In 1991 there was a restaurant in Pattaya called "Fawlty Towers" the owner always sat outside talking to his customers. One night he went behind the bar to help the girl get a bottle from the top shelf as she couldn't reach it. Next thing "Your Nicked" and it cost him a lot of money.

Similar thing happened to the owner of a second hand book shop in Pattaya.

you'll be doing the equivalent of a hard days work for the average thai!

funny how the rights of westerners seems to less than that of illegal foreign workers sometimes

I personally saw immigration police threaten to arrest my next door neighbour just for moving a washing basket in his wifes laundry shop, so he could sit down on a chair. ….

About fifteen years ago, here in Phuket, a man was arrested and deported due to carrying a sack of lemons to his wife who manned the stall in a market.

What a lovely place to live.

I think it's a paradise, where else can you say, "I'm sorry darling, I cannot do the chores you ask, we may get arrested."

My missus opened a little road side restaurant down the road from our house , I on occasion bring the gas bottle in, don't want to spoil her, she has Brothers to do that

I personally saw immigration police threaten to arrest my next door neighbour just for moving a washing basket in his wifes laundry shop, so he could sit down on a chair. ….

About fifteen years ago, here in Phuket, a man was arrested and deported due to carrying a sack of lemons to his wife who manned the stall in a market.

What a lovely place to live.

agree - sometimes its like living on Mars and the martians are quite hostile indeed

Where I live I became Tourist police volunteer.......Nooooooooooo, not a street walker...........Just on the end of a phone to help farang folk if needed.......Why did I do that, one of the reasons.............?.............

You always wanted to wear the uniform and look important?

Nope, try again........

I don't have a uniform..........

So are you going to share your secret or are we now playing 20 questions on TV?

Work it out your self chum........

Where I live I became Tourist police volunteer.......Nooooooooooo, not a street walker...........Just on the end of a phone to help farang folk if needed.......Why did I do that, one of the reasons.............?.............

You always wanted to wear the uniform and look important?

Nope, try again........

I don't have a uniform..........

It's the only way you get to talk to people?

I personally saw immigration police threaten to arrest my next door neighbour just for moving a washing basket in his wifes laundry shop, so he could sit down on a chair. ….

About fifteen years ago, here in Phuket, a man was arrested and deported due to carrying a sack of lemons to his wife who manned the stall in a market.

What a lovely place to live.

I think it's a paradise, where else can you say, "I'm sorry darling, I cannot do the chores you ask, we may get arrested."

AFAIK, it is permissible to do the usual round the house chores and work in the garden. Not likely to bother anyone. The moment you offer or are asked to help- cut your neighbor's grass you can be in a world of trouble as that is working for someone else. Many people get away with doing the kind of things that have been mentioned on this thread but it only takes one vindictive person to grass you up and you will get that knock on the door.

Perhaps someone with first hand experience can clarify whether doing maintenance on your own (the wife's )dwelling is illegal.

Could it be that behind a lot of these outrageous stories about folks getting nicked for "just getting a bottle of water for a customer" or similar, there is a bit more information gone missing? For example, maybe they rather were working there on the sly, or participating in the business above and beyond the law and the thing they got nabbed for was just the tip of the iceberg.

But I hope the laws are changed to reflect a changing world where folks from different countries intermix regularly. It's just human nature to want to help someone you care about...

OP, please send me a personal message.

I personally saw immigration police threaten to arrest my next door neighbour just for moving a washing basket in his wifes laundry shop, so he could sit down on a chair. ….

About fifteen years ago, here in Phuket, a man was arrested and deported due to carrying a sack of lemons to his wife who manned the stall in a market.

What a lovely place to live.

I have been threatened with expat grasses, one is dead, the other will soon be joining him.

Where I live I became Tourist police volunteer.......Nooooooooooo, not a street walker...........Just on the end of a phone to help farang folk if needed.......Why did I do that, one of the reasons.............?.............

You always wanted to wear the uniform and look important?

Nope, try again........

I don't have a uniform..........

It's the only way you get to talk to people?

I get to talk to you folk every day......What more could I want..........

crazy stuff. I have heard the stories, too, but never though that much about it...when I was single. Now that I'm married the truth is starting to sink in about how unfair this law feels. Has anyone gone to the labor dept. to actually talk to them? I read that the labor dept. can issue work permits at their discretion if the requester has a legitimate reason for one. This is regardless of other criteria, from what I understand. That being said, I wouldn't want to go speak with them and in that opening the door to a lot of scrutiny.

At their discretion???? Only if you have deep pockets.

Wow - all very strange. So in Thailand, "work" is defined as any effort you put into helping another individual even if you are not compensated for it. Next time I go to a restaurant, I'll be careful not to slide my chair back to the table as I leave because it's technically something serving staff might do. Crazy world.

There was a forum recently about whether Thailand was a third world country or not, I think this would prove that there is definitely a third world mentality.

Wow - all very strange. So in Thailand, "work" is defined as any effort you put into helping another individual even if you are not compensated for it.

That's what work means. As the OED puts it, "Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result".

I personally saw immigration police threaten to arrest my next door neighbour just for moving a washing basket in his wifes laundry shop, so he could sit down on a chair. ….

About fifteen years ago, here in Phuket, a man was arrested and deported due to carrying a sack of lemons to his wife who manned the stall in a market.

What a lovely place to live.

People complain when they don't enforce the law. People complain when they do.

Frankly, I think some people just like to complain.

