View Full Version : Job discrimination in Thailand?
Looking at the classified ad in the Bangkok Post, you will find that most job specifically required people not older than 35 years old.
Why such a gross discrimination against older generation? What can older generation do to find job? Or should they forget about it?
I'm amazed that there are a requirement that when you reach 60 years of age, then you practically have to retire. No matter what.
No wonder I hardly find older Thais on BTS trains to go to work. I only see mostly farangs. Why would Thai society waste a lot of experiences and talents of older generation?
What happens to Thais folks after 60 years old, do they stay home...waiting to die...?
jpatokal
01-05-05, 04:43 PM
What happens to Thais folks after 60 years old, do they stay home...waiting to die...?
To me this actually sounds preferable to the Singaporean model, where folks after 60 years flip hamburgers at McDonalds until they die.
Maybe this is the 'soft white underbelly' of Singapore that is hidden from the majority of non-Singaporeans. Are you suggesting that OAPs in Singapore aren't financially comfortable enough to enjoy their retirement?
Actually, it is a fact that many older Thais vegetate in front of the TV; especially where their wealth has always precluded them from doing anything useful anyway.
jpatokal
01-05-05, 11:06 PM
Maybe this is the 'soft white underbelly' of Singapore that is hidden from the majority of non-Singaporeans. Are you suggesting that OAPs in Singapore aren't financially comfortable enough to enjoy their retirement?
That would be an understatement. There was recently an article in the Pravd... sorry, I mean the Straits Times about a mother (90+) and daughter (70+) who'd been kicked out of their apartment because they couldn't pay the rent, so they were living homeless under a housing block and scratching up combined monthly earnings of S$400 by doing cleaning and odd jobs. This wasn't news, mind you, but the fact that somebody stole S$500 that they'd hidden in a cookie jar was...
So I sure am glad that the Dear Leader has in his Labor Day speech (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/30/content_2901008.htm) said making Singapore a welfare state remains "ruled out", because that would (the horror! the horror!) "increase government spending".
Nekochan
10-05-05, 12:53 AM
Job discrimination? I presume you are all men and at least you are lucky.
Have you ever read about a requirement for secretary in Thailand?
Age not over 28!!
Undergraduate degree (minimum)
Fluent in foreign language (English, Japanese, whatever)
... female (of course)
... and Thai!!
No active, assertive, straight forward, headstronge personality
(I wonder Thais want to hire secretary like Janet Reno in the office to be their boss!!)
If you want to be Thai Farmer Bank's e-girl (e is not a good meaning in Thai), you must be at least 165 cm tall! (and good looking, too!) The same for Miss Motor Pick Up Truck something!
But yet most Thais will tolerate this issue, or accept it as a matter of fact. Just like corruption as part of doing business.
Discrimination and corruption are good for business!!!
I don't quite get it. Even the US companies located in Thailand supposedly they have a very stingent laws against discrimination in the US. But when they operate here in Thailand, they tend to have a field day in ignoring their standard of business practices of equal rights and eqaul opportuniities, no discrimination.
As for the Eurppeon companies, I don't believe they are interested in equal rights and equal opportunities...at least I don't notice it.
Mr. Prime Minister hasn't yet take on this issue. He has other stuff to worry about, such as, trying to protect Thailand image and reputation in reference to the new airport scandal.
All this points to the Thai emphasis upon family ties, where the younger members are expected to provide for their elders, a fact that many foriegners, more particularly westerners, find it diifficult to relate to.
In addition to this is the obvious fact that all companies will do no more than is legally required of them to operate within any country or culture, despite their protestations socially/environmentally responsible conduct. Even loyalty, which many companies claim to value so highly, turns into a one way street when the chips are down and cash is being counted.
I guess Thailand is not going to become a world class contry after all. If they still maintain job discrimination and corruption as a fact of life here.
I haven't noticed anybody upset and doing something about it. It must be because it's difficult to find a good job for the Thais. So they keep their months shut...But shame on the Thai government; they suppose to protect the public; but nothing happens so far...
