Union wants Thai Labour Ministry to keep out foreign helicopter pilots

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LABOUR UNION
Union wants Labour Ministry to keep out foreign helicopter pilots
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


Saran

BANGKOK: -- The Helicopter Pilot Labour Union is seeking help from the Labour Ministry to revise the Alien Working Act to preserve jobs for locals.

"The [Civil Aviation] department has revised some conditions and allowed foreign pilots to work in Thailand, which violates the regulation that reserves such work for locals. This has caused many local pilots to lose their jobs," Saran Siripoonphol, president of the union, said yesterday.

The union has scheduled a meeting with labour officials next month to demand that the ministry revise some conditions for work permits for foreigners that were endorsed last year by the department under the Transport Ministry.

The Civil Aviation Department allowed foreign pilots and co-pilots to work in four reserved jobs - offshore, mostly for oil platforms; sightseeing; balloons and parachutes; and executive travel.

About 50-70 foreign helicopter pilots are working in Thailand, or 30 per cent of the total. The government granted the privilege for foreign pilots to work in Thailand as part of its promotion of the aviation industry, while there was a pilot shortage years ago.

The union fears that more foreigners will come to steal its members' jobs.

In Malaysia, the government is moving against foreign pilots working in the same business, while Brazil is now hiring 100 per cent local pilots.

Many operators in Thailand prefer to hire foreign pilots because they do not want to spend Bt5 billion on two years of training to produce one pilot.

"Foreign captains usually earn double or about Bt400,000 per month compared with Bt200,000 for locals. However, operators like to use foreigners maybe because of the company's image and also the pilots' expertise," Saran said.

According to the union, nine companies are operating in the helicopter business in Thailand - Thai Aviation Service, SFS, United Off-Shore, Air Advance, Bangkok Helicopter, Siam Land, Sri Chang Flying, Minibae and Helilux. More than half of the flight-deck crew at some companies are from abroad, mostly the United States, Canada, Japan, India and the Philippines.

The union was established four years ago and now has about 30 members out of the 150 helicopter pilots in the country.

In July, the union filed a complaint to the National Council for Peace and Order, then to the Transport Ministry, on this predicament, but neither inquiry has made any progress.

The next target is the Labour Ministry.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Union-wants-Labour-Ministry-to-keep-out-foreign-he-30248544.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-26

[chooka]

2.5 billion a year to train one pilot in Thailand?

Oh well ban foreigners then other countries ban all Thais then listened to the cries from Thais about racism and discrimination.

[KhunMoo]

Ehh....The Thai pilots keep falling out of the sky, maybe some training would be good? Or "Mai Pen Rai.....?"

Edited November 25, 2014 by KhunMoo

[uel1968]

Of course they would rather use foreign pilots,especially because of their expertise,looking at the standards of the driving on Thai roads,OMG,yes please keep them out of the air.

[Thailand]

That will work with ASEAN 2015 just around the corner.

[uel1968]

2.5 billion a year to train one pilot in Thailand?

Oh well ban foreigners then other countries ban all Thais then listened to the cries from Thais about racism and discrimination.

Cries of Thais about racism or discrimination,hmmm,i just hate it when the farang is charged more to enter a national park or zoo,who is being racist or discriminating here?Welcome all you Thais to the western world attractions with especially hiked prices for you,i guess there would be an outcry,tough s..t,what goes round,comes round,only thing is,the western world wouldn't lower itself to charge the foreigner more than the locals,but Thailand,mmm,inexplicable bunch.

[ramrod711]

"Foreign captains usually earn double or about Bt400,000 per month compared with Bt200,000 for locals. However, operators like to use foreigners maybe because of the company's image and also the pilots' expertise," Saran said.

Companies are willing to pay double for foreign pilots expertise, shocking! I suppose the purchase, maintenance and insurance costs of helicopters might have something to do with wanting an expert pilot.

[NongKhaiKid]

Protectsionism everywhere, Thailand is really well set for integration into the AEC.

Of course maybe they be eve that their membership means they can set the rules being as important as they are.

[shirtless]

Let them have their protectionist ideals , just make sure western countries reciprocate them,

[dieter1]

to summ it up:

a "union" with "about 30 members " !!!!!!!

"the union fears that more foreigners will come to steal its members' jobs."

meaning actually no Thai pilot null/zero is unemployed now , right? (or 1,2,3)

"The union fears that more foreigners will come to steal its members' jobs."

ok - the union fears- kind of a feeling, nothing realy happening but they "fears"

"50-70 foreign helicopter pilots are working in Thailand"

meaning, without these pilots,the industry could not hire enough pilots!

they pay double for these foreign pilots ? why are they doing it?

"mostly the United States, Canada, Japan..."

ok, they seem to need these pilots urgently and have to pay them more to get them

enough said.....

