COUNTRY MANUAL FOR WORKERS ON TEMPORARY CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYMENT TO THAILAND This document can also be used as Pre-Departure Information Manual March 2014 Country Manual - Thailand CONTENTS PART – I ................................................................................................................................................ 4 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS MIGRANTS .......................................................... 4 1. Definition ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2. The Present Situation .................................................................................................................. 4 3. The Emigration Act ....................................................................................................................... 4 4. Service Charge ............................................................................................................................. 4 5. Emigration Check Required (ECR) Category .......................................................................... 4 6. Countries with ECR status .......................................................................................................... 4 7. List of persons / categories of workers for whom Emigration Check is not required ......... 5 8. Guidelines for Emigration Clearance ........................................................................................ 6 8.1. Procedure for Emigration Clearance ................................................................................. 6 9. Applying for Emigration Clearance ............................................................................................ 6 9.1. Documents required for Emigration Clearance: Semi-Skilled Workers ....................... 6 9.2. Documents required for Emigration Clearance: Unskilled Workers ............................. 6 9.3. Documents required for Emigration Clearance (Through Project Exporter) ............... 7 10. Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) ............................................................................... 7 10.1. Salient features of PBBY w.e.f. 1/04/2008 ................................................................... 7 10.2. Insurance Companies providing PBBY ......................................................................... 8 10.3. Claim Procedure under PBBY ........................................................................................ 9 10.4. Verification of the Genuineness of Visa / Employment Documents ......................... 9 11. Indian Nationals working with ‘Visit / Tourist visa’ ............................................................... 9 12. Thai Work Permit .................................................................................................................... 10 13. Employment Contract ............................................................................................................ 10 13.1. Essential Terms for a Contract ..................................................................................... 11 13.2. Obtaining copy of the contract while in India ............................................................. 11 13.3. Breach of Employment Contract .................................................................................. 11 14. Important Documents ............................................................................................................ 12 15. Check before departure ......................................................................................................... 12 16. In the country of your employment ...................................................................................... 12 17. Customs Formalities .............................................................................................................. 12 18. Precautions ............................................................................................................................. 13 19. Important Contacts ................................................................................................................. 13 20. List of Offices of Protector of Emigrants in India ............................................................... 14 21. Information available on the website of MOIA ................................................................... 15 Page 1 of 53 Country Manual - Thailand PART – II ............................................................................................................................................. 16 COUNTRY MANUAL – KINGDOM OF THAILAND ...................................................................... 16 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 16 2. Time Zone ................................................................................................................................... 16 3. Location & Size ........................................................................................................................... 16 4. Administrative Divisions ............................................................................................................ 16 5. Major Cities ................................................................................................................................. 17 6. Population .................................................................................................................................... 17 7. Age Composition ........................................................................................................................ 17 8. Ethnic Composition .................................................................................................................... 17 9. Languages ................................................................................................................................... 18 10. Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 18 11. Natural Resources ................................................................................................................. 18 12. History ...................................................................................................................................... 19 13. Government ............................................................................................................................. 19 14. Political Setup ......................................................................................................................... 19 14.1. The King and Queen ...................................................................................................... 20 15. Economy .................................................................................................................................. 20 16. Relations with India ................................................................................................................ 21 16.1. Indo-Thai Relations ........................................................................................................ 21 16.2. Economic Cooperation .................................................................................................. 22 16.3. Framework Agreement for Establishing Free Trade Area ....................................... 23 17. Labour Market ......................................................................................................................... 23 18. Law of Thailand ...................................................................................................................... 24 19. Criminal Laws ......................................................................................................................... 24 19.1. Application of Criminal Law .......................................................................................... 25 19.2. Common pre-cautions while in Thailand .................................................................... 25 20. Labor Law ................................................................................................................................ 25 20.1. Minimum Wages ............................................................................................................. 27 21. Religion .................................................................................................................................... 28 22. Religious Freedom ................................................................................................................. 28 23. Traditional Values ................................................................................................................... 29 24. Social Life in Thailand ........................................................................................................... 30 25. Socio-Cultural Customs ......................................................................................................... 30 26. Expatriate Life Style in Thailand .......................................................................................... 32 Page 2 of 53 Country Manual - Thailand 26.1. Meeting & Greeting: ....................................................................................................... 32 26.2. Useful Phrases ..............................................................................................................