They say the colonization era was over long time ago. For some reason, I don't seem to believe so. It seems to me colonization has transformed itself to comply with the modern world we live in. With human rights and political correctness invented into our society, the urge for power and superiority still exists , although in disguise, and extremely prominent in at least this part of the world, South East Asia.

The modern day colonization is not so noticeable in the governmental or national level, but more in an organization or even personal level. This might not be true for all, and I am not going to claim that it will be true for most. Yet, I see it way often in the business I used to work in.

This sort of colonization is without force, but more of voluntarily to be colonized, with the colonizers' wide grin, so willing and ready to embrace the authority they don't deserve. Tourism business is an excellent example; foreigners are welcome to enter the business and we let them take the best out of our industry.

I was working in Tourism industry up until 3 months ago. The company I worked for is considered "international", being under an umbrella of a giant company in the US, with westerners as management, and so many foreign staffs, both westerners and Asians. Of course, foreign staff get better paid than Thai, yet most of them cannot even keep up with the working standard of Thai staffs, esp. in the team I was in. The only reason they get paid more is that they don't carry Thai passport. A couple of them, in my opinion are a waste of office space, they don't do good job, and some cannot even speak proper English.

No, I am not complaining because they got paid more than me. I did earn better than a lot of them, yet money is still an issue here. There were many Thai staffs, who are much more productive and efficient, yet they got almost 10,000 baht less than a no-performance foreign staff. Additionally, it is always the foreign staffs who get promoted, because the management here favors them.

The management, in similar fashion, some of them are totally useless, and only know how to present themselves and kiss ass, yet hardly possess any worthwhile knowledge or guidance to share with the team. But they, too, rise to the top because of their origin, not capabilities.

Now you might think that I am a xenophobic. I can assure you, I am not. I used to be one of most Asian people, who worship foreigners, and stupidly think that they are more knowledgeable, more capable, and more respectable. After working in my previous company for 3 years, I was disillusioned. It's not only that they aren't better in anyway. A lot of them are much more inferior to most Thai people that I know. And many of them look down on Thai people, at least professionally.

During these past few weeks, speaking to some of the ex-colleagues, who pursue their career in the same field but different companies, they ended up voicing out the same old frustration that they tried to escape. An owner of a newly set up company decided to hire a new European GM, who's so detailed about everything, except productive matters. He sent out a long e-mail about how to use fax paper effectively, and called a new rule in the office that staffs are not allowed to walk with their hand in their pocket.

A European Regional Manager of a big company asked someone to leave immediately, because she couldn't stand being challenged, and that the person doesn't speak her language, which is not English. A director from the southern hemisphere of a big company gave bad performance review to the old staffs, in hope to make them leave, so that he could set up a whole new team, who won't dare to challenge him on anything.   And strange enough, the new staff that these "bosses" are hiring, are all foreigners, while Thais are being called in for administrative positions only.  I start to see more and more foreigners working in Tourism business. from my experience speaking to some of them, I don't really think they deserve the title on their name cards. There are some foreigners, who I admit, are making the difference to the organizations, but I'd only need one hand to count.

It's favoritism that one normally extends towards people of their own kind, which Thai people do a lot as well. The different is this time it's the immigrants, oopss..., expatriates doing it. Unfortunately, we, Thai, are more than voluntarily welcome them to colonize us this time around. It's not so much that we need the skills that these foreigners have to run a company. It is that we seem to enjoy being a second class citizen in our own country, and let them have the privilege that we could have had. Now we enjoy the lower paying jobs and call them our bosses.

My last note will be as followed:For those of you, who have made the difference to your organization, who have worked hard for what you earn, who have seen us Thai as your equals and give us the recognition and reward that we deserve, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for leaving your country, to help Thailand going forward.  

"totally useless, and only know how to present themselves and kiss ass"

you said it right there

those are the skills that all too often get people jobs, rather than efficiency, diligence and hard work.

Maybe take your company to court for racial discrimination as you're getting paid much less because of your race. If enough of you get together, make it a class action against your employer.

this is a interesting topic you have written on . i have been well read on how in earlier times colonization was based on military might the power to subjugate people and redraw national boundaries . the idea that corporations can redraw economic boundaries in interesting . agree some prople do not pull their weight.

