Advice wanted please, seeking work in Hua Hin

[len-mk]

hi quick intro -english guy been to hua hin twice this year for 3 weeks each .met a girl fallen big time in love -yes i know its doomed to failure but anyway.looking to come back and stay for 6-9 months at a time, she has own appartment so sorted there.looking to find out if there is any work be it occasional part time etc -just enought to help with the bar tab.experianced plumber /gas engineer and bloody good handy man but willing to do anything for a few baht-painting etc.if anyone can help it would be well appreciated.
thanks Len

[johnnyk]

Bear in mind the law says you cannot work at anything a Thai person can do.
If caught at it you can be tossed out and the person paying you can be in trouble as well.

[margaretcarnes]

Seconded. The laws are extremely strict about foreigners working in Thailand - you would need to be able to show that you have a skill or do a job which only a farang can do. Then go through the hoops of getting a Work Permit as well.
Most common areas in which this can be done are teaching, or work connected to the tourism/hotel industry such as chef, golf pro, physio/trainer etc. Apart from those - working for a foreign company based in Thailand as a manager or engineer is fairly common. Or manage your own company.
Otherwise get your girlfriend to run a business for you in her name. Be aware - it isn't unknown for a farang to 'shop' another farang either - and as JohnnyK says the result is deportation (after a length of time in an Immigration cell of course.)

[Roel]

Do not expect too much positive advice on this one, but that is reality I am afraid. Also beware of people (farang or Thai) offering you a job and convincing you that for this one you do not need a work permit. There is no such thing. You even need a work permit for unpaid voluntary work. Just a warning because I have seen people ending up in trouble. First they tried to convince me that their boss was well connected and therefore everything would work out fine. But the day came it did not work out fine. The foreigner gets arrested and if the boss was indeed well connected HE gets away with it and if he was not that well connected after all it will cost him some money. But you will be the one in trouble.

Unfortunately the skills you mention do not offer any legal job opportunities in Thailand. Your best shot -as margretcarnes already mentioned - would probably be teaching English.

[TypicallyTropical]

Your best shot -as margretcarnes already mentioned - would probably be teaching English.

Or just take off the rose-colored glasses!

[E-Dork]

The are many 'lucrative' positions in real estate. No experience needed. Dodgy background an advantage.

[OscarMike]

The above comments are correct - not worth the risk. Hua Hin also seems to have its own tourist police gestapo that have more power than expected so often people with a work permit also get busted - "grassing up" seems to have become a popular activity in the town lately.

[Super Joe]

Here's the list of jobs we can't do, and looks like no.3 wipes out everything, also no.1.
You can have your own plumbing etc company as a director, but would technically need local tradesmen.

Alien Employment Act Royal Decree B.E. 2522 (1979)

1. laboring
2. work in agriculture, animal breeding, forestry, fishing and farm supervision (excluding specialized skills for the branch, farm supervision or in the maritime fishing field)
3. masonry, carpentry or other construction work
4. wood carving
5. driving of motor vehicles or non-motorised carriers (except piloting international airplanes)
6. shop attendant and window salespeople
7. auctioneering
8. accountancy supervision, auditing or services in the accounting field (except occasional internal auditing)
9. gem cutting or polishing
10. hair cutting, hair dressing or beautician work
11. hand weaving
12. mat weaving or fabrication of wares from reed, rattan, kenaf, straw or bamboo pulp
13. manual fibre paper making
14. lacquerware making
15. Thai musical instrument fabrication
16. nielloware fabrication
17. goldsmith, silversmith, or other precious metalwork
18. bronzeware fabrication
19. Thai doll making
20. mattress or padded blanket fabrication
21. alms bowl fabrication
22. manual silk product fabrication
23. Buddha image fabrication
24. knife making
25. paper or cloth umbrella fabrication
26. shoemaking
27. hat making
28. brokerage or agency work (except international business)
29. engineering work, civil engineering branch involving designing, drawing, calculation, organization, research, planning, testing, construction supervision or advisory work (except work requiring specialized skills)
30. architectural work involving designing, drawing or estimating, also as construction supervision or advisory
31. dressmaking
32. pottery or ceramics
33. manual cigarette rolling
34. tourist guide or tour organizing agency
35. hawking business
36. Thai character typesetting
37. clerical or secretarial work
38. legal or litigation service.

Good luck anyway,

SJ

[Spitfire]

Good advice from the above posters. I wouldn't even think about work here until you've spent some time living here first, it's a quagmire, very limited options with severe penalties for non-compliance to the rules.

I'm afraid Roel is right, you won't get any positive feedback on this one.

[len-mk]

thanks to all for your advice. looks like i will be spending all my time lazing about in the sun then i will have to make a 4-6 month run home and work my arse off in the uk winter season.
ps no rose tinted glasses here, going into this with my eyes wide open

[STEVE G]

Yes, the reality of the matter is that you would make more money in a contract position in the West for a few months than you would make in an entire year in Thailand, so you may as well just do that and sit on the beach for the rest of the year.
If I was you, I would even consider having a look for work in somewhere like Germany where the economy is improving and you'll get paid in Euros.

[Spitfire]

..ps no rose tinted glasses here, going into this with my eyes wide open

Good, keep on posting and reading, you'll be wearing shades before you know it.

[mabubba]

Yes, the reality of the matter is that you would make more money in a contract position in the West for a few months than you would make in an entire year in Thailand, so you may as well just do that and sit on the beach for the rest of the year.

My sentiments too. Working 6-9 months a year and then relaxing for 3 months sounds like a dream. I think doing this would be nice until you can save up enough to retire.