Phuket Poll: Opinion divided on Thai work permit

The Phuket News

 

It's a close call, but more people say the Thai work permit is not necessary. Graph: The Phuket News

 

PHUKET: -- Opinion on whether or not to keep work permits is divided, with those calling for Thailand’s “little blue book” to be discontinued edging ahead, according to the results of a recent online poll by The Phuket News.

 

The poll, which ran online for two weeks, asked: “Is the Thai work permit necessary?”

 

That question was prompted by the news last month that a work permit is not required in order to receive income from renting out a condo, an announcement that brought much relief to expat condo owners across the island.

 

However, the disparity of that decision compared with the need for a work permit for any other income-creating activities by foreigners threw the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons in a country where work permits are required by any foreigner even doing free volunteer work.

 

For decades the concept of whether or not money is received has been irrelevant as the definition of work in Thailand remains “engaging in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefits” (see Ministry of Labour website here).

 

In defence of the work permit, 39 per cent of those who took part in the poll voted, “Yes, the work permit is a valuable form of identification and should be upgraded to a photo ID card.”

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-poll-opinion-divided-on-thai-work-permit-58558.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2016-08-05

 

What good does a survey achieve ? It will never ever sway the Thai government rules ...

 

We foreigners should be more focused on immigration longer term restrictions.