Leaving Thailand

jbjones wrote:

My girlfriend is Filipino and works as a nanny in Thailand. She wants to leave and go back to the Philippines in January but now her employer is telling her that she isn't allowed to leave Thailand until her work visa expires, or she will have to pay a 40000 baht fine. This all seems fishy to me. I think her boss is just trying to scare her into staying. Can a foreigner with a work visa leave anytime they want?

Of course they can leave if they wish. However has she signed a contract of employment with her employer?

If so, does it have some sort of financial penalty clause?

If she has a contract there will be a notice period as long as that is fulfilled there should be no problem, there could however be a clause in her contract about fulfillment of the duration, she should read the contract carefully.
Of course she could just leave any day she wishes however she may then have problems obtaining another visa.

Thais treat staff terribly and maybe the employer think he can treat her like a bar girl and expect that he gets compensation if she leaves.

Read the contract carefully.

She can leave anytime she likes. There may be something in her contract that states she must pay this money if she breaks it.
I would ask her to get you a copy of the contract.

Does she have a Non B visa and Work Permit? Most don't and are doing 14 day border runs.