Frankly I think you are an idiot if you believe helping ones wife to unpack or pack at a market is something that should require a WP. In Thailand laws against stupid offenses that hurt no-one are enforced if a Farang is involved because it is easy work and a good source of tea money. But laws that forbid drink driving, or burning rice fields and rubbish are rarely enforced because they mainly involve a Thai. Face it, this is a country of very bigotted people who seemingly just do not like Farangs.

I was going to agree with you until your last sentence. IMO, about ninety% of ordinary Thai people are not bigoted in any against Farangs.

A few years ago, this subject was brought up and mentioned to the head of Immigration in Phuket.

He said that we had to be "sensible" about it. Working in your house and garden was fine. Anywhere else was considered illegal.

He is long gone, so, things maybe different.

After the tsunami, many foreign volunteers arrived and started the huge task of clearing up. Only after 90% of it was done did immigration then demand that all volunteers needed work-permits.

Thainess at work.

Don't even think about it.

Don't even think about it. Not allowed.

help her all you want. she is your wife. some here live in fear, some here just take joy in waxing hysterical about immigration laws and the idiosyncrasies of the thai work permit requirements making claims like it is illegal for you to work i your own garden or perform a little DIY in your own home.

while technically true, assisting your wife should not cause issues at all.

don't buy into the hysteria. live your life.

Please tell me why I can volunteer to speak English and practice conversation with Thai's in Pattaya.

Maybe you should apply for work permit to do volunteer work.

I personally saw immigration police threaten to arrest my next door neighbour just for moving a washing basket in his wifes laundry shop, so he could sit down on a chair. ….

About fifteen years ago, here in Phuket, a man was arrested and deported due to carrying a sack of lemons to his wife who manned the stall in a market.

What a lovely place to live.

People complain when they don't enforce the law. People complain when they do.

Frankly, I think some people just like to complain.

Frankly I think you are an idiot if you believe helping ones wife to unpack or pack at a market is something that should require a WP. In Thailand laws against stupid offenses that hurt no-one are enforced if a Farang is involved because it is easy work and a good source of tea money. But laws that forbid drink driving, or burning rice fields and rubbish are rarely enforced because they mainly involve a Thai. Face it, this is a country of very bigotted people who seemingly just do not like Farangs.

They may not like farangs but if it where not for farangs they would be way back economically somewhere between Myanmar and Cambodea

Rather than hate embrace and reap the benefits Look at Japan

Or Singapore. Or Malaysia. All because of westerners.

The definitive and only reply is that WHATEVER YOU DO that is not INVISBLE (online) a loser or a monkey can come and ask you some money, legally or not, so just don't do it if you want to avoid problems.

The vast majority of Thais don't even know I need a work permit to work, so I find it hard to believe that they would know to contact the Labor Department if they saw me working.

I do have a work permit but it is restricted to my place of work. However, I have done all kinds of work helping friends and never a peep. I think some of the people getting grassed up have probably done something to upset the neighbors or competitors.

crazy stuff. I have heard the stories, too, but never though that much about it...when I was single. Now that I'm married the truth is starting to sink in about how unfair this law feels. Has anyone gone to the labor dept. to actually talk to them? I read that the labor dept. can issue work permits at their discretion if the requester has a legitimate reason for one. This is regardless of other criteria, from what I understand. That being said, I wouldn't want to go speak with them and in that opening the door to a lot of scrutiny.

it´s realy funny that all the people writing about things they dont know,

CM no problem!

go to the labor office and explain them that you want to help your wife, they will give you

some papers to fill out, you need a certificate from hospital with bloodtest and some other things,

if you married and your wife own a bussines, then is no problem at all, they will issue you a work permit,

never call, as on phone you never get any real answer, go there in person with your wife!

Little known fact.....if your wife has a business and she is the sole owner....and you have been married for more than two years you can get a work permit to assist your wife......nobody wants to tell you about this but it true.....

Little known fact.....if your wife has a business and she is the sole owner....and you have been married for more than two years you can get a work permit to assist your wife......nobody wants to tell you about this but it true.....

Maybe someone should tell the Labour Office, Immigration and the Police......

in CM i just opening a café and bar, and since 6 weeks i am there every morning until evening,

i give workers instructions, i bring tales, colors and all the things who are required,

and i carry things, I am in the rental contract and this is my property for the next 10 years,

and nobody can stop me to do this, as we will also living there,

as I will not serve coffee by my own, there cant be any problem, I can check the stock, controlling money and

as I have a contract with the person who will run it on her name,

all the guys here start with I have heard, omg come with some real experiences from 1. hand and not rumors or

what you wish to be true, nobody can be deported because of wearing a bag to market or because help his wife in market,

if there would be a problem than just tell the IMO here is my adress, i am married with legal status, just lets this solve in front of a court, and nothing will happend, this is no work without work permit like teaching in a school or simular

My wife has a market stall and I go down to help her clean up and put stuff away in the evenings and both she and the other stall holders say it is OK as it is a family business. no problems with other stall holders and occasionally help them if they need help to lift anything. that is in Khon Kaen

This has likely been dealt with but a lot of replies here and in other threads to weed through....

My family and I live in a shop-house where my wife runs a retail eatery on the ground floor and we live on the other levels.

The ground floor is the only meal preparation / kitchen in the place so can I prepare my breakfast, lunch or dinner for myself or the family and then eat it at a table in the shop (our only dining area). Then can I clean up and wash my or the family's our dishes and wipe the table down?

Get my drift?......