Labour minister promises nationwide crackdown against foreigners with no Work Permit "taking jobs from Thais"

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's labour minister has issued a stern warning to employers of foreigners and foreigners who are working in Thailand.

 

You must have a work permit to work in the kingdom and you must not do jobs reserved for Thai people.

 

Fines and even prison terms have been announced after Thai restaurant owners complained to the Labour Ministry. 

 

Suchart Chomklin told Thai Rath yesterday that he had acted swiftly after complaints received about Thai nominees being used in foreign owned businesses and those businesses employing foreigners illegally.

 

He said he had instructed the Department of Employment to crack down hard.

 

"I want to warn all foreigners that we fully intend to implement the law especially where foreigners are taking Thai jobs," said Suchart.

 

In the fiscal year 2023 there have already been 9,883 checks on employers and businesses resulting in 355 prosecutions.

 

Also 153,882 foreigners had been investigated with 795 prosecuted.

 

Of this number 386 took Thai jobs. 

 

The crackdown will start in Bangkok and other tourist areas like Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui. Then it will be spread out to all corners of the kingdom.

 

DoE chief Phairoj Chotiksathian confirmed the crackdown would be strictly enforced with the DoE working with immigration, tourist and local police and other organisations.

 

He said that people without work permits and those doing jobs outside descriptions on their permits would be found and prosecuted.

 

file photo for reference only

 

There are fines of 5,000 to 50,000 baht for people working illegally or doing jobs outside the description on their permit.

 

On top of this employers can be fined 10,000 to 100,000 baht for EACH foreigner they illegally hire.

 

If they repeat the offence things get worse.

 

There are prison terms of 1 year for employers and the per/person fines are jacked up to 50,000 to 200,000 baht each.

 

In addition they would not be able to hire any foreigners for 3 years.

 

"Anyone who sees foreigners working illegally can report the matter to us," he added.

 

The DoE in Bangkok can be called on 02 354 1729 or people can contact offices in every province. 

 

Other numbers than can be used are 1506 x 2 and 1694. 

 

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[ourmanflint]

Hairdressers beware!

[2baht]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

jobs reserved for Thai people.

.....................of course there are jobs that Thai's will not do, they think it's below them!

[herfiehandbag]

The minister acknowledges with regret, that this crackdown may divert attention and resources from the investigation of the penetration of Chinese "grey capital" into Thai commercial and political life, however employing foreigners without work permits in restaurants is a particularly egregious offence which can have devastating effects upon national economic security.

[ThailandRyan]

20 minutes ago, 2baht said:

.....................of course there are jobs that Thai's will not do, they think it's below them!

It's why I hired a housekeeper from Myanmar....

[Elkski]

What about those pesky guys selling fake watches.  They can really pester you.  They are so obvious on soi Cowboy. They must pay off police.   No work permit I bet.  

[ThailandRyan]

34 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

Hairdressers beware!

Why my GF shut her shop down....ugh.

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, Elkski said:

What about those pesky guys selling fake watches.  They can really pester you.  They are so obvious on soi Cowboy. They must pay off police.   No work permit I bet.  

Ask Prayut.....

[jvs]

They will probably catch a few older Foreigners who are helping their wives

trying to make a small living(survive).

Take a few pictures and deport them(no money to make the problem go away) Yes i know they break the law but really?

 

[sammieuk1]

A sentiment I'm always telling the Mrs when the kettle or cooker needs to go on ????

[Bagwain]

Whilst the tourism sector is screaming for staff???

TIT! ????

 

[d4dang]

back to teaching....expat gigolo looking for work

[Misty]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

There are fines of 5,000 to 50,000 baht for people working illegally or doing jobs outside the description on their permit.

In another local media source, the DoE director general Pairoj Chotikasatien is quoted as saying work permit holders have to submit a report in person every 3-6 months to confirm they're working in accordance to the description on their work permit.  Anyone know what this report is called?  Hadn't heard of it before.

[SABloke]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

after Thai restaurant owners complained to the Labour Ministry. 

 

Why would they care? I think it's more a case of some restaurant owners trying to weed out the competition. 

