Topic: Raids on schools

[ajarnnormal]

Just to let you know and it is a bit vague at this moment. Several schools have been raid this week by immigration police. the ones I know so far are Wells Phrakanong, B.C.C Assumption Sathorn. Someone I know was arrested and told to pay 30,000 BHT and go to court. They were kept in jail overnight. soon as I find out more I will keep you posted.

[blackmail]

Several schools have been raid this week by immigration police. the ones I know so far are Wells Phrakanong, B.C.C Assumption Sathorn. Someone I know was arrested and told to pay 30,000 BHT and go to court. They were kept in jail overnight.

Remember the spokesperson from BCC, who said everyone was "legal."  My ass.

[NamTok]

   I strongly disagree with the statement made in an earlier post at another thread that the only farang that need to "head for the hills" are those who have good reason to do so. While a guilty of whatever farang may well need to head for the hills, how many farang who haven't any reason to do so will be caught up in sweeps solely because of the dereliction of the owners of schools or because of the hostility of the owners?

   I think now of the Soviet-Era piece of macabre humor: Three Communist Party members are in a gulag. One asked the other why he's there. The guy says, "I supported comrade Radik." He asks the questioner why he's in prison. "I opposed comrade Radik." Both ask the third guy why he's behind bars. "I'm comrade Radik!"

   Hello, comrades!

   How many school owners and/or administrators are going to be hauled into police stations and into court on charges of failing to secure proper documentation of farang teachers, failing to pay properly or in a timely manner or of releasing withheld pay, or of allowing physical abuse of students by Thai teachers etc? We well know the answers to these kind of questions.

[ajarnnormal]

Sorry that the last notice was in such a hurry. I am now more aware of what went on. the schools were raided at about 10.30 yesterday and 10 were taken into custody. They were told they had to pay 30,000. they then went to court today. As yet I do not know what went on. the director of my school has been informed that there are going to be more. they are looking for illegal workers without workpermits. One of the teachers is well qualified and the school delayed getting the documents. Think we should be ready for the knock on now.

[Speaksoftly]

Here's another concern:  what if you do have a work permit for your main job, but you do some extra work for company-type schools or language schools or tutoring agencies on the side?  If these places are raided, you're still illegal if you don't have the extra job listed on your work permit.  Anyone have a feel for what the risk is?

[NamTok]

Speaksoftly,
   An excellent question. I myself haven't ever been in that situation. Still, to my knowledge, in the past there's been very little or no risk. But we need to hear from others, I am sure.

   Presently, however, I'd bet the risk to farangs will increase subsantially and significantly, BUT NOT AT ALL TO THE EMPLOYERS. Very importantly, I think, is the question as to whether anyone has any experience or suggestions as to how to take the EMPLOYERS to task in this respect?

   Related, is there anything in the news about the "raids?" Has anyone checked on that? I'm going to check that out now as I think we all should..

[ajarnnormal]

I have rang several people to give them the warning and some of them have already heard from elsewhere. My main point at the start of this thread was to warn fellow teachers as at the time I did not have all the facts. I assure you that they have taken place be it in the news or not. My friend rang me from the police station trying to get advice on what to do about paying the 30,000 bht.

[NamTok]

ajarnnormal,
   I fully accept your reports and seek more info from whatever sources. Please post what you get when you get it.

   Meantime, my question to everyone is how can we bring the violator EMPLOYERS into this?   

[ajarnnormal]

Yes I agree. The crazy thing was with my friend was that she is married to a Thai and has two children. She has been legal before but went to work for Wells. The 10 teachers all paid 30,000 bht or they were going to the detention centre. I do not see any comeback for the employer with this. It is a catch 22 situation for us. We go to work at a school and in good faith we accept that they are going to help with work permit etc. Then we crack on into the term and wait for the red lights to produce documents and all things pertaining to the legal process. Time goes on and the schools start giving excuses as to why things are taking so long. Time passes and nothing happens, then bosh the police arrive and the school washes it's hands of you. In my friends case she was even told to remove her I.D by the school and hide. The school new they were coming it seems or the police called at reception first I don't know the full story yet but will keep you posted on any developments. It just can not see where we have a leg to stand on. Also what was the 30,000 bht for other than going into someones pocket. That is 300,000 bht for one raid

[NamTok]

   Yes, we've seen this in posts at this board about so many schools, EMPLOYERS.

   In the present environment of a "crackdown" as it were, farang teachers are again the targets for any one or more of a variety of reasons. As with your married to a Thai lady friend who WAS legal, we must ask why she isn't presently legal? I think we can believe that she herself has not been withholding documents the school needs to make her and others at the school "legal." If, in this instance, ten teachers aren't legal, there isn't any reason for us to believe that ten teachers are illegal other than because of the dereliction of the school--especially if the teachers began teaching at the school from the usual beginning of the School Year, that is, May.

   Your first reports in posts here today, which tho at this point are sketchy but I'm sure are fundamentally reliable, indicate that the school remains untouched by the authorities whilst the teachers are the ones being hammered. We know it's the responsibility of the employer to make all farang and foreign teachers legal. So, why aren't the employers at the police station right now, being called to account by the authorities? Why aren't the EMPLOYERS at the police station handing over the cash (much of which, yes, the police will pocket)?

   We need to pursue this central point, no?!?  

[ajarnnormal]

Yes I agree 100%. Does anyone else know anything about these raids? I would be interested to hear more from anybody. On the other point. My friend gave the school all the required paperwork on day one. It was theschool that held up the process. It was a new job and as you know when you start a new job all the legal stuff you had before goes out the window and you start again.

[wangsuda]

One thing I have noticed is that all these "raids" are happening at private schools. I have yet to hear a mention of a government school being raided. It seems to me that the private sector is being singled out.

[ajarnnormal]

Have a bit more info. the 10 that went to court were charged with working without a permit. they all paid the police 30,000 and went to court the following day. They were ordered to pay 2000 bht fine and bound over to keep the peace for 1 year. Sort of suspended sentence. the school has told the workers that they will be made legal within 3 months. They will be left alone because they coughed up 30,000. What a farce! I do not think the government schools will be raided it is a case of one corrupt instituition going to another.

[Jack Frost]

Our school is a government school and the police are visiting Tuesday. The school has all our passports. Memo from the school "The police will be checking all foriegn teachers next Tuesday. Any teacher absent that day or refusing to hand in their passport is required to register at a police station. The police may require an interview. All schools in Bangkok are going through this procedure there is no need to be alarmed"

[monkey woods]

I worked at St Johns College in 1991/92 before it was a University. The school was visited by 'Inspectors' who, the week before they were coming, gave the school a tip-off. The school then gave us the tip-off, and advised us not to come in for a couple of days. Everything went splendidly.