Clear-cut rules urged on work permit, visas

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Clear-cut rules urged on work permit, visas
By NALIN VIBOONCHART
THE NATION
Published on November 20, 2010

The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFCCT) is asking the government to clarify the regulations on work permits and Non-Immigrant B visas for foreigners working in Thailand, as it has been a problem for years and may affect the country’s competitiveness.

Chairman Nandor von der Luehe said yesterday it would be good if this issue were discussed with high-level people in the government. Foreign investors are ready to abide by Thai law, but they just want the government to have clear interpretation as to whether foreigners working in Thailand need to have both a work permit and a Non-Immigrant B visa.

“Foreigners want to work legally in Thailand. So we would like the Thai government to solve this problem so that the country can increase competitiveness and attractiveness for foreign investors who want to work here,” he said.

The JFCCT yesterday had a meeting with the Industry Ministry and the Board of Investment. Luehe said the BOI expected to find a solution to the problem soon, and the issue would be discussed at its board meeting next week.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/11/20/business/Clear-cut-rules-urged-own-work-permit-visas-30142761.html

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Foreign chambers: members won’t move investment bases to other countries
MCOT News วันเสาร์ ที่ 20 พ.ย. 2553

BANGKOK, Nov 20 – Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) chairman Nandor von de Luehe said its members will not shift their investment bases to other countries because they remain confident of Thailand’s growth potential, Industry Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat said Friday.

Speaking after meting JFCCT representatives, he said the JFCCT chairman cautioned the Thai government not to be complacent regarding the continued growth of the economic and industrial sectors

What foreign investors are concerned about now is the lack of stability of the Thai currency. They want the government to oversee the baht to boost its stability as much as possible, he said.

Mr Chaiwut said the Board of Investment (BoI) will consider ways to help entrepreneurs deal with the baht's volatility when it meets with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and will consider improved privileges to be granted to small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

It was the first time he had an opportunity to meet and discuss with BoI and JFCCT after assuming his ministerial post, he said.

More than 30 investors joined the discussion focusing on ways to cope with obstacles to business performance of foreign investors in Thailand such as difficulties in applications for temporary visas for tourism and investment, telecommunication problems, and unclear customers and tax systems.

He also told investors of progress in the government’s efforts to solve the environmental regulatory problems at the Mab Ta Phut industrial estate and improve investment promotion procedures and benefits for establishing Regional Operations Headquarters. (MCOT online news)

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/132340.html