The Thai government has opened a marriage training clinic for Thai women who plan to tie the knot with foreign men and move overseas.
A project by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the clinic dubbed “Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law” opened Wednesday afternoon at a local women’s center at — guess where? — Khon Kaen, a major city of the Northeast.
The region reportedly has the highest records of Thai-farang marriage in Thailand with about 8,000 women in Isaan married to foreigners.
Now back to the clinic. While the idea sounds like this would be a “Thai wife school,” it’s actually not. The clinic will educate Thai women about their legal rights when they move overseas with their husbands, as well as how to adapt to a new culture, according to Matichon.
Social Development Minister Pol. Gen. Anantaporn Kanjanarat said the clinic will also become a center to help Thai women abroad who seek a way out of abusive relationships, as it will also work with the Thai embassies around the world.
Meanwhile, Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development Director Lertpanya Booranabandit said that they chose Isaan as a location of the clinic not only because it has a high number of Thai-farang couples, but also the belief held by many impoverished families there that pushing their daughters into marrying a foreign man is key to a better life.
But of course, many women end up disappointed, some even physically abused or trafficked, Lertpanya said.
If you’re a Thai wife who experiences marital problems with foreigners, you can contact the center at +66 99 130 1300 or visit www.yingthai.net.
