Job Discussion Forums

suzieQ · Joined: 21 Jul 2003 Posts: 4

I am really new at this and I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me out with my contract. I know this is a fairly broad topic, but what are the major points I should be looking for before I sign the contract? Confused

Tabitha Smallpiece · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 23 Location: Bangkok Thailand

Susy Q,

Contracts in Thailand are not worth a light, the employer can and indeed will dismiss you on any pretext that they like if they decide you do not fit into their grand scheme of things.

Contracts written in English, or indeed any other language other than Thai hold no legal right at all in Thai courts of law. Here at our school we employ our staff on normal western terms, no written contract, however there is a teachers handbook which details both our obligations and also the teachers obligations.

We do positively vet all our applicants and indeed we have always had a positive response from our staff, this may of course be due to the fact that they are all teaching professionals recruited from various parts of the world and with relevant experience within the international schools setting.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

If you work at a university you receive a contract in Thai with a translation in English. In my case and the case of people I know, the contract has always been honored. I don't think you can get a work permit without a contract.

The contract normally covers salary [of course], housing/housing allowance, number of teaching and office hours, insurance, holidays and sick days, bonuses, conditions for terminating the contract, and a few other odds and sods.

hagakuri · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 3:56 pm Post subject: I think

Typically, although contracts are not legally binding, they are honored as a matter of principle.

The hiring institution(s) are aware that if they summarily dismiss employees there will be fall-out. This means that they risk losing more employees if they start firing employees without cause.

In Thailand, teachers usually have a fairly strong unity within the school because they often spend a great deal of social time together after hours. They dont like being messed with. There are enough things to deal with than having to deal with administration of a firing rampage.

As its said.... there is strength in numbers.

Hope this helps.