Thinking of working in Thailand? Here are the 39 things that you can't do!

[rooster59]

Thinking of working in Thailand? Here are the 39 things that you can't do!

 

Image: Sanook

 

A list of all the things that foreigners can't do in Thailand has been announced by the Thai media.

Among the forbidden items are "Making Thai dolls" and "acting as a guide".

But the good news is that international pilots are allowed to work and various specialists are exempted from certain jobs.

There are 39 jobs reserved for Thais only though a couple have been relaxed for laborers from neighboring countries.

Here is the full list of forbidden work and jobs that Sanook put on their website. They relate to laws promulgated in 1979.

1. Laborer
2. Farming including looking after livestock, forestry and fisheries (exception: farm manager).
3. Bricklaying, carpentry and other construction tasks.
4. Wood carving.
5. Driving including operating heavy machinery (exception: airline pilot between countries)
6. Selling in shops.
7. Auctioneering.
8. Accounts work (unless it is temporary in nature)
9. Gemstone cutting and polishing.
10. Haircutting, styling or beauty salon work.
11. Weaving cloth by hand.
12. Mat making or making objects from rattan.
13. Making paper from mulberry by hand.
14. Lacquer ware making.
15. Making Thai musical instruments.
16. Making niello ware.
17. Making gold, silver and copper items.
18. Stone engraving.
19. Making Thai dolls.
20. Mattress or quilt making.
21. Making monks' alms bowls.
22. Silk work by hand.
23. Fashioning Buddhist images.
24. Knife making.
25. Umbrella making using either paper or material.
26. Shoes making.
27. Hat making.
28. Acting as an agent or representative (except in contact with foreign companies)
29. Civil engineering work including design, quantity surveying, organization, research, testing, looking after the progress of work, and giving advice (exception: specialist work)
30. Various work and duties of an architect including producing blueprints.
31. Making accessories for body adornment.
32. Pottery.
33. Rolling cigarettes by hand.
34. Acting as a guide or tour organizer.
35. Carrying goods around for sale.
36. Thai language printing.
37. Silk weaving.
38. Acting as a clerk or secretary.
39. Legal work and handling lawsuits.

Sanook noted that these days nationals from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
are allowed to be laborers and do housework.

 

Source: Sanook

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-07-15

[transam]

Glad I don't roll my own fags.....

[Techno Viking]

If iam not allowed to drive why did they grant me a licence ?

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

If iam not allowed to drive why did they grant me a licence ?

I think they meant "A stake in the ground"...

[ratcatcher]

1 minute ago, Techno Viking said:

If iam not allowed to drive why did they grant me a licence ?

Do you drive heavy machinery? That's what it implied. You can drive a car or pickup, but not a truck used for commercial purposes.

Driving ,       including operating,      heavy machinery (exception: airline pilot between countries)

[Techno Viking]

Just now, ratcatcher said:

Do you drive heavy machinery? That's what it implied. You can drive a car or pickup, but not a truck used for commercial purposes.

Driving ,       including operating,      heavy machinery (exception: airline pilot between countries)

Thats not how I read it.

[ezflip]

20 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Among the forbidden items are "Making Thai dolls"

So....if I ask my girlfriend to play "dress-up" I would be in violation of the immigration laws?

[ratcatcher]

2 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

Thats not how I read it.

Obviously. Semantics again.

[Orton Rd]

Many seem to get away with pimping with a bar or 'club' as a front

[NanLaew]

36 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

13. Making paper from mulberry by hand.

Bugger!

 

And there I was thinking I had cornered the market already.

 

Anyone want a mulberry plantation?

[keith101]

25 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

Thats not how I read it.

then read it again it is very clear including you cannot carry goods for sale in any vehicle

[YetAnother]

I think it is a mistake to try to list all the jobs that a foreigner cannot do

there's always going to be hybrid jobs in the middle of classifications that raise all kinds of questions

just summarize it by saying ,as many people do ,anything that a Thai can do is prohibited to a farang

[Ganador]

28. Acting as an agent or representative (except in contact with foreign companies)

 

Does that include farang real estate agents in Bangkok.... I met a few of them when looking to buy a condo in the city...

[ezzra]

The irony is that out of that list of jobs many Thais WILL NOT DO as those jobs

become beneath them......

[the guest]

Thais that decide to live in Europe are treated with respect, and have the same rights as everybody else, so why doesn't Thailand reciprocate?

 

The country is ironically dependent on foreign investment, foreign tourism, and exports to foreign lands, and yet it treats foreigner in Thailand with utter contempt. 

 

When I look at this at face value, you realize how racist and xenophobic the country has become. Until Thailand reforms this repugnant law, and their outdated attitude, then it will not be considered anything less than a banana republic. 

 

 

[lanng khao]

Looks like anything to do with the cooking of food is a accepted job, sous chef/chef, wish I'd took that job a MacDonalds now when I left school instead of being a artist in burnt clay( bricklayer)

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[NCC1701A]

Gigolo is not on the list, so I am OK.

[Kerryd]

I thought Real Estate Agent was one of the jobs foreigners couldn't do as well.

The other question that springs to mind.
She who must be obeyed ("Swmbo") has relatives who have a "construction" company, mainly building normal houses. Obviously I couldn't work for them as a bricklayer, carpenter, electrician or labourer, but what if I were to just "help out" now and then on an unpaid basis (so long as I'm not replacing a paid worker) ?
 

What If I decide I want to build a brick wall or enclosure in my yard, or do some electrical rewiring or minor carpentry work, is it illegal if I do it ?