Neo -- u r right... is there anywhere that teaches those skills? I might as well apply for a course!

luckyphil -- who wanna waste time going through all those, and lose a well paying job? it sounds like a very ideal option, but unfortunately, no one is going to participate. I don't even know if we ever have such law in our country. O_O

watch out, thai people. This is one of 'Non-traditional Threats' that we have to be more concern.

richar1 -- Should I take it into a more serious level and write a book about it too?

P'Tudtu -- I didn't name names, or personally attack anyone. Will it be "kept private" again? I have too many of those journals already! Maybe I should just go back and only whine about my long lost love over a guy on TF, I've never even met!!!!

Well in contrast, I also know Thais who work for a foreign travel company and in other industries that get paid MUCH MORE just because their employer is a foreign company than Thais who work for Thai companies and get MUCH LESS for at least a similar or usually even more work.

Andy -- I believer are talking about two different issues here, you do have that sort of inequality in every country. Most of the time employees in foreign companies, have better skills, either language skills or higher education, therefore the difference in work load and income.

My point is, Thais are second class citizen in our own country. If we go over to your country, will we ever get paid more than you guys for the same job and same level of responsibility?

Would you stand for it, if say a Thai went over to work in your country, working the same job, with same responsibilities, hardly have any performance, yet earn better salary, just because the person is holding a foreign passport. How would you react?

"He sent out a long e-mail ... and called a new rule in the office that staffs are not allowed to walk with their hand in their pocket." What a noble man he is embarking on this Mission Civilisatrice. Its sad that this exists in some peoples minds (no countries excluded), its even worse that people go to different countries thinking they're gonna bring them civilization. Thanks for the interesting read, time to get to work now.

'Damned if you do, and damned if you don't'

Without foreign investments and tourism, unemployment would rise significantly.. And keeping a core of staff from the mother company (or Manangement if you want) to run the investments is just how things are run, in every country, not just in Thailand..

Multinational oil companies based in Norway have US, french and british management all of whom earm more than Norewgians..

Farangs earn more money than thais, and thais hire people from Burma and Laos for far less than they pay thais..(And I am not thinking of illegal immigrants) It's just how it works, and calling it colonization is a bit harsh in my opinion..

Whenever our company sends someone to work abroad, he/she is entitled to compensation, he/she has to leave the family, make down payments on the apartment back home AND pay for lodging where he/she works.. So comparing the paycheck is sometimes not enough..

Perhaps I read too much into your post, but if one of your points is that foregin Management does a poor job in general, I think you are mistaken :-)

but thanks for an interesting post, and I hope the management in your company shapes up, that's better for both parts :-)

And luckyphil247: playing the racist card, well, that's just plain stupid...

Nong S, I meant 'thai people' who are unoticeable voluntary colonizing.

:-)

"Unfortunately, we, Thai, are more than voluntarily welcome them to colonize us this time around. It's not so much that we need the skills that these foreigners have to run a company. It is that we seem to enjoy being a second class citizen in our own country, and let them have the privilege that we could have had. Now we enjoy the lower paying jobs and call them our bosses. "

Sorry, but the reason I am paid 3 or 4 times more than most Thais who would hold my position is not because you Thais are "voluntarily being colonized" (whatever that means). Its because I am worth it. I do more work, understand more things about business, and work harder. If you dont like things get a different job, get a better degree, or go somewhere else (to quote BigKus).

JTHM -- I totally understand if these ppl are from corporate office to be based away from home and are being compensated. Yet, I refer to a different type of foreigners. They come here knowing that they'll have more privilege than living in their own country despite their ability and contribution towards the job.

Burmese and Laotian would be a different case. I'd say it's the same as a Thai going to work in Europe. To a certain degree, we are less skilled and working in a lower type of jobs. As much as I don't like it, we are "the immigrant" to the country, who are willing to do every darn job available at any price. But this case, a foreigner who doesn't have any better skill than a Thai, coming in and automatically earning more, just because they are not Thai.

Another case that I can give as an example. A Thai friend, who had been growing up in Dubai for half of her life, then studying in an international school and university, applied for a job at an international school, she got a 13k salary, while a Filipina colleague with even lesser qualification earned more than double her salary.

P'Jack -- I think you should read my last paragraph. I don't see why you have to be so upset, if you are already doing a great job. And indeed, I chose to go somewhere else.

