Govt mulls plans to extend work permits to 2 years

[buksida]

The government plans to seek cabinet approval for its proposal to extend the maximum period of work permits for foreigners working in Thailand to two years from the current one year, as part of a range of measures aimed at attracting more foreign investment.

Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula revealed the plan at yesterday's forum of the 32nd Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) annual meeting in Chiang Rai.

The government planned to propose the cabinet approve the work permit extension at the weekly meeting tomorrow. It was among measures designed to boost foreign investment in Thailand, he said.

Full Story: Bangkok Post

Thought: Absolutely pointless unless you can extend your non-B visa by two years also.

[Bristolian]

I have a two year work permit, which I understood was now the norm. When I renew it in August it will be my 3rd consecutive two year permit….So what’s new?

[Woosie]

This would be a small step in the right direction. Right now I have to renew my Visa annually in February and my WP annually in October. Both time consuming and high "pita" factor. Anything to reduce the hoops we have to jump through on a regular basis to work & stay legally in this country is welcome IMO.

[Vital Spark]

I agree with Bristolian - what's new? I'm on my third 2-year work permit for teaching. It would make more sense to offer 2-year visas, as I still have to renew mine every year.

VS

[buksida]

I think only teachers can get 2 years - I've been extending the same work permit for the past 14 years and have only ever got one year at a time.

[Bristolian]

I'm not a teacher. I'm a manager in an international company with a sales and service unit in Bangkok and as I mentioned earlier, I will soon be on my 3rd two year WP so it's not restricted to teachers.

[buksida]

No idea why some are on one year then and others get two - do you use an agent to do it? Or maybe it depends on the province?

[dozer]

I have had a WP 27 years, went for an interview at the Ministry Of Labour in 1987 and that was the last time I was personally involved in the process.
Every couple of years it gets extended, I know this because I have got to make sure the passport with the WP is in country at the time of extension.

[Bristolian]

This is a little cryptic but reported today in the Bangkok Post
Prayut backtracks on FBA changes

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/new ... ba-changes

During a question and answer session afterward, Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula said the service sector had been satisfactorily liberalised except for the insurance and telecommunications. He expects the service sector will be liberalised within two years.

Restrictive work permit and reporting regulations have been a subject of complaints for years.

"Through the international headquarters and international trading centre programmes, work permits will be automatically extended for two years, plus they won't need to report every 90 days. Everyone else can report by email without having to show up in person," said MR Pridiyathorn.