simon43 Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I worked via an agency for a school in north Thailand. When my salary was due after 1 month they failed to pay me my salary... Now I've been working via a different agency at a government school in Surat Thani. My salary was due at the end of the month. It is now the 2nd August and no salary paid yet. <deleted> is the matter with these agencies? When I taught in Laos and Myanmar, I never had any late salary payments. You would think that teaching agencies would appreciate an experienced NES teacher working for the low salary, and would ensure prompt salary payment. Apparently not the case for me Rant over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loaded Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 It could be that the school hasn't paid them yet, that's quite common especially with government schools. I agree, it's not an acceptable excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMangosteen Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 4 hours ago, Loaded said: It could be that the school hasn't paid them yet, that's quite common especially with government schools. I agree, it's not an acceptable excuse. Not even close to acceptable. The teacher doesn't work directly for the school and it wasn't a condition of his/her employment. As I mentioned elsewhere, sometimes violence needs to be introduced into situations concerning not paying people for their work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnniey Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 NEVER work for an agency unless desperate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazySlipper Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 Guess you can stop worrying about teaching kindergarten to mattayom students... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkidlad Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Don't start working again until you're paid. People often say that TEFL teachers are a negative and whiny bunch - you can see now why. I don't know of many other jobs where people mess you around and you're being negative for pointing it out. It's sh**** industry that really needs a huge kick up the arse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogo51 Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 The attitude is inherited from the Thai Educations system, farangs are needed but not wanted in teaching. Without them the system would self destruct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snackbar Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Use your judgement. If the money is an issue, you're a bit stuck. If it isn't, go on sick leave until you are paid. Get a university job. They always pay on time and you don't really have to do any work. Well, you may have to do 12 hrs a week between holidays if you are unlucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suradit69 Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 19 minutes ago, mogo51 said: The attitude is inherited from the Thai Educations system, farangs are needed but not wanted in teaching. Without them the system would self destruct. "Without them the system would self destruct. " Ah, a variation on the "final nail in the coffin" theme that was once so popular. Both the Thai economy and the "Thai Educations (sic) system" dependent on farang contributions. Thanks for the laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Have you noticed something in common, or mistaking them as people that care? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAMHERE Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 sounds like or similar to defamation to me. be careful 44 different ways in Thailand I understand probably maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connda Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) You would think that teaching agencies would appreciate an experienced NES teacher. They appreciate the money! The money you make for them and the money they can take you for. You're like a little fish dinner to them. Once they strip off as much flesh as possible, they toss the bones and find another tasty little fishy who raises for the NES bait. Suggestion: Japan or Korea. Edited August 3, 2016 by connda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Gold Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Reneging on a contract is generally considered just a dark business practice. You, having lived in this area of the world for some time now must understand this concept. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemguy Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I think the labor department would like you to visit them Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beet man Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Work for a private school. They are much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaunduhpostman Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I have been through much worse and many of my students even worse still. JUst say no to these creeps, don't work for them, they are corrupt crooks like the cops and the government. Stay away from them, many countries will treat you much better, Thailand is a cesspool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMangosteen Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 10 hours ago, Rod Gold said: Reneging on a contract is generally considered just a dark business practice. You, having lived in this area of the world for some time now must understand this concept. Good Luck! Not sure which contract you refer to, but many working(teaching) though an agent don't have a valid contract. Also many "agencies" are nothing more than a Thai with a phone. If you refer to a "contract" between a Government school and an "agent/agency" once again, the face issue is diminished because of the role the agent plays in it all. The only thing "dark" in many eyes including mine remains not paying people for their work, and sometimes dark just has to be dealt with in a dark way i.e. violence. I'm not an advocate of violence, but it has a way of making all people equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMangosteen Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 9 hours ago, gemguy said: I think the labor department would like you to visit them Cheers Most likely the individual is working illegally. I don't think a visit to a Government office in state of working illegally and complaining about non payment of earned wages is going to get you very far. But hey, who ever knows. Would you risk your arse over this or rather just spend the 2000 Baht to have her car smashed up? or better yet, phone taken away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMangosteen Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 As Mr. Trump says....the gloves are off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon43 Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) The agency finally paid up, but it is to their lost and the school/students, because I resigned immediately after getting paid. The reason that I provided to the school was that I will not work for any agency that pays late, because I will never know if I have just worked 'free' for the previous month., Ho hum - are their any agencies that pay salaries in advance? Just to add that I have been working legally for this agency, with a new B visa and WP application in progress. I guess they had cashflow problems, which is a concern in itself. Edited August 3, 2016 by simon43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhonKaenKowboy Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 There seems to be an ongoing racket in Surat Thani....an agency that is an extension of a TEFL program. Otherwise, you're preaching to the choir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlyAnimal Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Quote Just to add that I have been working legally for this agency, with a new B visa and WP application in progress. I guess they had cashflow problems, which is a concern in itself. Hopefully you didn't already get your license waiver from Krusapa? As it'd be a shame to burn 1x waiver due to the poor business practices of an agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMangosteen Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 15 hours ago, SlyAnimal said: Hopefully you didn't already get your license waiver from Krusapa? As it'd be a shame to burn 1x waiver due to the poor business practices of an agency. You need that for your WP application to actually be processed(written progress above). Of course, in some minds, having it on your list of things to do is in process/progress. Cash flow problems don't exist for agents/agencies. It's a matter of who pays, just like in a traffic accident. O O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remobb Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I don't understand why people use agencies. I recruit for our schools and there is no fee. Agencies are just a rip-off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceMangosteen Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 1 hour ago, remobb said: I don't understand why people use agencies. I recruit for our schools and there is no fee. Agencies are just a rip-off. Agencies aka like I mentioned, a guy/gal with a phone, are perceived as the one who loses face when a teacher fails to show up for school or is a drunken idiot or all the rest. The "school" can just complain to the agent vs. directly confronting the "teacher" they employed without any background or other investigation. It's all a matter of face. We also read, but it's never confirmed, that some "agents" kick money back to Directors. I personally doubt this in most cases, but can allow for some wiggle room as there are always crooked people in almost every institution of these sizes. Lastly, as "why" isn't a question work in Thailand, the Thai's in schools can avoid the "why" so many foreigners from the western world tend to bring up in conversation or requests. OO and God Bless the Philippines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldragon Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Take em to court. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlycw Posted September 11, 2016 Share Posted September 11, 2016 OP, please shed a light on these 2 issues have played out over time. I'm used to such shenanigans in Vietnam. One language center sent an e-mail stating that they needn't pay me as I was not having a WP. (Try getting a WP without the employer's support). Seems the obsession with money is irresistibly overwhelming for some? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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