permit was generic and allowed people to change jobs.

The responsibility of who pays for the work permit and Visa and the length and reduced salary during any probationary period should be clearly defined in the employment contract which is a legally binging document.! If they are not, any opinions here are just that, opinions, and are worthless.

If you feel that the new company is lying to you then find another job. If you do accept employment with the intention of leaving soon after you start then you are the same as your old company and are cheating them no mater who agrees to pay for the documents as you obviously signed the contract.

A lot of things on my mind. I don’t want to be a job hopper but for some personal reasons I need to get a job asap. & when I got this job offer I was so delighted. But then I found out there’s a foul play. Part of me still want to take the job and see how this is going. And part of me just don’t want to take any risk, especially when I can see they are not true to me since the very start. It’s not like I plan to stay for only short awhile. But I really have no idea at this point of time. That’s why I think for the worst case and ask for suggestion here. To save the trouble, i should probably look for a different job.

A lot of things on my mind. I don’t want to be a job hopper but for some personal reasons I need to get a job asap. & when I got this job offer I was so delighted. But then I found out there’s a foul play. Part of me still want to take the job and see how this is going. And part of me just don’t want to take any risk, especially when I can see they are not true to me since the very start. It’s not like I plan to stay for only short awhile. But I really have no idea at this point of time. That’s why I think for the worst case and ask for suggestion here. To save the trouble, i should probably look for a different job.

As others have said, how many jobs you will take or change is of no importance for future employment.

I think you should only do what serves you best. Good luck.