Thai police target traffickers sending workers to South Korea

[webfact]

Photo Courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

by Mitch Connor

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) of the Royal Thai Police is intensifying its efforts to investigate websites run by companies with the aim of deceiving Thais, known as “little ghosts,” into working in South Korea illegally.

 

The ATPD has been investigating the websites operated by these firms since South Korea’s partial reopening after the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. Sarut Kwaengsopha, 32 years old, commander of the ATPD, stated that numerous companies had been discovered to be deceiving Thai workers. He warned people not to believe these firms and suggested that seeking employment through the Department of Employment was the safest option.

According to Sarut, these companies have violated the Employment Arrangement and Job-seeker Protection Act by advertising jobs without authorisation, which carries a potential jail term of three to ten years, as well as deceiving others about jobs overseas, which carries a potential jail term of three to ten years and/or a fine of between 60,000-200,000 baht.

 

The issue of “little ghosts” in South Korea has resurfaced since Thailand and South Korea lifted travel restrictions following the easing of Covid-19, prompting many labour exporters to resume sending Thai workers to the country illegally. South Korea has been a popular destination for Thai workers for the past 20 years, mainly because daily wages are five to seven times higher than in Thailand.

 

However, individuals can only work in South Korea legally through the Employment Permit System (EPS) operated by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. This system involves government-to-government arrangements aimed at eliminating the need for excessive brokerage fees of between 150,000 and 200,000 baht charged by unscrupulous companies in both countries.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/thai-police-target-traffickers-sending-workers-to-south-korea

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-03

 

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[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Sarut Kwaengsopha, 32 years old, commander of the ATPD, stated that numerous companies had been discovered to be deceiving Thai workers. He warned people not to believe these firms and suggested that seeking employment through the Department of Employment was the safest option.

So get these web-sites shut down.

[ukrules]

This is a joke

 

The so called 'little ghosts' are economic migrants breaking the law.

 

It is yet another denigration of the term 'people trafficking'.

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by ukrules

[Adumbration]

GFs older sister has been in South Korea now for going on 7 years.  She arrived on tourist visa and then dissappeared into the mountains.  She moved around a bit at first due to bad employers and <deleted>ty jobs.  But for about 6 years she has been on the one farm. She talks most evenings on Line with the GF.  She has her own little cottage, basic but nice and homely.  Work is not too hard mostly planting, picking and packaging for market.  Beautiful mountainous location.  It snow in winter but farmer still finds enough work to keep you going.

 

She is a single mum and is support a worthless (now teenage) boy staying with the Grand parents.  Not yet 15 and already in trouble with the law for stealing from his school and drugs.

 

She makes a <deleted> tin of money.  And has just paid to commence the building of a 1.7 million baht house in her village.  My GF handles an account her for her to receive money and transfer it on to her parents and make other requested payment.  Most months the sister sends north of 60K baht.

 

In the busiest harvesting months she works around the clock and transfers north of 80K.

 

[cncltd1973]

????hmmm, 3/4 of the Thais in Korea are illegal migrant workers overstaying on a tourist visa... interesting