White Nancy
13-06-05, 08:25 PM
Taking up the degree issue. The last time I was in BKK (May) I saw an advert in The Nation for hotel staff. As it was for a new hotel, all grades were required, from managers to bar staff and cleaners.
The advert stated that a degree was required for ALL positions. I found it amazing, to say the least, that an employer would expect a person to acquire a university education just to change sheets!
I have noticed in my dealings over the years that many countries, (not just in Asia) put great store in degrees, even if they have no relevence to the job to be carried out.
When I have employed staff, and I had 150 at one time, (thank God those days are over!) I looked for general ability, experience (or potential) and common sense above any bit of paper. I never had an issue filling even quite specialist roles using these criterium.
Many of the Thais I have met on my trips there have been bright, hard working and articulate. However, the lack of a degree means they are passed over in the job market (unless they happen to work for a Farang with opinions like mine) and this is a crying waste of perfectly competent people.
Unfortunately this blind policy of employing what I call "bright boys with an ology and no common sense" in unsuitable roles will have a disabling effect on any country's ability to fully function in the world.
Right, off the soapbox!
There seems to be a tradition here that you have to have a higher degree to get somewhere. People spend millions of millions of bahts sending their kids to get a good education in foreign lands to get higher degrees.
Bacheror degree is not enough to get anywhere. You must have a master degree or a doctor degree...to get somewhere and get promoted. It doesn't matter whether you're smart or not, as long as you get a higher degrees...on something.
I met a lot of guys with doctor degree but not doing anything worthwhile at all. It's pathetic...
The Enforcer!
14-06-05, 11:16 AM
Taking up the degree issue. The last time I was in BKK (May) I saw an advert in The Nation for hotel staff. As it was for a new hotel, all grades were required, from managers to bar staff and cleaners.
The advert stated that a degree was required for ALL positions. I found it amazing, to say the least, that an employer would expect a person to acquire a university education just to change sheets!
As someone who was a senior executive for one of Thailand's largest companies until I retired, I have to say that in many cases the local Degrees are not worth the paper they are printed on!
The worst, as far as I was concerned, were those with English-taught degrees ... many of whom could not string a sentance together in English so how on Earth did they get a degree!
The Enforcer!
White Nancy
14-06-05, 05:45 PM
Following the last two posts:- "the prosecution rests its case yer honour" :D
The Enforcer!
15-06-05, 10:00 AM
I met a lot of guys with doctor degree but not doing anything worthwhile at all. It's pathetic...
Does Dr. Taksin spring to mind I wondr?
The Enforcer!
White Nancy
15-06-05, 05:14 PM
Ouch!! :eek:
kuanteen
23-06-05, 08:22 PM
Discrimination is not always bad. Otherwise you'd be forcing people to marry just anyone who asks first just to give "equal opportunity".....
....before the flames, I have to say, I'm not racist.
White Nancy
24-07-05, 07:00 PM
Discrimination is not always bad. Otherwise you'd be forcing people to marry just anyone who asks first just to give "equal opportunity".....
....before the flames, I have to say, I'm not racist.
Probably taking things a bit far, that! :D
Discrimination may not always be a bad thing, but why do it when it works to the country's disadvantage :confused:
I totally agree with Khun White Nancy. I don't see any benefits of discrimination.
If the Thai government is really, really interested in moving the country to the 21 century, it has to truly eliminate discrimination and favoritism in the work place. And not just a lip service, it has to be enforced religiously, as well.
A true democracy has to start from protecting the individual rights and equal pay.
Clayton
28-09-05, 07:31 AM
But yet most Thais will tolerate this issue, or accept it as a matter of fact. Just like corruption as part of doing business.
Discrimination and corruption are good for business!!!
I don't quite get it. Even the US companies located in Thailand supposedly they have a very stingent laws against discrimination in the US. But when they operate here in Thailand, they tend to have a field day in ignoring their standard of business practices of equal rights and eqaul opportuniities, no discrimination.
As for the Eurppeon companies, I don't believe they are interested in equal rights and equal opportunities...at least I don't notice it.
Mr. Prime Minister hasn't yet take on this issue. He has other stuff to worry about, such as, trying to protect Thailand image and reputation in reference to the new airport scandal.
