More than 200,000 cases were examined and 1,550 offenders were found, 883 of which were offenders who snatched 883 positions in Thai professions.
The ministry implemented measures to visit random areas across the country without prior notice. In all, the operation inspected 18,966 establishments, of which 685 were prosecuted. In addition, 240,918 foreigners were examined, 1,550 were prosecuted, and 883 were found to have snatched Thai jobs.
Due to many migrant workers having been found peddling goods at different popular tourist attractions and commercial areas which affect the earnings of Thai entrepreneurs in those areas, Ministry of Labour through the Department of Employment has randomly visited tourist and commercial areas nationwide without prior notice to eradicate migrant workers snatching Thai people’s jobs and strictly enforce the law on illegal migrant workers, especially those who have no work permit.
Mr. Phairoj Chotikasatien, Director-General, Department of Employment
According to the fiscal year 2023 performance (1 October 2022-12 March 2023), 18,966 establishments employing migrant workers across the country were inspected by the Department of Employment, 685 places were prosecuted and 240,918 foreigners, including 177,134 Myanmar nationals, 40,750 Cambodians, 12,311 Laotians, 140 Vietnamese and 10,583 other nationals, were investigated. 1,550 people have been prosecuted, comprising 846 Myanmar nationals, 245 Cambodians, 269 Laotians, 65 Vietnamese, and 125 other nationals. Of those, 833 people (392 Myanmar nationals, 195 Cambodians, 139 Laotians, 55 Vietnamese, 68 Indians, and 34 other nationals) were found snatching jobs for Thais. Occupations most snatched by migrant workers were sales of goods, hairdressing, driving and massage, respectively.
Mr. Phairoj Chotikasatien, Director-General of the Department of Employment, said, “The DOE’s special taskforce for inspecting, suppressing, arresting and prosecuting foreigners working illegally, along with nationwide provincial employment offices across the country, received orders from the Minister of Labour to work closely with related agencies to conduct area inspections across the country, especially in the main tourist areas, including Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai which are the main sources of occupations for Thai people. Other important areas with illegal migrant workers include the commercial districts of Yaowarat, Huai Khwang, Pak Khlong Talat and its vicinities such as Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Saraburi, and Pathum Thani. If found guilty, prosecution will be pursued according to Foreigners’ Working Management Emergency Decree, B.E. 2560 (2017) and its amendments, with no exception.”
“Migrants working in Thailand must obey our laws just as when Thai people go to work in foreign countries, they must respect the laws of that country,” said Mr. Phairoj. “The migrant workers must have a valid personal identification document and work permit. They also have to work according to the right specified in the Ministry of Labour announcement about work that foreigners are prohibited from doing, comprising 40 jobs in total. For foreigners who work without a work permit or work beyond their work permit authorisation, there are fines ranging from 5,000-50,000 baht and deportation to the country of origin. Moreover, they won’t be allowed to apply for a work permit again for two years from the date of punishment. Employers and establishments that accept foreigners who do not have work permits to work or allow foreigners to work beyond their work permit rights are liable to fines of from 10,000-100,000 baht per foreigner employing each person. Repeated offences are liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine ranging from 50,000-200,000 baht per foreigner employed, and are forbidden from hiring foreigners to work for three years.”
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