Or am I required to hire someone ? 
 

The "monster in law" (who is very nice, at least for now) has some cows and chickens. They tell me if I want I can buy some calves and chicks and they will raise them with their own and we'll split the profits when they sell them. That's not really "farming" (as in me working in that occupation) but what happens if, say because of a family emergency, I'm left behind and have to feed the beasts for a day or two ? I'm not "working" (as a salaried employee) and not taking a job from anyone.
(Swmbo keeps telling me that "it's not a problem in her village" and I keep telling her I don't want to wake up in a Immigration Detention Cell one morning to find that my Visa/Extension of Stay has been cancelled and I'm being deported because someone saw me throw a handful of chicken feed one day or carry a bag of cement into my yard.)

 

[NCC1701A]

This is the nature of corruption.

 

Vague laws that can be interpreted anyway for maximum extortion value. 

 

That is why so many Farangs still don't know FOR SURE if it is legal to pull weeds in their own front lawn.

Edited July 15, 2017 by NCC1701A

[Thechook]

Chicken plucking is ok by the looks of it

[solstan]

13 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

I thought Real Estate Agent was one of the jobs foreigners couldn't do as well.

The other question that springs to mind.
She who must be obeyed ("Swmbo") has relatives who have a "construction" company, mainly building normal houses. Obviously I couldn't work for them as a bricklayer, carpenter, electrician or labourer, but what if I were to just "help out" now and then on an unpaid basis (so long as I'm not replacing a paid worker) ?

 

Paid or not doesnt matter - you cant do work for someone else in the listed categories.

if you work on your own house, car, bike ... that will be OK but not as a manager, or with a crew as they then can say that you are in charge and that isnt OK - and you might be summoned

So, to be sure, be a specialist, all on your own or get hired with a work permit

[baboon]

16 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

 

The "monster in law" (who is very nice, at least for now) has some cows and chickens. They tell me if I want I can buy some calves and chicks and they will raise them with their own and we'll split the profits when they sell them. That's not really "farming" (as in me working in that occupation) but what happens if, say because of a family emergency, I'm left behind and have to feed the beasts for a day or two ? I'm not "working" (as a salaried employee) and not taking a job from anyone.
(Swmbo keeps telling me that "it's not a problem in her village" and I keep telling her I don't want to wake up in a Immigration Detention Cell one morning to find that my Visa/Extension of Stay has been cancelled and I'm being deported because someone saw me throw a handful of chicken feed one day or carry a bag of cement into my yard.)

 

Of course it is not a problem in your village or indeed anywhere else. Not a problem for them, that is, as it won't be their ass which stands to be detained, fined and slung out of the country...

[lanng khao]

Chicken plucking is ok by the looks of it

Be careful, you might ruffle someone's feathers..

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Moonmoon]

28. Acting as an agent or representative (except in contact with foreign companies)

 

this means I can still be a pimp if I send my girls to Farangs... whew..Thank God I have not broken any laws so far 

[jonclark]

I really think that no one has any worries about doing a bit of DIY at home or raising a few chickens or growing a few fruit trees. 

 

The intention here is, is it a business? Otherwise all immigraion would just set up shop outside Homepro or Thaiwatsadu and feel the collar of every forigner leaving with tools, or a tin of paint. On suspicion of doing a job reserved for a Thai.

 

Immigration has more important stuff to do than worry about a foreigner who is changing a plug.

[chickenslegs]

2 hours ago, ezflip said:

So....if I ask my girlfriend to play "dress-up" I would be in violation of the immigration laws?

Interesting question. I suggest you post some photos so that we can give it some consideration.

[jonclark]

32 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

I thought Real Estate Agent was one of the jobs foreigners couldn't do as well.

The other question that springs to mind.
She who must be obeyed ("Swmbo") has relatives who have a "construction" company, mainly building normal houses. Obviously I couldn't work for them as a bricklayer, carpenter, electrician or labourer, but what if I were to just "help out" now and then on an unpaid basis (so long as I'm not replacing a paid worker) ?
 

What If I decide I want to build a brick wall or enclosure in my yard, or do some electrical rewiring or minor carpentry work, is it illegal if I do it ?

Or am I required to hire someone ? 
 

The "monster in law" (who is very nice, at least for now) has some cows and chickens. They tell me if I want I can buy some calves and chicks and they will raise them with their own and we'll split the profits when they sell them. That's not really "farming" (as in me working in that occupation) but what happens if, say because of a family emergency, I'm left behind and have to feed the beasts for a day or two ? I'm not "working" (as a salaried employee) and not taking a job from anyone.
(Swmbo keeps telling me that "it's not a problem in her village" and I keep telling her I don't want to wake up in a Immigration Detention Cell one morning to find that my Visa/Extension of Stay has been cancelled and I'm being deported because someone saw me throw a handful of chicken feed one day or carry a bag of cement into my yard.)

 

Just tell em the chickens are pets. No law against feeding your pets. Simple.

 

People have all sorts of odd pets. No law against that.

[baboon]

6 minutes ago, Moonmoon said:

28. Acting as an agent or representative (except in contact with foreign companies)

 

this means I can still be a pimp if I send my girls to Farangs... whew..Thank God I have not broken any laws so far 

Moonmoon today...?

 

[LannaGuy]

I note prostitution is not on the list so all those non-Thai ladies of the night (because there aren't any Thais right) are safe.

[alant]

How would a body have say a company meeting in Thailand? Or attend an exhibition?