The Labour Ministry is preparing to document illegal migrant workers nationwide as part of the government's attempt to crack down on illegal worker numbers and upgrade its records, says Department of Employment head Arak Phrommanee.
The plan will target specific geographic areas where illegal migrants are believed to be working, starting with large industrial zones, aiming to clear up remaining migrant labourers who have yet to register.
"Staff from our department will meet employers and provide instructions to them, especially those who have not yet legalised their migrant workers," he said.
Ministry staff were sent to search areas where migrant workers worked last month, and he expects a report from them next month.
He said the report will outline the inspection areas and level of intensity of problems related to illegal workers in each area.
Mr Arak also expected the plan in which the department takes an outreach approach to registering illegal workers would help improve the country's image in the treatment of migrant workers and improve its ranking in the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report by the US State Department.
Migrant workers caught without proper work permits will face harsh punishment, Mr Arak said.
Employers found to have hired illegal workers could be fined 100,000 baht per worker, and 400,000 baht per worker in the fishing industry.
An employer who fails to comply with the law also risks his factory being shut down, he said.
Meanwhile, Labour Minister Sirichai Distakul told the SeaWeb Seafood Summit in Malta yesterday that the government was trying its best to tackle problems in the fishing industry, including illegal migrant workers and human trafficking.
The main problems were illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and forced labour, said Gen Sirichai.
The government was overhauling mechanisms for managing the industry, including the registration drive for illegal workers.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved a Labour Ministry proposal to extend the registration period for migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in the fishing industry until the end of July.