National —
On August 17th, 2024, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, the Director-General of the Department of Employment, announced the “Locate, Arrest, Fine, and Deport” operation targeting illegal migrant workers. This nationwide effort involves collaboration between all relevant agencies.
The operation, which includes the Immigration Bureau, Tourist Police, Anti-Human Trafficking Division, and the Internal Security Operations Command from all provinces, aims to inspect, arrest, and prosecute employers and businesses that hire illegal foreign workers, according to Somchai.
It also seeks to educate employers and foreign workers on legal compliance and government resolutions over a 120-day period, said Somchai.
From June 5th to August 15th, 2024, covering 71 days, inspections were conducted in key economic areas such as Bangkok’s Phetchaburi Road, Suwinthawong, Saphan Sung, Lat Krabang, and Taling Chan, as well as in provinces like Uthai Thani, Ang Thong, Rayong, and Phetchaburi.
A total of 14,734 businesses employing migrant workers were inspected nationwide, leading to 503 prosecutions. Authorities checked 192,280 foreign workers, including 144,261 from Myanmar, 29,448 from Cambodia, 12,258 from Laos, 117 from Vietnam, and 6,196 from other nationalities. Of these, 1,314 workers faced legal action—818 from Myanmar, 201 from Cambodia, 180 from Laos, 24 from Vietnam, and 91 from other countries.
Somchai emphasized that migrant workers must comply with Thai laws. Those working without a permit or outside their authorized scope face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht and deportation, with a two-year ban on reapplying for a work permit.
Employers hiring unauthorized foreign workers face fines from 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker, and repeat offenders could be jailed for up to one year or fined between 50,000 to 200,000 baht per worker, with a three-year ban on hiring foreign workers. The Department of Employment will enforce the law without exception, remarked Somchai.
The public is urged to report illegal employment of foreign workers or violations of work permit conditions to the Ministry of Labor hotline at 1506, press 2, or the Department of Employment hotline at 1694.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
