17 foreign ‘English teachers’ arrested in Chiang Mai for working illegally

[jspill]

What seems ludicrous to me is that the thai-owned business derived its income from chinese nationals in China, some of which was paid to english speaking farang in wages, to be spent here.

The salaries were low enough that any thai who could speak english well enough to teach it, would not sit behind a computer in an office, to earn such small money. So they were not 'stealing' thai jobs. I believe there were also plans to set up a residential school here for Chinese to stay for 3 months studying, bringing in more cash from China.

It seems to me that if 'the rules' are thoughtlessly applied without looking at the bigger picture, the increasing number of businesses that choose Vietnam instead, as it is business- friendly, will grow apace.

Thailand's major export markets of rice and sugar are both depressed and Government keeps revising down this year's economic growth number-which is probably still an over-estimate.

Time to start joining up the dots.....

And now China has just agreed a US$45billion deal with Pakistan that will see road and rail links through to the Indian Ocean. Seems a roundabout kind of route but the Chinese are far smarter than I am, and presumably some trade that could have come via Thailand, will be lost.

Not sure if we have an effective 'Department for Economic Development' here- if not, we need one. If yes, they need to step up to the plate.....

Hmm it's quite well paid by Thai standards, $20-$30/hr, lots of these jobs advertised on Craigslist. http://cafetalk.com/ is a big one, with students / teachers based in every continent

Agreed they aren't stealing Thai jobs though, as Asians would insist on being taught by a white skinned native speaker, if they're paying for their child to be privately tutored, even if a fluent English speaking Thai was available.

And agreed with the rest of the post

[akampa]

It's idiots like these that give other foreigners who are working here legally with a permit a bad name.

'TVGerry'...... How exactly are they giving foreigners, with a WP a bad name....... How?.......

ye how come on how ?

Edited April 23, 2015 by akampa

[aaacorp]

It's idiots like these that give other foreigners who are working here legally with a permit a bad name.

'TVGerry'...... How exactly are they giving foreigners, with a WP a bad name....... How?.......

ye how come on how ?

Yes please TVGerry, enlight us :

you mean the ones working legally under illegal nominees companies?

The ones who are paid the minimum wages then everything above paid in cash under the counter?

Please tell us more

[The manic]

So they were teaching online courses to people in China.....no one in China able to do this?

A better question would be...why aren't they living in China and teaching English there? A bit odd to be teaching foreigners (Chinese) from a third country (Thailand).

First time I've heard of this.

It's the world wide tinternet. You can teach anybody from anywhere at anytime

It started more then 15 years ago. In China radio and TV have been used to teach 25 million people simultaneously in the old days.its called distance learning.

[Tomtomtom69]

So they were teaching online courses to people in China.....no one in China able to do this?

A better question would be...why aren't they living in China and teaching English there? A bit odd to be teaching foreigners (Chinese) from a third country (Thailand).

First time I've heard of this.

It's the world wide tinternet. You can teach anybody from anywhere at anytime

It started more then 15 years ago. In China radio and TV have been used to teach 25 million people simultaneously in the old days.its called distance learning.

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

[rwdrwdrwd]

Doesn't seem odd to me in the slightest, given that the job can technically be done from anywhere in the world via the internet, why would it be beneficial to live in the same country as students, to stay back home, or to teach students in the country you lived, when the teaching is all done online anyway?

If I had the urge to travel, and the ability to live anywhere in the world and earn an income online, I wouldn't pick China or my home country as a place to live. You don't have to be based in the same location as customers with an online business / online services, it's one of the major benefits.

Edited April 25, 2015 by rwdrwdrwd

[jspill]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

[ExPratt]

They can find 12 illegal English teachers but they seem to be struggling locating half a million slave fishermen

[cmrichsw]

This is where the Thai government could charge a fee that would happily be paid, a service needed Thai English teachers. Harming no one.

[FritsSikkink]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

[YeahSiam]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The

rules also say prostitution

is illegal and yet...... The

rules also say bars &

clubs must close at 1 or

2am and yet...... I work

remotely from home

without a work permit and

who the <deleted> is gonna come

and arrest me? You and

your merry band of 100%

law-abiding farangs? Yeah

right. Go preach

somewhere else, mate

[h90]

Bad move.

They were not committing a crime, they were offering a service that Thais can't offer.

They were taking nobody's job.

Just another excuse to say how bad these foreigners are..................

I know, you can't work without a WP, but at this instance they were harming nobody.

illegal working and not paying income tax and insurance is a crime in Europe.

Actually before you consider cheating the revenue department and the social security, you better rob the next gasoline station.....you are better off...

[The Big Mango]

Knock Knock my friend theres someone at your door.

