Job Discussion Forums

topshop · Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 29

hello to those in the know in Thailand,
if you feel you are being unfairly fired is there any recourse or advice from the labour office or local lawyer or should one just grin and bear it?
many thanks for any help

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

If you feel you are being unfairly fired or treated in the Land Of Smiles....go to the Labor Office to file a complaint, get a Thai lawyer....and expect to pay up to Baths 100,000 for your case against the school. However there is no guarantee you will get your job back if that is what your hoping for. Good luck!

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Are you being fired, or is it merely case of your contract not being renewed?

There's nothing you can do about contract non-renewal. As for being presented with the sack, Most teaching contracts contain clauses allowing either party to terminate the contract at any time with 30 days notice. Check your contract.

Anyway, it sounds like you may be the victim of office politics, at a gov't uni perhaps?

What EFL Edutainer says is pretty much true. Most people don't find it worth the effort to fight the power when they can just get a new job next door, well, at least in BKK.

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

Perhaps if you work a little on your stand up routine. You were obviously an inadequate edutainer.

topshop · Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 29

I will try to file a complaint at the Labour Office before the end of term, October 07 which is when they are sacking me. There is a clause in the contract which talks about performance and that a warning has to be given. However I never received a warning either verbally or in writing which makes it strange that I was called in and given a letter of termination. It is an EP program and I have a good deal of experience but probably as EFL Educator says my lack of edutaining skills let me down. I was documented correctly with regard to work permit etc, so it surprises me that they would go through the process of all that to sack me after I passed the probation period.

Thanks again

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

So, the reason for termination wasn't stated in the letter?

You should file the complaint, but have no expectations and look for a uni job teaching 20-year-old kids instead of 12 year-olds, or whatever.

Also, note that AFAIK your visa and WP are cancelled upon termination but you get a grace period of 10 days or something but you may have to return the WP to the ministry. Actually, TBH I'm not sure of the current regulations as I left Thailand almost a decade ago, but you or the school have to do something when your gig is finished, so please check. You can't just continue on the same visa and WP.

topshop · Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 29

Thank you. Unfortunately the nice man at the Labour office told me that I cannot file a complaint there as the EP program at a government school where I work does not come under their jurisdiction even though they issue the work permit. He has told me to go to the education office which deals with contracted teachers both Thai and Foreign. So I will try at the education office then. It seems strange that the labour office would not handle it as they were responsible for issuing the work permit.

I feel that there is something fishy with regard to how the work permits are being obtained in that I am not sure if the actual degree certificates from the teachers are actually leaving the school for the Education Ministry in Bangkok. In fact, teachers here seem to be able to stay on for a long time after the four year exemption period. My copy of the Thai contract was never given to me although I submitted in Penang for the initial 3 month Non O. It appears to be so easy for the school to obtain and cancel work permits at will surely the Ministry would start asking questions?

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

Willy_In_Japan · Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 329

I'm a trained ESL teacher with a ton of experience.

I am more about actually teaching English rather than 'edutaining'.

Got the sack myself this week. I feel like a trained chef who got fired from McDonald's.

Don't really care, considering the learning environment here. When you actually let the students evaluate how well they think you are helping them actually LEARN English and base this opinion on whether they fire the teacher or not is a joke. They don't have a clue.

So, to the original poster. I feel for you. I'm in the same boat. Don't sweat it and move on.