An Italian luxury brand is looking for an experienced executive for its Thai manufacturing operation and is open to male or female candidates so long as none of them is Indian.
An employment ad posted to the popular JobsDB.com describes eligible candidates as strong leaders with good management skills, 40 to 55 of “any nationality (no Indian).”
The ad, placed by Bangkok recruiting agency MRI Network, does not name the client but describes it specifically as being based “in Rome since 1882, our client has become noted for its diversified portfolio of jewels, watches, accessories, and 5 star resorts.” In a more recent ad for the same position posted to LinkedIn, the date changes to 1878.
Reached for comment, MRI Network Director Kusumant Brouwers declined to reveal the name of her client and said there was nothing inappropriate about the ad’s explicit discrimination. She said that she simply doesn’t think Indians would fit into the company’s working culture.
Which major Italian brand could it possibly be? Your bvst gvess is as good as ours, but Brouwer asserted her client was aware of the ad’s language.
“The working culture is quite tough,” she said. “I don’t think they are going to fit in. It’s a burden to pick up their phone calls all day long. I have to work too, you know. I put that there to make my job easier and save me time.
“There is nothing wrong with being Indian, but we prefer Thais,” Brouwers said. Asked why the ad states anyone can apply except for “Indian” candidates, she said it should be revised.
“Yes, I have to add many things to the ad, like no Arabs or people from Turkey as well,” she said.
After calls and inquiries from a reporter were made regarding the Jobs DB listing, it was changed to read “Any Nationality (Western or Thai most preferred)” before being removed entirely.
While such blatant discrimination may be shocking to some, it is all too commonplace in the Bangkok job market. But rarely would a large European multinational allow itself to be represented in such a way.
In fact the ad for placed by MRI Network to LinkedIn, which attracts a wider international audience, makes no mention of nationality. Asked why it was omitted there, Brouwers said she might have forgotten to mention it.
Here’s the full, original ad as posted:
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