[FritsSikkink]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The

rules also say prostitution

is illegal and yet...... The

rules also say bars &

clubs must close at 1 or

2am and yet...... I work

remotely from home

without a work permit and

who the <deleted> is gonna come

and arrest me? You and

your merry band of 100%

law-abiding farangs? Yeah

right. Go preach

somewhere else, mate

i don't give a shit what you do. i don't like the people on TV who say there is a grey area or that is legal, which it isn't.

[balo]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The
rules also say prostitution
is illegal and yet...... The
rules also say bars &
clubs must close at 1 or
2am and yet...... I work
remotely from home
without a work permit and
who the <deleted> is gonna come
and arrest me? You and
your merry band of 100%
law-abiding farangs? Yeah
right. Go preach
somewhere else, mate

i don't give a shit what you do. i don't like the people on TV who say there is a grey area or that is legal, which it isn't.

Even the immigration official in Chiang Mai has approved working as a digital nomad. As long as you can show them you receive your salary in Europe and pay taxes in your home country you can stay in Thailand on any valid visa.

[thaibeachlovers]

Bad move.

They were not committing a crime, they were offering a service that Thais can't offer.

They were taking nobody's job.

Just another excuse to say how bad these foreigners are..................

I know, you can't work without a WP, but at this instance they were harming nobody.

So, in your opinion only enforce the laws that you agree with?

I'd like to be able to agree with you, but in this case it doesn't appear they were being fitted up in an extortion scam and were breaking the law.

I guess someone PO the wrong people and they will suffer for it.

[FritsSikkink]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The
rules also say prostitution
is illegal and yet...... The
rules also say bars &
clubs must close at 1 or
2am and yet...... I work
remotely from home
without a work permit and
who the <deleted> is gonna come
and arrest me? You and
your merry band of 100%
law-abiding farangs? Yeah
right. Go preach
somewhere else, mate

i don't give a shit what you do. i don't like the people on TV who say there is a grey area or that is legal, which it isn't.

Even the immigration official in Chiang Mai has approved working as a digital nomad. As long as you can show them you receive your salary in Europe and pay taxes in your home country you can stay in Thailand on any valid visa.

as said loads of times before immigration has nothing to to with the labour law or taxes

[YeahSiam]

Knock Knock my friend theres someone at your door.

Your bird, I think

[The Big Mango]

^^ nah its me mam

[Kitsune]

I bet the employer did not get troubles.

He's committing a crime too, makes the most profit, he was the one who did not provide the work permits, but eh he's Thai so that's OK.

Let's again put the blame on the foreigners.

Edited August 15, 2015 by Kitsune

[Assurancetourix]

Naïve foreigners ;

If they were working for themselves and not for a thai society they were still at work on their computers .

[dru2]

'Even the immigration official in Chiang Mai has approved working as a digital nomad. As long as you can show them you receive your salary in Europe and pay taxes in your home country you can stay in Thailand on any valid visa.'

Show me.

[Soutpeel]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The

rules also say prostitution

is illegal and yet...... The

rules also say bars &

clubs must close at 1 or

2am and yet...... I work

remotely from home

without a work permit and

who the <deleted> is gonna come

and arrest me? You and

your merry band of 100%

law-abiding farangs? Yeah

right. Go preach

somewhere else, mate

i don't give a shit what you do. i don't like the people on TV who say there is a grey area or that is legal, which it isn't.

Even the immigration official in Chiang Mai has approved working as a digital nomad. As long as you can show them you receive your salary in Europe and pay taxes in your home country you can stay in Thailand on any valid visa.

And a reputable link/ news source showing this please

I trust your not referring to that meeting in CM in which the comments where reported out of context and proved to be a myth by a TV member who was at the meeting who reported nothing of the sort was said ?

Edited August 15, 2015 by Soutpeel

[Anthony5]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The

rules also say prostitution

is illegal and yet...... The

rules also say bars &

clubs must close at 1 or

2am and yet...... I work

remotely from home

without a work permit and

who the <deleted> is gonna come

and arrest me? You and

your merry band of 100%

law-abiding farangs? Yeah

right. Go preach

somewhere else, mate

i don't give a shit what you do. i don't like the people on TV who say there is a grey area or that is legal, which it isn't.

Even the immigration official in Chiang Mai has approved working as a digital nomad. As long as you can show them you receive your salary in Europe and pay taxes in your home country you can stay in Thailand on any valid visa.

And a reputable link/ news source showing this please

I trust your not referring to that meeting in CM in which the comments where reported out of context and proved to be a myth by a TV member who was at the meeting who reported nothing of the sort was said ?

I hope you don't take the comments of one TV member for the truth and nothing but the truth.

