Employment taxes

• Personal income tax is progressive from 0% to 35%, and your employer withholds it from your salary.
• Social security contributions: The standard monthly contribution rate for both the employer and the employee is typically 5% of the employee's monthly salary.

Leave policy

• Annual leave: Minimum 6 paid days/year after 1 year of service.
• Public holidays: Generally at least 13 paid holidays per year.
• Sick leave: Up to 30 paid working days per year, fully paid by the employer.
• Maternity leave: 98 days total, with the first 45 days paid at full pay by the employer. The remaining days are paid at 50% by the social security.
• Paternity leave: Not legally required, but many employers offer a few days.
• Parental leave: Not specifically mandated beyond what the law sets for maternity.

Employment termination

• Legal grounds: Employers can terminate without cause (redundancy, restructuring) where notice and severance usually apply, or with cause for serious misconduct (dishonesty, intentional damage, gross negligence, repeated rule breaches after warning, 3 consecutive days of unexplained absence, certain imprisonment cases), where notice and severance may not be required.
• Notice period: At least one full pay cycle for terminations without cause.
• Severance pay: Mandatory when the employer terminates employment without cause, starting after 120 days of employment. Minimum severance tiers depend on the length of service, ranging from 30-400 days' wages.

Hiring and contracts

• Contract types: Common options include indefinite (open-ended) and fixed-term contracts.
• Language: Thai is standard, but bilingual contracts are common.
• A good contract should clearly state job scope, pay, working hours, leave, termination terms, and any bonuses/allowances.
• Probation period: often up to 119 days in practice.

Payroll and salary payments

• Pay frequency: Typically monthly.
• Currency: Salaries are commonly paid in Thai Bat (THB).
• Minimum wage: Thailand’s minimum wage varies by province, ranging from THB 337-400 per day.
• Payslips: Employers must provide a payslip each pay period, showing gross pay, deductions, net pay.

Benefits

• Mandatory: Social Security coverage, paid annual leave, paid sick leave, paid maternity leave.
• Optional: Private group health insurance, provident fund, annual bonus, allowances (transport/meal/housing), extra annual leave, paternity leave, training budgets.

Monthly living cost (Bangkok Edition)

• Rent: 21,425 THB | 583 EUR | 683 USD
• Utilities: 3,057 THB | 83 EUR | 98 USD
• Groceries: 6,000 THB | 163 EUR | 191 USD
• Public transport: 1,155 THB | 31 EUR | 37 USD
• Coffee/Dinner/Going out: 3,836 THB | 104 EUR | 122 USD

How to get a local ID number

• Long-term foreign residents in Thailand get a Pink ID Card, which comes with a 13-digit personal ID number used for identification in Thailand. This card confirms your identity, date of birth, and registered Thai address.
• You can apply for the Pink ID at the district office: in person at a district office. They will verify your record, and then take a photo and fingerprints/biometrics.
• Expect to show your passport, visa/permission to stay, proof you’re registered at a Thai address, etc.

Social security registration

Your employer registers you with the Social Security Office and remits contributions monthly (both shares together).

Banking

• Popular banks people use: Bangkok Bank, Krungthai, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Krungsri, TTB.
• To open a bank account you will need: Passport, a long-stay work visa, and sometimes a work permit, depending on the bank and branch.

Housing and rental process

• Lease agreements in Thailand often run 12 months.
• Expect 1-2 months’ security deposit plus 1 month’s rent in advance
• Tenant rights: Your key protections come from having a written lease and clear terms on repairs, return of deposit, notice to terminate, and what counts as “damage.”

Healthcare system

• Public healthcare is safe and reliable, and it’s usually the cheaper option, but you can expect busier hospitals and longer wait times.
• If you’re employed locally, basic healthcare is provided through the Social Security Fund.
• Locals often use public hospitals for affordability, but many expats choose private hospitals for shorter waits, more comfort, and English-speaking services.

Driving and public transport

• In Bangkok, traffic is famously busy and congested, in smaller cities and islands it’s usually more relaxed.
• International Driving Permit is accepted only for a limited period (up to 90 days from entry), after which you should switch to a Thai licence
• Bangkok public transport is very usable: BTS + MRT cover a lot of the city, and ride-hailing is everywhere.

Emergency and important contacts

• General emergency / police: 191
• Ambulance: 1669
• Fire: 199

Work permit and visa requirements

• All non-Thai nationals who intend to work in Thailand require a work permit.
• Along with the work permit, a proper Thai work visa is also necessary to enter the country for employment purposes.
• Your legal emloyer acts as a sponsor and must obtain a letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour authorizing the hire.
• With the approval letter (or your job contract), you apply for the Non-Immigrant B (Business) Visa at your nearest Thai embassy or consulate. This usually gives an initial 90-day stay, and can be extended up to 1 year.
• After you arrive in Thailand, your employer submits the work permit application to the Ministry of Labor with the remaining required documents.

Business culture and work norms

• Trust and harmony matter
• Hierarchy is real
• Feedback is often delivered indirectly