But even if illegally working , which I don’t condone either, does it give the employer the right to underpay them, treat them like slaves, or beat them. Often, they have work permits but the employer would rather pay them under the table, as they know that the poor will accept. A lady I know who runs a successful restaurant told me years back that’s how it generally works. She has at least 6 foreigners working and they all earn the legal wage, the hours are respected, they mostly speak very good English and perfect Thai. And they actually turn up for work and don’t disappear into thin air for no feasible reason . When I lived in Phuket , my small condo building was run by Burmese , completely. owned by a Thai . I stayed there around 10 years and the staff were always the same.