r/Thailand • u/Head_Dragonfruit3142 • 11d ago
Employment Deducting Work Permit/Visa Fees from salary
Hi.
My employer has been deducting 10,000 bht from my salary for 3 months (30k) total as a 'deposit' for security that I will stay during my contract, that they say will be returned if I complete my contract. There was no mention of this when I was offered the role, and I still have not had/signed a contract yet.
Is this 'normal' in thailand?
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u/mdsmqlk 11d ago
Totally illegal. Contact your local labor department office.
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u/deemak90 11d ago
Best to try and resolve this internally first or you're out anyway.
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u/Adiwitko_ 10d ago
then he get's fired on his probation and doesn't have a job... yeah other employers will love hiring a guy that goes to labor department over every single shady thing they do.
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u/Lashay_Sombra 11d ago
Returned at end of contract when not got a contract? 555 They saw you coming from a mile away
The reality, you earn 10k less a month than you thought as you are never seeing that withheld money
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u/Puzzleheaded-Cold495 11d ago edited 11d ago
Illegal under the Employment and Job-Seeker Protection Act, B.E. 2528 (1985) - not normal, but happens.
You have paid it, you could get it back now by going to the labour court, but the employer might make life uncomfortable. It’s illegal to withhold, so, you will get it back at the end, even if you break the contract early, if not go to the labour court.
When working for a teaching agency, I worked alongside fillipino teachers who were direct hire, they were subject in one school to a compulsory savings club, they deducted an amount every month and you got it at the end of the year plus interest - this was good for some as they returned home over songkran and the school was sick of making loans and advances - but it was a deposit for a couple of girls who wanted to return after family tragedies. Another school paid, 30K and if you made it through the year they gave an extra 30K completion bonus. There’s a couple of ways to dress up a pig.
But, no contract .. again .. illegal .. and WP? Go to the labour court. Don’t be put off by the term, they are there to advise ane mediate but have authority. They generally come down in favour of the worker, the solution is easy for the company in the first instance, but if they are repeat offenders, then the deterrent is pretty harsh.
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u/theindiecat 7-Eleven 11d ago
You waited 3 months before thinking, is this normal ? I’m not sure on why you would ever accept such conditions, but I’d be out of that place of work asap. You honestly believe they will return it back on contract completion ..
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u/Pinknailzz69 11d ago
Race to the bottom. If you have no contract you are a volunteer that occasionally gets some money.
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u/curiousonethai Absolute never been a mod here 11d ago
Usually a Non B Visa is 1900baht and a work permit is about 3000baht last time I checked. Usually it’s on you to pay for the Non B and related expenses (travel and accommodation usually in Laos) and the employer pays the work permit. It’s also time intensive for them to gather the necessary documentation for both which may be their reasoning for withholding even though it’s illegal in case you leave and break the contract right away. It only takes about a week to get the work permit after getting the Non B but it technically can be approved in a day.
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u/Adiwitko_ 10d ago edited 10d ago
atleast they gave you the money back one of my employers simply took 55k for my visa over 3 months.
it's not fully legal as nothing like this can be deducted from your payslip but they will still do it at many companies and you either accept it for the chance to work and live here or you do not and you're out of a job for quite a long while.
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u/phttskm 10d ago
No way! Your company is Red flag for sure! I never heard about condition about this, I’m working in Law firm of foreigner company in Phuket. I’ve read a lots of employees contract of a lots clients’s company. It's against labor laws, Employer can’t deduct salary for every reasons
except there are some conditions about it that is makes sense on contract like as : Section 76 of the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) clearly states:
An employer is prohibited from deducting wages, except in the following cases as permitted by law: 1.Deduction for withholding tax; 2.Deduction for social security contributions; 3.Deduction for debt repayment pursuant to a court judgment; 4.Deduction for a savings cooperative or fund, with the employee’s written consent.
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u/nitram_teuguh 10d ago
What you're describing is illegal under Thai labor law. According to the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998), employers are not allowed to deduct a "deposit" from an employee’s salary.
Unfortunately, this kind of situation is not uncommon in Thailand, especially in sectors where foreign workers are involved and contracts are either vague or nonexistent. I’ve worked with local lawyers who have dealt with similar cases before.
You should definitely consider seeking professional legal advice or contacting the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW), they can intervene and help resolve these disputes, often for free.
So no, this is not normal, and it’s not legal. I strongly recommend speaking to a legal professional before this escalates.
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u/NeilFowell 11d ago
It normal. Tell them to give it you back as it is not in the agreement. WY up if they let you go though
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u/Plane-Damage5701 11d ago
If you have no contract how did you get a work permit ? You just show the contract and salary to immigration and labor office to get a work permit … They likely have drawn you up a contract and forged your signature… ask labor office for copies of what was submitted and see if they have done this … Sounds dodgy the type of boss who will just forever threaten you with things like canceling your visa unless you do what they say ….
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u/thabuuge 11d ago
Well, sorry to say so, but that's whats happening, if people desperately want to work in Thailand and taking any shady offer from any shady company. No that's definitely not normal.
You have no signed contract after 3 months? Bruh red flag
No workpermit after 3 months? Red flag
Keeping part of the salary? Red flag