[smedly]

and only yesterday they were crying about a huge labour shortage - I have an idea

[actonion]

Taking Thai jobs?   Many hotels   in Koh chang were closing their restaurants early due to staff shortage a  couple of months ago, restaurants that i visit  in Pattaya  are  closing 1 day a week due to staff shortages, as one manager said  Thais too lazy to work, they go home due to   Covid and not want to come back to work

[Pedrogaz]

About time. This is all about Thais not enforcing the laws they have. IMHO the government should stop any new laws being enacted until they can demonstrate that the laws already enacted are enforced. After all why add to the burden of the underworked police force?

[seajae]

maybe if thais wanted to actually work it wouldnt happen, most want to sit on the bums and do nothing, shop assistantsd ignore you when you are looking for help because their phone time is more important. Anything phydical is just off limits to many of them, they prefer money for nothing,  in the west we tend to do what we are paid for, the exact opposite of Thailand

[Andrew65]

2 hours ago, jvs said:

They will probably catch a few older Foreigners who are helping their wives

trying to make a small living(survive).

Take a few pictures and deport them(no money to make the problem go away) Yes i know they break the law but really?

 

Mowing your own lawn? You could/should be employing a Thai person to do that.

I had an old friend that lived in Phuket and used to worry about pruning his Lime trees, just waiting for the immigration police to show up!

[swm59nj]

The article is about all foreigners.  Not specifically westerners. 

[Robert Tyrrell]

Good Afternoon ???? ,

 

Wouldn't it be logical regardless of Nationality or Race if they violate the Immigration Laws and Regulations of Thailand, Anyone !!  Violating those Laws would be equally and legally accountable for themselves and there actions ?? !! 
Sometimes I see these statements made in my opinion statements stating Individual Race and Nationality, Poor taste in my opinion, Question I ask who’s in on this ? Government or Nationals or both ? The first word comes to my mind is Xenophobia !! And I’m a retired foreigner living Legally here !! ???? I love the people , Food and Culture and find it very hard to believe Nationals , Sure maybe a small percentage but very insignificant.

[ikke1959]

So no jobs left.. Thai can do everything, even teaching English without speaking and understanding one word if a foreigner talks with them. How many foreigners are helping their spouse for a restaurant or whatsoever. Small businesses, who can't employ more people... They should be aware....Tourism is killed already by stricter visa rules and an expensive THB, now the familybusinesses what is left over after the visa rules must be killed... When do we get a Government with brains and vision???

[JCauto]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Ask Prayut.....

I think Prawit is the watch expert, no? 

[keithkarmann]

3 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

A sentiment I'm always telling the Mrs when the kettle or cooker needs to go on ????

Bring me a beer babe.

[Tarteso]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

not do jobs reserved for Thai people.

They don’t know how to work… properly.

[NorthernRyland]

3 hours ago, jvs said:

They will probably catch a few older Foreigners who are helping their wives

trying to make a small living(survive).

 

Imagine marrying a women and moving to her country where you support her and having the government arrest you because you helped her sell fried hotdogs on a stick. Welcome to Thailand.

[trainman34014]

I understand there are 20,000 jobs available for Foreign Labour in the Tourist Sector; so there are plenty of jobs available for Thai's 'if' they want to work.   Sadly around the Villages where i live are hundreds of Thai 'Men' i have been seeing every day for 15 years sitting around doing nothing apart from drinking Beer from 8am and smoking rolled up Tobacco Leaves whilst their Wives work 20 hours a day to support their habits and feed the Family.   It's about time the Government got their own 'Men' to actually do some work and stop worrying about a few Farang with no Work Permits !!

[Kaopad999]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"Anyone who sees foreigners working illegally can report the matter to us," he added.

 

I'll be out in my patrol car over the weekend looking out of them. Thank you officer. 

[Lacrimas]

They had all the time to reform the labour laws during the slow years of Covid but no... easier to put the blame on others as usual. 

[NorthernRyland]

Thailand would be vastly better if they allowed some tiny percent of restaurants to be foreign owned and operated in a simple and efficient manor. Thai's don't know how or willing to make most kinds of foods and millions of tourists that visit Thailand every year (and expats) would greatly appreciate this.