Employer of Record (EOR) Thailand — Hire in Thailand Without Setting Up a Company

Many companies find themselves in the same position: you have found the right person in Thailand, or you want to start building a team here, but you have no Thai legal entity — and incorporating a company just to employ a few people is more time, cost and ongoing obligation than the situation calls for.

Workwise provides Employer of Record (EOR) services for exactly this situation. We become the legal employer in Thailand on your behalf, while the employer obligations defined in the service agreement — employment contract, payroll, tax and social security — sit with us. Your team continues to manage day-to-day work and performance as normal. Employees hired through EOR can be Thai or foreign nationals — in most cases, it is a foreign company hiring Thai staff.

(If your company already has a legal entity in Thailand, the service you are looking for is Staffing & Outsourcing. If you already employ your own staff and only need the back office handled, see Payroll Outsourcing.)

What an Employer of Record does

With an EOR arrangement, a Thai company takes on the legal status of employer for your staff, while you continue to direct their work.

• Employment contracts are signed between the employee and Workwise, prepared in accordance with Thai labour law
• Workwise pays salaries and files withholding tax and social security contributions every month
• Employees receive leave, holidays and every entitlement under Thai labour law
• You assign work, manage performance and communicate with your employees directly, as you would with your own team

Who this service is for

• Foreign companies with no legal entity in Thailand that want to hire one or more employees here
• Companies testing the Thai market before deciding whether to incorporate
• Companies that already have people in Thailand and want to employ them correctly under Thai law
• Companies that have not found a candidate yet — our recruitment team can search for you from day one

Setting up a company vs. using an EOR

Registering a Thai company is only the first step. Before you can actually employ someone, there is a bank account to open, tax registrations to complete, an employer registration with the Social Security Office, and a payroll system to set up — typically several weeks to several months in total. Companies with majority foreign ownership face additional conditions under the Foreign Business Act.

What Workwise handles

• Bilingual employment contracts (Thai–English) compliant with Thai labour law
• Monthly payroll, withholding tax filings and social security contributions, submitted correctly and on time
• Statutory leave, holidays and any benefits agreed with the employee
• Employee personal data handled in accordance with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
• Lawful termination procedures, when that time comes
• A monthly report your head office can read without needing to know Thai law

What you get from a team that is actually in Thailand

We are here, and we can answer now. Workwise Consulting Recruitment is a Thai legal entity, holding recruitment licence No. n.1988/2569 issued by the Department of Employment. When a question about the Thai context comes up, you talk to people who work here, in English or Thai.

You can start before you have a candidate. We are a recruitment firm — we search, screen and shortlist candidates, then employ your chosen hire through EOR, all in one place, from the day you do not yet know who you will hire to the day they start work.

Terms are discussed case by case. Every company's situation is different. We listen first, then propose terms that fit your case.

Hiring foreign nationals and work permits

This is one of the most contradictory topics you will find information on, because the correct answer genuinely depends on the specifics of each case.

Employing a foreign national in Thailand depends on the employment structure, the role's qualifications and case-specific conditions. A one-size-fits-all answer tends to point people in the wrong direction. What we do is assess your case first, then recommend a route that is legally sound and realistically achievable for your specific situation. You can consult our team directly at no cost.

A limitation you should know before deciding

EOR is designed for employing a team in Thailand. If your business needs to sell goods, issue tax invoices, or contract directly with customers in Thailand, incorporating your own entity is the right answer — and when you reach that point, we can help plan the transition from EOR to your own company, with your existing employees moving across without interruption.