Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are asking what stuff is considered illegal in terms of employment. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: 'Phuket Model' solution to visitors' crimes sought. Quoting directly: "The Phuket Model' should include data to inform visitors about what kinds of behaviour and activity are considered illegal in Thailand." So yeah, they are taking this initiative, they're calling it the so-called 'Phuket Model', which I find a little strange especially considering in my mind they did a lot of really crazy things regarding COVID during the so-called 'Phuket Sandbox' era. 

Leaving that aside, the issue of illegal work in Thailand - restricted occupations - I have put up videos before, I'll go ahead and do a link in the description or I'll put up the list of restricted occupations from the Government. It is from a Government website; it's actually in English put out by the Government and they make it very clear what is restricted, and there's a lot of stuff on there. I have made videos about it before. Foreign legal professionals, yeah that's illegal in Thailand. There are various other things: agents for example, foreign agents. So anytime you hear somebody say "well I'm a Visa agent", no you're not. If you are, you are a criminal because it specifically says agency is not allowed under the law. Then there are other things that really cause the Thai blood to boil with regard to illegal occupations like folks that come over here and engage in trades especially barbers; again working in certain aspects of the service economy, working wait staff, foreigners working wait staff; even working as bartenders. All of that stuff is generally speaking considered restricted. 

I've dealt with the hate when I make these videos and you know what, it's just something I've kind of resigned myself to that I'm just going to have to take when I bring this topic up, but I worry about it because I have watched my own country of birth see its internal labour pool just be eviscerated over time because nobody was enforcing relevant law. There's nothing wrong with being protectionist over your own country's labour pool and trying to maintain a certain standard of living for your own citizenry. There's nothing wrong with that and I think the Thais are on the right track when it comes to dealing with foreigners coming to Thailand and not only behaving badly in a criminal context, but behaving badly by engaging in work that they are not legally able to engage in, that is illegal to engage in.

Real sorry to folks that have a real problem with these restrictions but it is what it is and at the end of the day, Thailand has to promulgate and enforce laws that are in her own interest.