Most multi-national companies are the same; they'll only comply with what legislation dictates, whether it be discrimination or whatever. From my own experience, I know of one such company that operates to vastly different health and safety practices from factory to factory depending on the country - it saves them money and that's what they adhere to financial values - not moral values. The bottom line is they will do whatever the host nation allows them to get away with. :(
Okya Senaphimuk
13-01-06, 10:02 AM
I guess Thailand is not going to become a world class contry after all. If they still maintain job discrimination and corruption as a fact of life here.
I am from Italy, a member of G8, EU, blahblahblah... a place anybody would call "World Class," none the less my country experiences problems of corruption and discrimination at ALL levels that are somehow similar to the ones you describe when you talk about Thailand.
Not to mention Japan, where I reside at the moment, where female employees are still expected to serve tea to their male counterparts, and get paid less to perform exactly the same work as a man. Often better!).
These problems are not localized, and are tackled little by little, step by step b...y us, the people. Thus, I really appreciate that you talk about these issues, but I invite you to keep a positive attitude. The world, including Thailand, of course, CAN be improved. ;)
the problem with Thai folks is they are too complacent, uncommitatted, and not passanate enough to fight the issue. They have to rise up and get out of laissez-faire attitude and start taking actions, not just complaining or ignoring the issue.
Often time, they would sort of trying to avoiding the issue and feel that nothing they can do anything about it. And go to the temple and meditate!
gwmss15
02-02-06, 04:12 PM
how about the thai dump this stupid system of blocking most professional jobs at all levels to foriegners. If you have the skills and can do the job then you should be taken on regardless if your thai or not. allow farangs to work in all sectors especially when opening there own business that employes thais anyway ie a shop or office etc.
also for the benifit of the thais the min monthly wage must be raised to at least 15000 baht per month after tax in all industries even if that reduces the cheap labor aspect. looking at lifestyle and higher quality manufacturing whould bring in the cash to the economy anyway.
combine the NON B visa and work permits and reduce the price of this
push english as hard as possiable to catch up with the standards in singapore and the west. this alone will grow the economy.
allow
onslaught
05-02-06, 09:16 PM
Discrimination is rampant, even in the most educated person, the most refined gentleman, but what I think lies in everyone of us is to feel that we are more superior than others and the fight for perfection continues.
Discrimination, in my view has its benefits, but remember it is only a self-benefit, beneficial to yourself and the other party, the one who got him/herself a job for example. I would think it as rather selfish, an act that goes against human rights, something that is not tolerable yet many people practise, just because it suits them or without it, they think they would not prosper or succeed.
However, I think that discrimination has its side effects, ah, to yourself of course. A generalization is made that the pretty ones cannot work because they are complacent, and the not-so-good looking ones strive for success. This is because the beauty thinks everyone can hire her and looking for her rice bowl isn't that much of a problem. As such, focusing on the job might be a difficult task, as she readily grabs other better offers than the current one. Thus, you either keep up or loose your worker. However, the one with physical or mental disabilities would continue to work hard, because they know that their job is a hard-earned one. They do not want to disappoint their boss/ manager, and in fact, they put their heart so deep into their job that they almost reach their peak of perfection. Ah well, the generalization is done, it goes against speed and efficency of course...nothings fair in this world.
onslaught
05-02-06, 09:18 PM
The world, including Thailand, of course, CAN be improved. ;)
Michael jackson's 'heal the world' can be very inspiring and encouraging at times
it's true that the world is not fair. But we still need to work on it to push into a more reasonableness...closer to fairness as much as we can. We can't just ignore and brush it aside. If it's not in our backyard, we tend to not get involved.
The issue is really permeated throughout the system in Thailand...because no one is doing anything about it. If you glance through the classified ad in the newspaper. You see a lot of discrimination. Only a person younger than 35 years of age needs to apply; one has to be good looking; one has to meet certain physical requirements; etc.
onslaught
06-02-06, 07:36 PM
ah, it certainly does seem to be.
your location indicates your from the united states. Don't you think that the US is pushing for fairness and is getting under too much fire? For example interfering in tyrants in the middle east?
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