Thailand's Labour Ministry cracks down on foreign models working without work permits

[abrahamzvi]

Foreign model? Who needs them, Thai women are the most beautiful, stunning, gorgeous women in the world. You don't have to search long to find a beauty in Thailand. Perfect in everyway.

Asia is the land of 6s and 7s.

Finding an 8 here is a rare thing.

They have great bodies though... and are easy to lay... (which in many desperate men's eyes makes them a ten) but best of all they have a lovely femininity sadly lacking in the West.

Nordic beauties leave Asia in the dust by a very long way indeed... in all departments...

[Shawn0001]

Last time I went to Vientiane one of the people sharing van was a German kid (18-19). He told us that he worked as a model and in 3 months he had worked 3 days in 3 different places/provinces. And with the Thai laws being as they are it would be nearly impossible for him get it right:

1. Get all documents needed to apply for a non-B visa for 1 photo session.

2. Apply for the non-B visa in Laos (or other country)

3. Get back and apply for the WP (wait up to 14 days to get it approved...)

4. Have the photo session.

6. Leave Thailand and obtain a tourist visa (as the visa and WP would be void after the photo session...)

7. Go back to Thailand and wait to be contracted for next photo session and start all over again...

The agency he worked for had tried to get him a non-B with 1 year extension and 1 year WP but with each photo session having a new contract with a new company and being at different locations it was impossible to do!

In the end he did his work on tourist visa...

"with the Thai laws being as they are it would be nearly impossible for him"

Yes, impossible like Thai law is intended to make it, they do not want jobs which could go to Thai's going to tourists. Performers can apply for a Type B from within their own country and go on a tour of Thailand, they do not need a new visa for each city they play in like a teacher would need for each city they taught in. But obviously that does not extend to working freelance and seeking out work here, either you are sought after and bringing you from abroad is taken as advantageous or you are a concern to the Thai unemployment statistics.

[DrTuner]

Don't get me wrong, I think Thai women are beautiful. But most do not have the physical attributes to be models.

That's true. Models need to have the starving look, laced with malicious stare. Westeners excel in that.

[Shawn0001]

Foreign governments should reciprocate this to all Thais.

No work for Thais, that can be done by locals.

Not Thai cook. Because many foreigners can cook Thai food.

Do you have any idea how hard it is for Thais to get work permits for western countries? There is one difference, that Thai's married to foreigners usually gain citizenship and so are entitled to the same as any other citizen, whereas in Thailand marrying a Thai does not currently lead to citizenship. But Thais in the UK, for expample, who do not have citizenship must apply for a work permit, and to gain one means having something that the UK wants. We offer visas to cover specific shortages and forbid other work, much the same as Thailand.

[Sydebolle]

Get rid of those Western models - after all it is the "Year of Thainess" which will force those shootings to take place in uglier places like the Pilipinas, the Indonesian Island of the Gods or the untouched shores of Western Burma

[Shawn0001]

I wonder if Elton John has his work permit for the upcoming concert

Im sure he will do, it's very straightforward to get a performers visa as long as the sponsoring company in Thailand has enough capital and they are applying from their home country, things are very different when applying from within Thailand and neighboring countries.

[Thai at Heart]

Foreign governments should reciprocate this to all Thais.

No work for Thais, that can be done by locals.

Not Thai cook. Because many foreigners can cook Thai food.

Do you have any idea how hard it is for Thais to get work permits for western countries? There is one difference, that Thai's married to foreigners usually gain citizenship and so are entitled to the same as any other citizen, whereas in Thailand marrying a Thai does not currently lead to citizenship. But Thais in the UK, for expample, who do not have citizenship must apply for a work permit, and to gain one means having something that the UK wants. We offer visas to cover specific shortages and forbid other work, much the same as Thailand.

Thais on a visa enabling them to be with their spouse can work in the UK prior to getting citizenship.

Previously students could also work although this is being tightened up.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[Monkeyrobot]

50,000 per hour ?

[SoFarAndNear]

How can you get a WP as a freelance model?

[whatawonderfulday]

Foreign model? Who needs them, Thai women are the most beautiful, stunning, gorgeous women in the world. You don't have to search long to find a beauty in Thailand. Perfect in everyway.

certainly are perfect in everyway. Why so perfect they also know, and often tell us we are hansum men ! How perfect is that ?

Edited November 9, 2015 by whatawonderfulday

[DrTuner]

50,000 per hour ?

With one hour of work per half year.

