AWOL 2014 Issue 266 17th January

Weather Your free weekly newspaper since 2008 issue 2 66 17 January 2014 Puzzles Weird News Classifieds Bostin Tommy laboured work permits: have you got one, do you need one? hua hin, THAILAND There is an increasing number of business ventures being undertaken by non-Thais in Hua Hin and in Thailand generally, and correspondingly more and more foreigners requiring work permits. There are also increasing numbers who have skilled jobs working for companies that obtain these vital documents for them, and they should be thankful as the process and paperwork required is long and hefty. Consequently there are often some who either don’t know they require a permit, or a few who take a chance of not being caught. That risk is too high for most, as it can lead to large fines and deportation in the worst cases, but there are still regular visits made by police to businesses where they think they might catch someone out, and this week it appears as though another round of these visits has started. Sometimes the police will have had a tip off, other times it will be a visit to a place where a permit was previously held, and even for those who have all their paperwork in order there can be an intimidatory air about proceedings, similar to that when other checks are made such as on music licences in bars. The puzzling thing for many foreigners running businesses here is that no matter how hard they try to abide by the rules, and how many local people get gainful employment from their efforts, they feel as if they are being picked on because they are ‘farang’; however Thai run businesses also get these visits, under suspicion of perhaps employing someone from Myanmar without the required paperwork. However tempting it may be to try and ‘beat the system’ ultimately it behoves all of us to abide by the rules, and when the Asian Economic Union is formed in 2015 there will be even greater scruting on those working inside it who come from countries outside of it. Victor guesthouse open 24/7 Naresdamri Rd. opposite Brasserie de Paris Rooms/family suites in heart of Hua Hin a/c, lcd tv, dvd player, fridge, free premium wifi, cable TV www.victorguesthousehuahin.com GET RACING FROM ONLY 400 BAHT! OPEN EVERYDAY 10.30AM - 7PM, LATE NIGHT BY APPOINTMENT Call 032 547 199 (Office) or 081 817 3000 (Mobile) Soi 2, Phetchkasem Road opposite Hua Hin Airport www.gokarthuahin.com