Labor Ministry to Address Problem of Illegal Foreign Workers

[webfact]

 

By Paphamon Arayasukawat

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Labor Ministry has set up six teams to deal with the problem of illegal foreign workers and employers who hired them as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, after thousands of foreign migrant workers sneaked illegally into Thailand.

 

Minister Suchart Chomklin said the ad-hoc teams were assigned to investigate, arrest and bring labor-related offenders to justice. The ministry aims to strictly impose laws targeting three groups: employer and stakeholders who are involved with illegal migrants; migrants who enter and work in the kingdom illegally, and migrant workers who did not send information required for their work permits online by Feb 13 this year.

 

According to the Labor Ministry, during October 1, 2020 to April 22, 2021, over 647 employers out of 23,103 were prosecuted as they allowed migrants to work without legal documentation and 541 out of 331,689 migrants were punished for working in the kingdom illegally.

 

The ministry warned that migrants without work permits or working beyond the scope of what is allowed in their permit would face 5,000-50,000 baht fines and they would be sent back to their home countries after being punished in Thailand. Employers who allowed such employment would be fined 10,000–100,000 baht per illegal migrant.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-30

 

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[trainman34014]

They can set up as many 'Teams', 'Committee's' and 'Panels' as they like but the lucrative business of 'helping' people through the Borders will never, ever stop.

[Surelynot]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Employers who allowed such employment would be fined 10,000–100,000 baht per illegal migrant.

 

The only way to prevent it is to ensure employers see it as not being worth the risk economically ......fines should be based on what will act as a serious deterrent.........a % of the business???

[Excel]

9 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

They can set up as many 'Teams', 'Committee's' and 'Panels' as they like but the lucrative business of 'helping' people through the Borders will never, ever stop.

Not while the Army and the RTP "control" it .The only way it will stop is when those two state organisations refuse bribes which will never happen 

[RichardColeman]

I don't know why, but I keep thinking about Bugs Bunny !

[Danderman123]

This is a problem in many countries, as the people with the money like to hire the cheapest workers.  At the same time, their paid politicians make speeches decrying illegal workers, but do  nothing to do stop it.
 

The key to really stopping illegal migrant workers is to penalize the employers, but that is rarely done, in any country. Or, if there are penalties, the savings from hiring illegals outweigh the penalties.

 

 

[Pedrogaz]

I see another "crackdown", maybe using BMW super cars, to kick this particular 'can down the road'.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Labor Ministry has set up six teams to deal with the problem of illegal foreign workers and employers who hired them as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, after thousands of foreign migrant workers sneaked illegally into Thailand.

Aided and abetted by we all know who.

As for employers illegally hiring them... well that's down to a blind eye being turned.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Be careful what you say. This guy is carrying a wire........????

[natway09]

This is a 2 edged sword.

I have employed many on site on a day basis  (illegally) & in factory mostly legal

They are more than happy to work & the country needs them (The Govt knows that as

they work for 300 Bht a day & Thais think a lot of the work is beneath them.

Covid has complicated the matter but if they repatriated Burmese who are working in the country at present & happy with their lot they are a pack of heartless ba,,,,,,,,,,,ds.

Before you start on about jobs for Thais there are over 6000 VACANCIES in factories as of last Wednesday

[connda]

The Thai way should be to address the problem by driving around in luxury vehicles and seeking out farang overstays.  That will take care of the illegal migrant problem.  Guaranteed! 

[connda]

The reason they have a problem is because they refuse to sanction Thai businesses.  <hand slap, hand slap>.  There are just too many impoverish migrants and too many business willing to hire them because there is little if no downside in doing so.  Harsh immigration rules are for the benefit of farang expats.  In reality, illegal migrant labor is more than likely implicitly encouraged as the ultra-cheap labor make for a fatter bottom line even after handing out brown envelops.  So, color me skeptical.

[Osthos]

I swear we see this headline every few months. Like clockwork.

[sammieuk1]

Start with arresting the boarder force and half the cabinet for a quick cost effective solution ???? 

[ChipButty]

They are doing jobs Thai's wont do and for less money why not just make them legal and give them proper benefits then no need for ducking and diving, All Thai's want to be is taxi drivers