[LNKDES1]

Foreign model? Who needs them, Thai women are the most beautiful, stunning, gorgeous women in the world. You don't have to search long to find a beauty in Thailand. Perfect in everyway.

Asia is the land of 6s and 7s.

Finding an 8 here is a rare thing.

They have great bodies though... and are easy to lay... (which in many desperate men's eyes makes them a ten) but best of all they have a lovely femininity sadly lacking in the West.

Nordic beauties leave Asia in the dust by a very long way indeed... in all departments...

Buh Bye then. We will miss you, NOT!

[cookee68]

The outdoor market i go to every weekend is full of Thai workers on the fruit stores, all on a tourist visa, same around the world arrest them and see what happens, thats the kettle calling the pot black , or visa versa, or loss of face because that is a statement saying that they do not find the Thai female.s that good looking, hhmmm

[Thongkorn]

Pictures and source please.

[gemguy]

More misguided priorities....and no surprise.

Just require that they pay taxes....that is after they by pass all the overly bureaucratic Thai laws and rules and regulations that make it so difficult for Thai registered companies to hire foreigners easily and or for foreigners to obtain the "rights" to work legally in Thailand....even if the work is just part time or temporarily.

This ASEAN agreement that is supposed to be in effect now ( 2015 ) is going to continue to be a major joke here in Thailand while the Thai government will not be complying with the guidelines they are signatory to.

http://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law/asean-economic-community-and-thai-labor/

http://www.norcham.com/news/why-the-aec-in-2015-will-lead-to-few-changes-in-Thailand

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/work/454697/asean-economic-community-2015-ready-or-not-here-it-comes

Edited November 9, 2015 by gemguy

[oztaurus]

I also saw the tail end a news report on a Thai cable channel last night with something about a farang taking care of vegetables on his own (read wife's) plot of land - and how scandalous it was that he was doing work that should be for Thai and how he should be arrested and deported for working illegally.

I'm ripping out the grout in the bathroom this weekend and re-patching the leaking roof - doing a proper job of it after one of the local tradesmen gave it his best shot ..... anyone want to join me in a spot of illegal scab labour?

[Docno]

Its a silly rule that should be relaxed….these models bring an 'exotic' quality to adverts they are placed in….making a product or service look more international and aspirational to the thais….but I do agree that tax needs to be paid…..how else can the paying company write it off as a legitimate business expense?

Do we really need 'exotic quality' in the adverts? For once, I'd like to see a model in a magazine who actually looks like the real (and beautiful) Thais I see outside, not someone who looks like they could very well be from Taiwan rather than Thailand. Diversity is good, but I don't recall seeing a model with a darker complexion than me, which is strange considering that this is tropical SE Asia. The problem with your supposed 'exotic quality' in advertising is that it just reinforces the fair=good bias that so dominates this society. Too many times have I heard a beautiful bronze-skinned Thai woman saying "I'm dark skinned ... ugly" because all the ads they see show clone-looking fair-skinned women with fake noses, coloured contacts, etc etc.

[cyberfarang]

does this include those 'models' of east european descent you see around walking street & such places !

Go to any beer bar and purchase takeaway women for sex, but buy a porn magazine and do not pass go, go to jail, go directly to jail or buy a get out of jail free card.

Because in Thailand it`s about double standards. Turn a blind eye to the laws when it`s convenient.

[tomacht8]

Thailand's fashion industry is good.
But the officials in the offices need to understand that the fashion industry is very fast-lived.
If you want to order quickly a natural 90-60-90 in thailand, is difficult.
If you want to order a 180 cm woman with a maximum of 52 kilos, it is difficult too.
Fashion shoots are very fast.
I need the models next morning.
If the fashion industry from thailand can not realize this, then shots are taken elsewhere.

Edited November 9, 2015 by tomacht8

[BKKdreaming]

did Elton John get a work permit ?

and all his crew ?

[cyberfarang]

did Elton John get a work permit ?

and all his crew ?

I would rather view scantily clad young female models then listen to and watch Elton John.

[lamyai3]

Does this apply to Foreign actors too?,now just say a foreigner is needed in a Thai soapy and non available due to no work permit they could just get a Thai to act as the foreigner and paint there face white and have a caption above stating this is a falang, do away with employing anyone who is not Thai.

Christopher Lee did a great FuManchu. And best not even mention Yul Brynner...

Edited November 9, 2015 by lamyai3

[englishoak]

No problem, the modelling business will just shoot where they can get the models they want.... or lose the business to another agency that delivers.

