I am retired (and have a retirement visa), but study Thai history as a hobby. I would like to hire a part-time assistant to help with translation, typing, and the like.

Under Thai law, can I simply hire an assistant just as I would hire a housekeeper, or driver, etc. -- that is, somebody who provides purely personal, rather than business, services?

Is there some set of government regulations that I must comply with, or can the person be treated as an indendent contractor, who takes responsibility for his/her own tax payments, etc.?

Does it make any difference if my girlfriend, a Thai national, is the official 'employer'?

No, I'm not worried that anybody is going to come knocking on my door. I'm just curious about what the official rules are, if anybody knows.

Thanks in advance,

Retiree

I am retired (and have a retirement visa), but study Thai history as a hobby. I would like to hire a part-time assistant to help with translation, typing, and the like.

Under Thai law, can I simply hire an assistant just as I would hire a housekeeper, or driver, etc. -- that is, somebody who provides purely personal, rather than business, services?

Is there some set of government regulations that I must comply with, or can the person be treated as an indendent contractor, who takes responsibility for his/her own tax payments, etc.?

Does it make any difference if my girlfriend, a Thai national, is the official 'employer'?

No, I'm not worried that anybody is going to come knocking on my door. I'm just curious about what the official rules are, if anybody knows.

Thanks in advance,

Retiree

You can't "hire" employees, but I don't see why you can't just use whatever services supplied by Thais, if they are independent contractors and you are not untilizing those services for any kind of business. In this case you are not an employer, just a client.