electrician looking for work

Post by **hodgey1972** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:57 am

hi,im hoping to move to thailand in sept, and am looking for work as an electrician/foreman, if anyone has any info,contacts that might be useful to me,i'd really appriciate it.

Post by **Mack111** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:13 am

think you'll find it hard mate getting a work permit. also i hired a decent Thai electrical guy to put some lights outside the house and 2 extra socket points and it was only 350 Baht for the labour which is about 5 pounds and he was there all day doing this

some of the guys that stay there full time can probally give you better advise

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:49 pm

There is a list of jobs that are restricted for persons of non-Thai origin wishing to work in the kingdom. This list is contained in the handbook of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, linked below:

http://www.mfa.go.th/internet/document/h_sec5fin.pdf

You have to scroll down to section 5.6.

There are also other hassles, like the 90-day reporting to immigration, rumours going around that it'll be shortened to 60 days... something on minimum declared income..

As an aside, and off topic.. If you've been smitten by a Thai maiden and want a change of locality and employment because of her, DON'T. Go read the www.stickmanbangkok.com forum reader's contributions first.

Post by **buksida** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:32 pm

VincentD wrote: There are also other hassles, like the 90-day reporting to immigration, rumours going around that it'll be shortened to 60 days... something on minimum declared income..

Ahh ... more damn clampdowns, what a refreshing change.

However

you may be better off working as a consultant for the large developers, as said above local labour in this field is extremely cheap.

Post by **Mack111** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:34 pm

so can now only stay 60 days at a time?

Post by **Mack111** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:36 pm

sorry my typing is getting so bad

Dose that mean if on a tourist visa its 60 days max now?

Post by **PeteC** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:42 pm

buksida wrote: as said above local labour in this field is extremely cheap.

Yes indeed. A contributing factor is that not one sectioned and joined wire in my house has ever been done with those regulation plastic cone type crimp joiners. Simply use tape and of course, it doesn't even have to be electrical tape, duct tape will do or whatever they may have in their pocket, perhaps some old birthday present wrapping.

Pete

Post by **Winkie** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:53 pm

Just thought I'd add a differnet perspective to the valid comments already posted.

If a qualified farang electrician happened to be available for a little weekend work, I can think of several occassions where I would pay UK rates for a some decent advice, trouble shooting and installation work.

I know all will say that they know a wonderful elelctrician in Hua Hin or ChaAm, that does a stunning job.

But.. in my experience, they are all farmers, and the only reason try to profess to be an electrician, is because they are crap at farming!

Winkie

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:10 pm

It is true that most Thais have a cavalier attitude towards electricity. I went to visit our house in Nong Ki shortly after it had been completed, and I found that the supply hadnâ€™t been connected yet. Not to be inconvenienced by this, one of my partners family had joined four bits of old cable together with tape, strung it across the road on a piece of bamboo and had the whole house connected to a single two pin socket in the sisters house.
It surprised me that the cable didnâ€™t actually glow in the dark!

Post by **lomuamart** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:24 pm

Mack111 wrote:sorry my typing is getting so bad

Dose that mean if on a tourist visa its 60 days max now?

I think what VincentD is saying is that for those who have annual extensions to their visas (through work, marriage or retirement) there are rumours that reporting to immigration may have to be done every 60 days, rather than 90 as it is now. Those on extensions don't have to leave the country - unless they want to.
Off topic - sorry, but thought I'd try and clear that up. If anything does happen along those lines, I'm sure it'll be posted in the relevant forum.

sargeant · Post by **sargeant** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:37 pm

Hodgy you are indeed most fortunate that i have been ill and was unable to answer and thus you have all these nice friendly posters answering you and letting you down gently.
To quote john mcenroe "" you cannot be freakin serious""
If you are even vaguely thinking of coming here to work as an electrician it tells me you aint got the dosh to stay here

tourist visa................not allowed to work
Non O visa................not allowed to work
Retirement visa lots of dosh...............not allowed to work

work permits are only issued when it has been proven that a thai cannot be found that can do the job

By the way dont believe people when they say they will pay UK rates they would only employ you once and then loose your business number and 350 baht a day (please note A DAY) is the going rate for an electrician from the towns electric company

I am a carpenter and joiner electrician plumber and bricklayer I Dont work because i dont want to get deported

Write to the thai embassy and get the proper rules and regs and think again

Post by **johnnyk** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:05 am

You will be shopped as soon as a Thai sees you walk into a house carrying a pair of pliers.
Make your money somewhere else to spend it in Thailand.

sargeant · Post by **sargeant** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:36 am

Dead right johny but where do these people get the idea that this is a free work zone it must be one of the most regulated countries for work i have ever heard of
some prat must be putting it around!! whoever it is stop it it is irresponsible

Post by **Mack111** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:52 pm

I hate to put a downer on your idea but Sarge is right mate, the chances of finding sustained work at UK rates is slim and then of top of that soemone will inform teh power to be if they are loosing out on work.

Perhaps turning to a different skill like house selling houses or setting up a biz etc

Post by **johnnyk** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:22 am

Mack111 wrote:I hate to put a downer on your idea but Sarge is right mate, the chances of finding sustained work at UK rates is slim and then of top of that soemone will inform teh power to be if they are loosing out on work.

Perhaps turning to a different skill like house selling houses or setting up a biz etc

Opening a bar is a surefire winner