Work permit rules revised (text from Bangkok Post, Aug 2002)

Valid for 12 months, ready within a week

Renewable work permits will be issued to foreigners for 12 months under a rule
revamp approved by the Labour Ministry.

Requests must also be processed within seven days.

Minister Dej Boonlong said the Employment Department brought in the changes
after complaints about delays in issuing work permits.

Where permits are declined applicants have the right to appeal to the minister
via the department chief or registrars within 30 days.

Petitions must be sent on in 15 days to the alien-labour panel which will send
its comments to the minister, who in turn must hand down a final ruling within
30 days.

"We have a duty to ensure convenience, create incomes and jobs and bring
new technology to the country,'' said Mr Dej.

"Foreigners can work here on a one-year basis and must have their permits
renewed before they expire. They will pay no more than 1,000 baht in fees a
year.''

To be eligible, foreigners must do one of the following:

- Serve workplaces with registered capital of at least two million baht. One
..foreigner can be hired for every two million baht of capital.

- Serve workplaces which have paid taxes of at least five million baht in the
..past three years. One foreigner can be hired for every five million baht in tax

- Serve export firms which bring in foreign currency of at least three million
..baht a year. One foreigner can be hired for every three million baht in
..income, up to a maximum of three foreigners.

- Serve workplaces which employ no more than five foreign workers, where
..the firm observes a ratio of 50 Thai workers for every one foreigner.

- Pay at least 18,000 baht in personal income tax in the past year.

Foreigners who have not worked here before must produce documents from
potential employers confirming they will be paid at least 30,000 baht if they
are single and 45,000 baht each if they are married.

However, the Employment Department head is empowered to issue or renew
work permits without taking tax payments into account in exceptional
categories, where the foreigners must be either:

- International trade representatives who audit product quality, purchases
..and market status.

- Advisers in investment, management, technology or internal auditing.

- Tourism workers bringing foreigners to Thailand for tours

- Working at international financial institutes endorsed by the Bank of
..Thailand.

- Working on a temporary basis for entertainment, religious, social welfare,
..cultural and sporting businesses which pay taxes to the state.

- Working as a contractor on projects for state agencies or public enterprises

- Working with local raw materials

- Working in areas where there is a shortage of Thai labour.

- Married to Thai citizens with decent jobs.

Foreigners wanting to take urgent jobs in Thailand must contact the
Employment Department for consent.

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