OPINION

Flip side of the coin

Re: "Nothing to crow about" (Postbag, Nov 20).

I agree with Somsak Pola that the 2014 coup has had quite a negative effect on Thailand's World Bank ranking in terms of investments, but not so much that the country had failed to remain on the list of 50 most attractive economies for ease of investment from overseas.

However, being attractive for investments is one thing but soundness and integrity in the management of the country's economy are quite another.

About a decade ago, the government at that time boasted of having raised the country's GDP by more than 5% a year -- which the country had not experienced in many years -- as a result of that government's leader's exemplary genius.

But after some minute examination, the country's rural household debt, which had hovered around 100,000 baht per annum before, had jumped twofold to more than 200,000 baht.

Hence, the high GDP growth at that time was a result of a poorly-thought-out economic policy that did not reflect reality, and thus regarded as detrimental to the country's overall economy.

Sometimes it is worth looking at the other side of the coin too.

Re: "Make the fat cats pay" (Postbag, Nov 24).

I have to say I agree with Brian Corrigan about the disparity between rich and poor, but not just in Thailand.

There is currently a legal battle going on in London with the local authority and Uber over "gig economy" working conditions and status. In the UK now, you can get a job with a zero hours contract. This simply means you are paid per job and you only get work when the employer needs you. There is no holiday or sickness pay, other employee benefits or guaranteed minimum wage, daily or hourly.

Some even insist you cannot work for another company at the same time, something which used to be the prerequisite of being self-employed.

The loophole is availability: it is up to you to decide if you want to work or not. However, if you don't always work when needed, you still risk losing the job.

As for Thailand, contract and employment laws are strict.

I have written on the question of pay before, though, and I believe it is time a minimum hourly wage was paid here. Just start at 45 baht an hour for eight hours (a 20% increase) and slowly increase it year by year so there is no inflationary fallout and people get a fair wage for a fair day's work.

In regards to Mr Barre's letter on Nov 18 concerning the 90-day reporting, of course it is a mindless exercise in redundancy. For those expats living in the kingdom for five years or more, do away with the 90-day reporting. We are here legally and honourably.

In addition, offer five-year visas to those who have lived here for five years or more. It's so simple. My Thai wife received a 10-year visa upon her first application at the US consulate. Why can't Thailand enter the modern era? What is behind this myopic vision they have at immigration?

Lastly, we in Chiang Mai MUST fill out a TM30 form within 24 hours of re-entering the country. This is a simple "where do you live?' form. Then what is the TM6? It is exactly the same thing.

There should be zero need to then have to go to immigration to wait four hours to submit a TM30 within 24 hours -- unless, of course, the 1,600-baht fine for non-compliance is the driving factor behind this (only in Chiang Mai) rule.

A few interesting signs in the complex where I reside: "Do not use lift in case of fire." "In case of fire, inform telephone immediately." "Hight Zone."

Please Thailand, if I had the need to write your language I would, as a matter of courtesy, get it right. You need only ask any English-speaking farang. I am sure your request would be granted without losing face.

Re: "Temple hit by tourists' rip-off claims" (BP, Nov 24).

I find it quite appalling that the monks are authorised to lease public land to a private company to sell fake amulets and other items to tourists.

The worst part is that Mr Winya does not find anything wrong with selling amulets and other junkets at inflated prices and ripping off people on the temple premises.

Although it is painful for many Thais to accept, the fact is that Thai Buddhist temples are marred by malpractice, legalised extortion disguised as holy rites and rituals, and they continue to cheat people, all in the name of Lord Buddha.

The Thai Meteorological Department weather radar for Songkhla has been out of operation for over a month. It happened earlier in the year and was out for over two months before July.

Could someone explain how in 2017 an important public service in an area where flooding is a major problem can be left inoperable for so long when millions are spent on military hardware useless to anyone and that will probably never be used? Incompetence at best and whoever is in charge of this service needs to be sacked.

While it might be profitable in the short run, one would think that farmers would realise that killing off their customers with pesticides might not be quite so profitable in the long run (BP, Nov 25).

And where is the government in all this? Why aren't they prohibiting the sale of such poisonous products, or do they want us dead too?

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