WP and job descriptions - What are YOU allowed to do?

[Marvo]

I wanted to apply to add to "what I'm allowed to do" as described on my work permit, to better reflect my job, but my accountant advised me against trying to do that.

I want to add "occupations" not restricted to Thais only but have been advised to just stick with "office manager" and be happy.

A few years ago I asked at the WP office if I could add provinces where I could work, as have to see customers all over Thailand, but they said "cannot". Only if my company opens regional offices in every province that I want to "work" in. And then, I still can only work in the office at the addresses registered to the company. Who dreams this stuff up, and thinks it's realistic?

[ubonjoe]

The job description can include the duties that fall under it but could not be as broad as all allowed professions.

If your job description states your position requires you to work at various location that can be noted on your work permit. It certainly does not have to be at regional offices.

[Marvo]

Hmmm, Ubon, A couple of years ago I spent half an hour with 3 people at the Labour office, trying to get to the bottom of where I was allowed to work. They confirmed that the WP had to state "at the Co. office address" stated on the WP, - in the province stated on the WP.

They also told me that if I wanted to work in another province, the company had to have an office there, OR I could apply to the labour office to add that location as a temporary location, if I supplied them with a copy of the job contract, with duration, signed by the people my company would be working for, stating the requirement for me specifically to work at that location.

I asked if I could add "work locations outside of my province, as requested and required by customers of the company" and they said an emphatic NO.

I said I wanted to make my activities (and locations performed) completely "legal and above board" and not have any ambiguity. They eventually told me they cannot change my work permit, and just to go and do my job where I have to, - "there wouldn't likely be any problem"!!!

Just want to be legit, but it looks like they won't let me

[ubonjoe]

All that I did was state what is allowed.

I can assure that there are people that have work permits that state they can work in various locations.

[Marvo]

All that I did was state what is allowed.

I can assure that there are people that have work permits that state they can work in various locations.

Thanks, UbonJoe, I'll have another crack at the labour office. See how far I get

[blackcab]

I had exactly the same problem. To get another location added to my work permit the company needed to add a separate branch (along with obtaining a separate VAT number, etc). The new branch had to then be added to the company's DBD document. Once this was done adding the location to my work permit would be easy.

But...

To add the location to the DBD you need to show the property's blue book. As the company I work for had just purchased an empty plot of land to develop there was no blue book.

No blue book, no adding the location to the DBD, so no adding the location to my work permit. The rules just don't work for situations like this.

The Ministry of Labour did day that for some job descriptions they would issue the location to be, "Thailand". The example they gave was if you worked for AIS and you had to visit all of their phone masts on lots of different roofs, they would do it. Other than something like that, they just said to crack on.

I gave up in the end.

[thedemon]

I used to get upset about this issue too but the reality is that the maximum penalty for working outside the terms of your Work Permit is a 20K fine, no jail time.

Therefore there opportunities for extortion by dodgy officials is limited and consequently enforcement is rare.

[SteveB2]

Yes - multiple locations are allowed, especially if the physical location of any assigned duties either difficult or impossible to define due to the nature of the work.

Consider for a moment, diving offshore - I had "teaching water sports in the Gulf of Siam" added as a combined 'duties' and 'locations' silver bullet labor office peaked hat killer.

I had it added after a mate got done for teaching diving on a beach in the middle of fkin nowhere, that (not surprisingly) was neither a registered branch office of his company or a specifically permitted alternative location of work

[Autonuaq]

All that I did was state what is allowed.

I can assure that there are people that have work permits that state they can work in various locations.

to support the answer of 'Udonjoe'

It is the kind of job you do that limited the area.

I have had several work permits and no limitation to work in a certain province.

the job and work make where you can work and if the company need and office there.

In my case no problem and can work anywhere in Thailand.

I know other cases where they are having problems even in the companies I work with . So it is the job that one has that make it possible to work around where one wants (read needs to work).

[tomyumchai]

theres a european mobile hairdresser advertising on facebook to cut hair anywhere from BKK to pattaya........how do they cover all those work places on 1 WP?

[sunnyjim5]

theres a european mobile hairdresser advertising on facebook to cut hair anywhere from BKK to pattaya........how do they cover all those work places on 1 WP?

If that is true it is unlikely that the "european" has got a WP or an appropriate visa.