[Soutpeel]

Never heard of the world wide "tinternet", LOL.

But seriously though, while of course you can teach anyone from anywhere in the world, I find it odd that westerners would teach English online from THAILAND to CHINESE people in CHINA? I mean, why not just live in China and do that? Or teach Thais online from Thailand. Or teach Chinese people online from your home country?

No wonder they were busted, someone was upset that they were teaching foreigners from Thailand, which does nothing for the Thai people. Otherwise there wouldn't have been this kind of response.

Tinternet is a well-known slang term, a parody of the Northern British accent, explanations all over Google.

The Chinese will pay more, but it's less fun to live in China. And more expensive to live in their home country. I don't know what's so strange about it.

They were busted because they worked in a physical office for a Thai entity being paid in Baht, and said Thai entity did shady things relating to taxes. There isn't any evidence Thailand would have a problem with me teaching online and being paid in USD, alone, and sending that offshore sourced money to Thailand to spend here. Thailand has never explicitly stated that remote working isn't allowed, or given a clear definition of 'working in Thailand' when it comes to work permit laws. But common sense dictates that it means being employed by a Thai entity.

bullshit, the rules are very clear, if you work in thailand and live here you need a workpermit and pay taxes

Who gives a toss?The
rules also say prostitution
is illegal and yet...... The
rules also say bars &
clubs must close at 1 or
2am and yet...... I work
remotely from home
without a work permit and
who the <deleted> is gonna come
and arrest me? You and
your merry band of 100%
law-abiding farangs? Yeah
right. Go preach
somewhere else, mate

i don't give a shit what you do. i don't like the people on TV who say there is a grey area or that is legal, which it isn't.

Even the immigration official in Chiang Mai has approved working as a digital nomad. As long as you can show them you receive your salary in Europe and pay taxes in your home country you can stay in Thailand on any valid visa.

And a reputable link/ news source showing this please

I trust your not referring to that meeting in CM in which the comments where reported out of context and proved to be a myth by a TV member who was at the meeting who reported nothing of the sort was said ?

I hope you don't take the comments of one TV member for the truth and nothing but the truth.

I would have more of a tendancy to believe what Nancy L has to say on this issue over a digital pikey involved in who knows what activity on line, some of which may in fact be illegal

Nancy L has no axe to grind or agenda on the other hand the DM are always on here bleating on and making things up

But lets leave it there and lets see this reputed news link of CM immigration permitting all this

[jspill]

Digital nomads were working here with zero issues 6 months ago when this thread started...

still are today when one of the anti-online worker crew bumped the thread...

and still will be 6 months from now...

Seen these threads on TVF for years but the reality is there's never been an arrest or prosecution for working online, for remote entities, in any country in the world. And likely never will be.

[FritsSikkink]

Digital nomads were working here with zero issues 6 months ago when this thread started...

still are today when one of the anti-online worker crew bumped the thread...

and still will be 6 months from now...

Seen these threads on TVF for years but the reality is there's never been an arrest or prosecution for working online, for remote entities, in any country in the world. And likely never will be.

that you or others haven't been caught doesn't say anything about the legal side

[FritsSikkink]

Digital nomads were working here with zero issues 6 months ago when this thread started...

still are today when one of the anti-online worker crew bumped the thread...

and still will be 6 months from now...

Seen these threads on TVF for years but the reality is there's never been an arrest or prosecution for working online, for remote entities, in any country in the world. And likely never will be.

how would you know if nobody has been caught anywhere in the world. BS statement

[Anthony5]

Digital nomads were working here with zero issues 6 months ago when this thread started...

still are today when one of the anti-online worker crew bumped the thread...

and still will be 6 months from now...

Seen these threads on TVF for years but the reality is there's never been an arrest or prosecution for working online, for remote entities, in any country in the world. And likely never will be.

how would you know if nobody has been caught anywhere in the world. BS statement

If any foreigner where caught in Thailand for working online it would have been first page news.

[jspill]

Digital nomads were working here with zero issues 6 months ago when this thread started...

still are today when one of the anti-online worker crew bumped the thread...

and still will be 6 months from now...

Seen these threads on TVF for years but the reality is there's never been an arrest or prosecution for working online, for remote entities, in any country in the world. And likely never will be.

how would you know if nobody has been caught anywhere in the world. BS statement

Because it's a ridiculous notion. Imagine a western country arresting a Thai on a tourist visa for selling ebooks on Amazon in Thai language, to Thais... wouldn't happen.

What people do at home online to generate residual income is no one's business.

Actually if you Google it the only thing that comes up is ThaiVisa and related Thailand blogs... basically no one in the world cares about this except middle aged and old moody expats on messageboards.

Edited August 15, 2015 by jspill