U re perfectly in right, but what can u do? U see only one aspect of colonisation, and wide perspective are also horrible...we live in material world, where the money is God, and those who get it, makes rules. I choose to be self-employed, free-lancer and I have less money in life that I deserve...but, at least, I have illusion that I am not anyones slave. You can maybe win one small battle, but you cannot win the war. Multinational companies are true leaders of a world, not governments or presidents of any country. This is world where we live in, and each of us can only try to fight for more free micro-space. Same problem we have here, where foreigners buying our companies, our government, our land...and we can just smile with bitterness. One day, when we become a part of EU (soon we will be "official candidate"), my belowed country will become a perfect place for storage of nuclear waste, with cheap working class, and ruined economy...this is a destiny of all poor countries

"Same problem we have here, where foreigners buying our companies, our government, our land...and we can just smile with bitterness. One day, when we become a part of EU (soon we will be "official candidate"), my belowed country will become a perfect place for storage of nuclear waste, with cheap working class, and ruined economy...this is a destiny of all poor countries "

OUR companies, OUR government, OUR land... You're a genius... Could you be any more nationalistic if you tried harder? Attitudes like yours are one of the main problems with this world.

MisterMatlock: I am speaking of multinational companies who replace former colonial countries...and become real ruler of ANY poor country...I just give example of my country, but it is just EXAMPLE...and, as a expat, socialist and antiglobalist, I cannot be a nationalist

If you're talking about multi-national corporations, then say "multi-national corporations", and I'll agree with you... I'm tired of listening to "us VS them" bullshit here in Thailand. I wouldn't put up with it in my "supposed home country" and I can't stand to here it here. Too many things are done in the name of "nationalism/patriotism". Anyone who prescribes to these ideals is a ******* idiot.

A thought provoking journal

I know how you feel - after awhile, you feel so frustrated and your motivation is so depleted that you end up leaving the firm that you have put your heart and soul into.

Unfortunately, discrimination happens everywhere - in the West, it is more subtle.

However, in Thailand, it is more open - on the one hand, you have issues of double pricing (where farangs are discriminated) and on the other, where you have differences in salaries (where the Thais are discriminated).

Perhaps it is time for your government to legislate on equalisation on both these issues. Yeah, it won't go away, but it will be less tolerated.

Lets face it, SOME of the worst characters of the West end up working in Thailand – and they are placed on a pedestal which at times are undeserved and many times unwarranted (note, this is not to suggest it applies to any person who has made comments on this journal).

The worst part is: this is all the Fault of the Thai government whose intervention policy on minimum wage for Farangs, working in Thailand brought about this disparities..

Just imagine if you had market forces determine the minimum wages in Thailand for all – how many Farangs do you think will still be left working in Thailand?

Certainly, the best - regardless of who they are or where they are from, will still be around because they will still command the same or more salary for their skills.

@ JTHM; Does a Thai manager get paid less than their foreign counterpart of similar standing or similar job title ???

If the answer is yes, then it's racial discrimination, pure and simple no matter how you or others may want to disguise it.

Travelraven -- That's why I think it is the same as the colonization era, that somewhat changed from military aspect to a financial aspect. I was ranting on a personal/organizational aspect, but yeah, if you look at a big picture, you are absolutely right. At the end the more powerful nations will be the decision makers, and smaller/poorer countries will be exploited, similar to a few hundred years ago. Thanks for your comment.

Cosmo -- The higher salary set for foreigners supposed to protect Thai employers not the other way around. Unfortunately, as I stated above in my journal, it is the favoritism among the foreigners to help out their fellow kind, or it's the Thai owners who worship foreigners over their own people.

As for double price that foreigners have to pay, I think only tourists are complaining, coz the entrance fee normally applies to them. Otherwise, you pay the same price for food, transportation, accommodation as Thai people.

Thanks for all your comments on here.

@ luckyphil247:

Is a Thai manager living in Thailand willing to work for less than a farang Manager?

How many candidates [farang vs Thai] are available in the market?

Is a newly educated person paid less than an experienced one?

Is a Harvard graduate paid more than one from a public university?

How to establish similar standings when comparing the two candidates?

IMHO the picture is not black and white (no pun intended :-) )

I think and hope the reason to differences in salaries is simply Supply and Demand and not race.

one could always argue whether the desicion to hire a farang is the best or not, but that's another issue, once the desicion is made, the market plays its role..