Employment in Thailand!

[JeffS]

With the very tight rules in regards employment and business ownership for foreigners, I cannot help but wonder how an Indian national can be the manager of a hotel in Thailand. Also, how is it that there are so many tailors' shops in all major centres of the Kingdom? (Foreign run and staffed). If I want to come and stay in Thailand, with no thought of working, and not wanting to run borders, I have strict criteria that I must meet. Just wondering how it all works!

[GLCQuantum]

Not sure of the ins and outs of it all but you'll find (I think) that most major hotels in Thailand have a foreign manager.

[HHTel]

And I'll think you'll find that a lot of indian people here are Thai citizens (i.e. born in Thailand)

[Pleng]

And I'm pretty sure there's a thread around here somewhere that points out the Criteria for Indians is lower than that for Farrang, is there not?

[ste860]

you will also find that most of them are born here ,and as mentioned above nearly all hotels employ managers that are not thai

[Jose]

most of the Indians working in Tailor shops and market stall are 2nd/3rd generation born in Thailand. Also Indians have different work permitt restrictions, the minimium tax on their salary is less than ours.

[GLCQuantum]

Steering away from the asked question here... yes many Indians here are Thai Citizens. But as a foreigner you can open up any shop you want - as long as you're not blatantly serving out produce in said shop.

[JeffS]

Thanks for the heads up but still cannot understand why such a proud nation as Thailand would not employ THAI nationals to these very important positions! I am sure that there are many extremely well qualified people that would seek them.

[margaretcarnes]

Thanks for the heads up but still cannot understand why such a proud nation as Thailand would not employ THAI nationals to these very important positions! I am sure that there are many extremely well qualified people that would seek them.

Many of the foreign hotel managers are in international hotel chains. There might be deals going on there - Marriott for example says we want to build in HH but we want our own manager/chef/physio/golf pro etc as part of the deal. There might also be an element of status as far as potential Thai managers are concerned. It is the service industry, and perhaps not viewed as having the same status as police chief/general/bank manager. And the same might apply to tailor shops of course, although as pointed out many Indian business owners are Thai nationals.
Catering to foreign visitors is still a relatively young industry in the LOS, despite it's rapid growth. It was only in the 60's that the need for western standard hotels really took off.
But if you look at the smaller hotels, where Thais themselves tend to stay, they are Thai owned and managed. Or more likely Thai/Chinese, who have good business ethics, and who would rather own their own hotel - albeit smaller - than work for a Marriott style infiltrator.