stmThailand’s thriving capital and astute corporate culture characterize the country’s working environment. Despite the political upheaval, there are jobs you can do in Thailand without a work permit, the economy has expanded and has drawn several expats from throughout the world. A warm welcome is extended to foreign investors.
No one is allowed to work in Thailand without a valid work permit, which is only given to those who have been hired for a position on the list of positions that are currently “permitted.” This list should be accessible from the Thai embassy or consulate in your area. Four Thai citizens must be employed by Thai businesses for every expat, according to the law.
An employee often goes through a probationary term when they first start working for a Thai firm. If the job does not satisfy the employer’s expectations during this maximum of 119 days, they may terminate the contract. Learning about regional business customs is also a smart idea.
English is widely spoken, particularly in Bangkok, however, Thai is the preferred language for commerce. Some situations could call for the need for an interpreter. The typical Monday through Friday official business hours is 9:00 am to 17:00 pm, including a lunch hour.
Jobs that don’t require a work permit in Thailand
The usual norm is that in order to work in Thailand, an individual who is not a citizen of Thailand must get a work visa. The procedure for granting foreign work permits has recently undergone several major changes in Thailand, including some notable exceptions to the general norm and some important modifications.
The Alien Workers Act (2008) (the “Act”) previously governed foreign labor authorizations in Thailand. The Alien Workers Act was repealed in 2017 by the Emergency Decree on Non-Thais’ Working Management Emergency Decree, (2017) (“Decree No. 1”). (2008). Although the Alien Workers Act was repealed, Decree No. 1 retained the majority of its restrictions and integrated many of its provisions.
Non-Thais can engage in the following activities in Thailand without a work permit:
(1) A non-Thai who visits Thailand on an irregular basis for a brief period of time in order to conduct or attend a meeting, lecture, seminar, training, art or cultural exhibition, sporting event, express an opinion, examine the work of others, or engage in any other activities as determined by the Council of Ministers.
(2) A non-Thai who enters Thailand with the intention of operating a company, making an investment, or possessing information, skills, or abilities that are deemed advantageous to the country’s growth;
(3) A non-Thai legal representative (such as a director) of a foreign juridical person that has been granted a business license under the Foreign Business Act (1999).
Thailand has a lot of jobs for foreigners in places like;
- Teaching positions: These include positions instructing at numerous private or public schools around the nation in languages like English, French, or any other foreign language and this is one of the jobs you can do in Thailand without a work permit . For an average of 25,000 to 35,000 Baht ($700 to $1000), the salary is around 250 to 350 Baht ($7 to $10) per hour.
- Jobs in fitness, gyms, and athletic training are accessible in big cities and popular tourist destinations where there is a great need for sports coaches and fitness trainers. Students who work in private coaching or training earn between 1,000 and 1,500 Baht ($25 to $45) per hour, which is a respectable wage and adequate time for studying.
- Jobs at restaurants and hotels offer among the highest wages in the nation since they are in high demand all year round due to Thailand’s popularity as a tourist destination. It is simple for international students to obtain acceptable jobs while they are studying in Thailand due to the need for workers in the hotel industry. Employers place a high value on multilingual candidates, and salary ranges from 35,000 to 75,000 Baht depending on the level of competence and productivity of the employee.
- Jobs for those with professional abilities or talent include those in the fields of music, dancing, fashion, the arts, photography, and sports.
Prohibited Work Categories
For foreigners who wished to work in Thailand, the Thai government classified employment into categories to decide which ones were acceptable and which ones weren’t. They designated some employment as being exclusively for Thai people because they fear that foreigners will take the jobs away from the natives.
The restriction does not apply to any firms that fall outside of these categories. Here are some examples of the kind of employment that foreigners are not allowed to do:
Category A:
Agriculture: production of rice and salt;
Accounting, animal farming, architecture, the hair and beauty sector, advertising, brokerage and auctioneering, and the construction industry are examples of service businesses;
Commercial activity: land commerce and domestic exchange of regional agricultural goods.
Category B:
Farming activities include rearing silkworms, raising livestock, harvesting wood and fish, and growing flowers.
Rice milling, flour, sugar, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, ice cream, medicines, woodcarving, clothing, footwear, furniture, jewelry production, printing and newspaper publishing, and the silk industry are examples of industrial and handicraft activities.
Commercial: all retailing sectors not listed in category C, including the sale of goods such as food, beverages, antiques, and fine arts;
Industry of services: lodging, travel, photography, dry cleaning, and clothing manufacturing;
Water, power, land, and transportation are examples of utilities.
Key information for working in Thailand
Here are some of the key information you need to take note of if you want to work in Thailand.
Language
English is widely used and understood in business settings, especially in bigger firms. It could be required to use interpreters in some situations.
Working Hours
Working eight hours a day, or 48 hours a week, is the maximum allowed. This may be lowered to seven hours per day or 42 hours per week if your employment is deemed hazardous.
Leave and Holidays
You must have worked in your current position for at least one year in order to be eligible for leave; at that point, you are entitled to six days of vacation every year. All employees are eligible for the 13 national holidays, regardless of their industry. Up to 30 days of sick leave per year are paid by employers.
Final Opinion
You will be apprehended and hauled before a court if you are discovered by Thai police or immigration officers operating in Thailand without a valid work visa. 5 years in jail, followed by deportation, and/or a fine ranging from 2,000 to 100,000 Thai Baht are all possible punishments. The typical punishment for those who have been working as teachers in Thailand illegally is a 2-year jail term followed by deportation.
We hope you have gained value from our list of jobs you can do in Thailand without a work permit. Feel free to drop your opinion in the comment section below.
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