If there is some suggestion the work would go to Thai if there were less foreigners to choose from is ridiculous. But no doubt thats part of the thinking process

[Si Thea01]

Notice to all foreign models... should you will need a shelter from the bad Thai government people,

call me and I will rescue you immediately, we will discus later what you can do for me in return....

Dreamer.

[kiwikeith]

It's about time to get these illegal workers.

As a business owner, I've got my proper visa, wp and I pay my taxes here in Thailand.

I've met several foreign models and actors. Most of them were hanging out at Soi 11 every evening bragging about how much money they made on their jobs. All of them were here on Tourist Visa. I told them years ago that they could get arrested for working illegally in Thailand. They denied this and that is was allowed by government. I knew they were all lying after I told them that I was a business owner. They all wanted to work and get a wp in name of mycompany what is in B2B e-Commerce solutions. I only hire experts which are very hard to find in Thailand.

So if immigration is smart they will contact an agency like Model Inc Soi 4 for example and set them up with a casting for some soap or movie, where they need extras and actors. Locking them all up for 5 years or so, agencies included. It will be very quiet in Soi 11 after.

What sort of visa do the russian girls in walking street and the african girls in Nana have???

[easybullet3]

Foreign model? Who needs them, Thai women are the most beautiful, stunning, gorgeous women in the world. You don't have to search long to find a beauty in Thailand. Perfect in everyway.

Your Dick is doing the thinking?

@Wilsonandson: lol.

I agree with "Broeno"

you either dont have much experience with girls in the country you come from, or you have become extremely bias (based on teh fact that you can "pull" easier in Thailand than your home country).

theres plenty of pretty thai girls, but there are also plenty of pretty foreign girls too.

are you the type of person that wears a Pink or Yellow shirt on certain days of the week ?

[gemguy]

It's about time to get these illegal workers.

As a business owner, I've got my proper visa, wp and I pay my taxes here in Thailand.

I've met several foreign models and actors. Most of them were hanging out at Soi 11 every evening bragging about how much money they made on their jobs. All of them were here on Tourist Visa. I told them years ago that they could get arrested for working illegally in Thailand. They denied this and that is was allowed by government. I knew they were all lying after I told them that I was a business owner. They all wanted to work and get a wp in name of mycompany what is in B2B e-Commerce solutions. I only hire experts which are very hard to find in Thailand.

So if immigration is smart they will contact an agency like Model Inc Soi 4 for example and set them up with a casting for some soap or movie, where they need extras and actors. Locking them all up for 5 years or so, agencies included. It will be very quiet in Soi 11 after.

What sort of visa do the russian girls in walking street and the african girls in Nana have???

I believe...they would have the local area police connection visa which usually supersedes nearly all other known "forms" of important paper based documentation needing to be presented when requested by the police and other government officials.

Yes sir, Mr. Police officer, I do have my Visa and Work Permit right here in my purse: The pale Purple color work permit is here and the light Brown colored Visa is here also.

Cheers

Edited November 10, 2015 by gemguy

[lvr181]

How about just make it easier to hire them legally?

Clearly the fashion business (which i assume is why the model are here) being a global business requires models from around the globe for marketing and advertising purposes.

So rather than get all flustered stop with the patriotic filibustering and listen to what your companies need, in this instance - a flexible pool of foreign models, and make it easy for them to be employed quickly, efficiently and legally. So your companies can be more successful globally.

OMG - please no farang logic! You do not understand "thainess". Shame on you

[TPI]

How about just make it easier to hire them legally?

Clearly the fashion business (which i assume is why the model are here) being a global business requires models from around the globe for marketing and advertising purposes.

So rather than get all flustered stop with the patriotic filibustering and listen to what your companies need, in this instance - a flexible pool of foreign models, and make it easy for them to be employed quickly, efficiently and legally. So your companies can be more successful globally.

Steady on!! That's almost logical! A Thai government branch operating logically? Perish the thought!

[TPI]

How about just make it easier to hire them legally?

Clearly the fashion business (which i assume is why the model are here) being a global business requires models from around the globe for marketing and advertising purposes.

So rather than get all flustered stop with the patriotic filibustering and listen to what your companies need, in this instance - a flexible pool of foreign models, and make it easy for them to be employed quickly, efficiently and legally. So your companies can be more successful globally.

And ensure they are employed through the same processes (WP and correct visa) as any other people. Why should they be treated differently?

Because models only work for a very very short time, a day or two at the most! Do you have a method of getting the "correct" visa or a WP for use over less than a week? Remember, they called for you to work this weekand, lets not forget, if you stayed longer then you might have 4 or 5 employers in that time even if you only had one agency.......?