This post isn't meant to be a rant, but i am a little pissed off and basically becoming disillusioned working with a Thai company and need some advice. What brought this to a head was not being offered Xmas day as paid holiday and a concern I will not receive any bonus for this year. In fact I have never received any bonus of any kind since working here but up until this year I never really felt like I especially deserved one.
I hope I am posting in the right place and sorry for the long post but I am seeking quite specific advice on this.
My first question regards definition of an "employment contract" in Thailand and the second concerns my negotiation towards a new one from the new year.
In brief my current job and responsibility is:
- Assistant CEO of a medium sized Thai company - 50+ employees, turnover about 70 million THB this year.
- Industry is IT (software and services)
- Monthly salary 50,000 THB (fixed salary, NO commission despite driving a lot of sales, e.g 1 deal this year was worth 6.5 million baht).
- I have had a work permit for about 2 years now (first year working was a PT cash in hand deal).
- Health insurance.
- I have worked here for 3 years (initially part time moving to full time 18months ago)
- 6 days annual paid holiday, 30 days sick (notice the theme - minimum requirements)
I suspect its partially as a result of the widespread incompetence and lack of ambition of my Thai co-workers but I would honestly assess my performance as 9/10 in terms of my contribution to the success of this company. Only the CEO and President have more accountability or responsibility. I don't consider it an achievement to outperform my fellow Thai employees (thats the rant part over). Based on the relationships I have built with our business partners and clients I would imagine I would be very hard to replace. I don't mean to "blow my own trumpet" but think its time I had someone at this company blowing mine
Question 1. Do I have an employment contract? Writing this it sounds ridiculous that I am not sure!
I have read a lot of references to an employment contract under Thai labor law. I had never really thought too much about it and presumed having a work permit meant I have a contract of employment?
Now, I have never been offered anything in writing and certainly never signed a contract. I think because of this I feel I have to "bargain" about everything with my employer, pay rises, paid holidays. This is the main reason I would like to have one in place and when/if I request for it brings me to the next question.
Question 2. What do you think I should expect as a reasonable salary + incentive package? I actually feel like my base salary is fair but am I right to expect a bonus? and more than my current 6 days paid holiday?
I was thinking that I might request:
- Base salary 50,000
- Annual bonus of 1 months salary
- 10 days paid holiday
* I feel underpaid in comparison to other foreigners I have worked with on a similar level but these are all working in other countries
* On the other hand I feel obliged/pressured to be grateful that in most cases I earn vastly more than the Thai staff in my company.
Anyway, I would really appreciate any advice or comments. Thanks in advance for at least reading the whole post.