a new trend in Koh Chang

[Asiantravel]

I notice a new trend in Koh Chang being the trend by the smaller resorts on the island to employ almost all Cambodians as their support staff because of the cost advantage.

Are employers generally happy with the performance and more importantly, the attitude of the Cambodian workers towards foreign guests compared to Thai employees in the hospitality industry?

[Mooner]

Not just Ko Chang. Cambodians in the Eastern seaboard and Burmese down south.

[mrtoad]

There are good and bad Cambodian workers, employers still have the usual problems that they would have with Thai employees. I have a few Cambodian staff, all who have worked with me for 2-3 years,but they are a small percentage of the rest of our work force.

[craigt3365]

It's been this way for years. They are generally paid very little and work very long hours. Not sure how hard they actually work...but rarely get time off.

[Asiantravel]

The reason I asked this question is I had a bad experience with 2 or 3 of them at a place I have returned to regularly since 2007. The owners have never had such a high number of Cambodian workers there before now. They certainly don't have the same deference and courtesy that one is used to with Thai people in the hospitality industry.

While 95% of the staff were good, 2 or 3 had a shockingly bad attitude. The owner is based in Bangkok so obviously is unaware of their behaviour.

After seven years of going there I won't be going back

[mrtoad]

The reason I asked this question is I had a bad experience with 2 or 3 of them at a place I have returned to regularly since 2007. The owners have never had such a high number of Cambodian workers there before now. They certainly don't have the same deference and courtesy that one is used to with Thai people in the hospitality industry.

While 95% of the staff were good, 2 or 3 had a shockingly bad attitude. The owner is based in Bangkok so obviously is unaware of their behaviour.

After seven years of going there I won't be going back

That's sad to hear. Interesting that you say this, but a few people that have lived and worked on the island for many years, double figures , have said the last couple of years that the new arrivals often have a poor attitude. A few places I go to for food have Cambodian waiting staff, but they are fine and some have been here for a fair few years. We pay our staff irrespective of nationality the same, and they get the same benefits, not sure if that is the case with other places. Had no issues with our Cambodian staff.

[Asiantravel]

The reason I asked this question is I had a bad experience with 2 or 3 of them at a place I have returned to regularly since 2007. The owners have never had such a high number of Cambodian workers there before now. They certainly don't have the same deference and courtesy that one is used to with Thai people in the hospitality industry.

While 95% of the staff were good, 2 or 3 had a shockingly bad attitude. The owner is based in Bangkok so obviously is unaware of their behaviour.

After seven years of going there I won't be going back

That's sad to hear. Interesting that you say this, but a few people that have lived and worked on the island for many years, double figures , have said the last couple of years that the new arrivals often have a poor attitude. A few places I go to for food have Cambodian waiting staff, but they are fine and some have been here for a fair few years. We pay our staff irrespective of nationality the same, and they get the same benefits, not sure if that is the case with other places. Had no issues with our Cambodian staff.

You know I've been all over Cambodia and I often used to come back praising the young workers in hotels and places I stayed in Cambodia because of their diligence and eagerness to learn English.

But the people I referred to in KC were nothing like that. They have a really strange attitude and almost remind me of a Cambodian version of Basil Fawlty. It's as if the guest is a nuisance and an irritation to them.

[mrtoad]

One of the places I like to go to eat which is also a beach resort, has virtually all Cambodian staff. The food is actually very good, and the staff are actually very pleasant, although most are Cambodian. The service though is awful, not in the attitude, just the sheer incompetence, which actually is quite funny if you are used to it. If not then, you'd probably never go there again.

One place where the service is excellent is Nong Bua Seafood in Whitesands, and that is a really busy place, but the service and food is excellent. They have just opened a new place in the Khlong Phrao / Chai Chet area which I will check out this weekend.

It's a hard life

[Costas2008]

One of the places I like to go to eat which is also a beach resort, has virtually all Cambodian staff. The food is actually very good, and the staff are actually very pleasant, although most are Cambodian. The service though is awful, not in the attitude, just the sheer incompetence, which actually is quite funny if you are used to it. If not then, you'd probably never go there again.

One place where the service is excellent is Nong Bua Seafood in Whitesands, and that is a really busy place, but the service and food is excellent. They have just opened a new place in the Khlong Phrao / Chai Chet area which I will check out this weekend.

It's a hard life

Don't overdo it MrToad......take it easy........you never know what can happen in your age.....................

And too much paella can give you diarrhoea.......be careful

[mrtoad]

Well yes maybe some Paella tomorrow, but it's French cuisine next week Costas with a little trip down the seaboard to visit some established board members.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Chao Lao is now Cambo staffed in the hotels.

[Bluetongue]

It would mostly be a case of paying them less money, not sure what the legal requirements are but up here close to the border we have to take them to Ban Laem once a week for a new stamp, my observation is that they will not work without supervision unless they are on piece rates, then they work like you wouldn't believe.