Edited November 26, 2014 by dieter1

[chainarong]

Yet you seem to think along with Korea , Malaysia, Indonesia , Taiwan and China that it is okay to come down to Australia and take our jobs when we already have massive unemployment but when it is on your turf you cry like a baby , another slant on a subject of interest, from another country, who is pissed off by foreign labour allowed to take Aussie jobs.

[Squeegee]

It sure would be nice on an emotional level if foreign countries reciprocated many things, but ultimately someone has to show some decency. What goes on in Thailand only affects us who are here, outside the borders this country is merely a few fake pictures in a travel brochure.

Or

Maybe the Thais can reciprocate a few things they have to put up with from our countries. Then we'll really see what a border crackdown looks like, amongst countless other things.

Careful what you wish for folks.

[dieter1]

and not to forget:

a clever (!) governement would be happy to have these very skilled pilots ! In my home country, we have millions of unemployed, unskilled moslem goat herders, and we have to pay billions of Euros to feed them. Could we please barter them? Cheap offer: one pilot for 1 million moslem.

[LuckyLew]

5 Billion to train one pilot over 2 years

5 billion divided by 400 000 monthly salary

Means it would take 12 500 months of salary to train one pilot

Pretty obvious why the are bringing in foreign pilots

If they do not like it ... get your daddy to pay for the training

[daveAustin]

I think they mean 5 million. Billion would make it $166M lol.

But the Thais are always complaining about someone taking something from them. This country should be thankful that this expertise has come in to help them in areas where they previously could not cope. Look at all the know-how that is needed to pull their oil & gas out the ground. It'd still be there without foreign input! Most trades are already cut-off to foreigners here; will they be happy when foreigners are barred from working, period!? And there is always NO consideration to the work Thais are permitted to do elsewhere. It is all 'I want my cake and to eat it' with this place. Makes me puke!

[baboon]

Ehh....The Thai pilots keep falling out of the sky, maybe some training would be good? Or "Mai Pen Rai.....?"

I dunno... Is it the pilots or the coffins they are flying in? I certainly wouldn't set foot in a helicopter in this country...

[ezzra]

Yeap. they want to fall out of the sky reserved for Thai pilots only... go for it guys..

[Lupatria]

But we want to join ASEAN so we can fly in high wages countries like Singapore...

[Tuk Dua]

Ehh....The Thai pilots keep falling out of the sky, maybe some training would be good? Or "Mai Pen Rai.....?"

I dunno... Is it the pilots or the coffins they are flying in? I certainly wouldn't set foot in a helicopter in this country...

You obviously don't know the offshore helicopter industry or companies in Thailand. Their aircraft are mostly under 5 years old, and they are very well maintained (as proven by independent audits). Their pilots, both Thai and foreign, are well trained, with current licences, and show all the skills required in safely operating to and from offshore helidecks, both static and mobile.

Yes foreign pilots are employed, the majority, I believe, in the offshore industry, but only due to shortages of experianced Thai pilots in that sector.

No transport to the rigs, no gas, the lights go out !!

[Katipo]

""Foreign captains usually earn double or about Bt400,000 per month compared with Bt200,000 for locals. However, operators like to use foreigners maybe because of the company's image and also the pilots' expertise," Saran said."

I would say that last point is kind of important when you are flapping about 1,000m+ above the ground in single engined wingless aircraft.

[craigt3365]

My friend is a helicopter pilot here. He paid for his training himself. Out of his own pocket.

[Loles]

So, they are missing more accident ....

[pedro01]

" However, operators like to use foreigners maybe because of the company's image and also the pilots' expertise,"

Yes - we should not allow people to employ better pilots...

[Just1Voice]

Heaven forbid that a foreigner get's paid more because he's a better pilot!

Don't these people know that Thai pilots are the best in the world???

Edited November 26, 2014 by Just1Voice

[nolabuff]

"In Malaysia, the government is moving against foreign pilots working in the same business"

I don't think anyone should be following the lead of Malaysia on the aviation industry at the moment.

[bangon04]

" However, operators like to use foreigners maybe because of the company's image and also the pilots' expertise,"

Yes - we should not allow people to employ better pilots...

" and the Philippines" must be scraping the barrel if a pilot qualification from the Philippines is still worth extra pay.....

[Sydebolle]

AEC 2015 around the corner and these idiots make themselves look like complete retards. The best person for the job and, to the best of my very limited knowledge, not a single non-Thai pilot ditched a helicopter so far.
Somsak is perfect for Somtam and Ramwong; the Swiss have also not started growing mangoes or orchids - for the very same reason

[Suffinator]

More protectionism from those who fear competition due to the lack of their own skills.

[arithai12]

I would understand and justify protectionism if the Thai pilots were losing their jobs

due to foreigners with similar qualifications who accepted to be paid half.

But if a company is willing to pay double salary, there must be excellent reasons.

[maidee]

"do not want to spend Bt5 billion on two years of training to produce one pilot"

is that the problem of THAI airways, that they spend 5 billion for just one pilot ?????