Foreigners arrested for working without permission

[webfact]

 

In line with the policies of Lt. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas, Chief of the Police Department, to monitor foreigners involved in international crime or misbehavior within Thailand, the Immigration Office, led by Lt. Gen. Phakphum Sapchatchawan, has initiated an investigation in collaboration with local enforcement agencies.

 

Acting on complaints received about unauthorized foreign vendors operating in Soi Phetchaburi 31, Watthana District, authorities descended on the area to investigate, reported Siam Rath.

 

They identified a group comprised of Laotian and Myanmar nationals, along with a Thai employer selling food. On inspection, none of the foreigners possessed valid work permits. Consequently, charges were brought against them for working without permission.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Additionally, the Thai employer was accused of hiring unauthorized foreign workers. All three were detained and handed over to Phaya Thai police station for legal proceedings.

 

Sanctions for these infractions can vary, with foreign employees facing charges between 5,000 and 50,000 baht, while business owners may be fined anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 baht. Once fined, the foreign individuals would be deported and blacklisted, preventing their re-entry into Thailand.

 

The Immigration Office urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to their hotline at 1178 or their official website.

 

Top Picture: Siam Rath

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-08

 

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[ukrules]

Laughable, they're going after the lowest possible hanging fruit.

[ChipButty]

These people are just trying to survive on peanuts, give them a break 

[NONG CHOK]

These same law breakers work in the homes of the rich and famous including police who employ them as house keepers, nannies and what whatever other low paid jobs they are required to do, I was caught out years ago, I was at my step daughters soup shop in Bangkapi. She was very busy one night so I washed some plates for her. Two cops eating at her soup shop warned me about working. She told them that it was a one off as she was very business and she was told her excuse was unacceptable. Thailand the hub of double standards.

[ezzra]

I agree with not allowing undocumented foreigners to work in Thailand, the law is the law, and Thai workers jobs should be protected, you don't see any other country allowing Thai workers to work there without the proper work permits do you? s whey should Thailand do?

[richard_smith237]

‘Tis just a racket….   The police want to extort businesses.

 

BiL has a relatively successful restaurant that employs a number of foreign staff…. BiB visited & wanted some money, BiL politely told them to piysh-awf….  A few days later a handful of BiB rock up ‘after hearing complaints of foreign staff working illegally’…. BiL had paperwork for all his staff, police left empty handed. 
That was a couple of years ago (pre covid) I don’t think the BiB have bothered him since.

 

[Skipalongcassidy]

2 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I agree with not allowing undocumented foreigners to work in Thailand, the law is the law, and Thai workers jobs should be protected, you don't see any other country allowing Thai workers to work there without the proper work permits do you? s whey should Thailand do?

While I agree with you that there should be oversight on foreign workers. I totally disagree with the way it is administered... protecting "Thai only" jobs is counterproductive... it adds nothing of value to the work force.

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I agree with not allowing undocumented foreigners to work in Thailand, the law is the law, and Thai workers jobs should be protected, you don't see any other country allowing Thai workers to work there without the proper work permits do you? s whey should Thailand do?

Because Thai’s don’t want that sort of work….  

 

Factories, building sites, construction, restaurants etc….  There is a huge availability of jobs for migrant labourers because Thai’s won’t do those jobs (in so many cases)….  Authorities know this so have to turn a blind eye while playing the game and also getting some payouts too.

 

Our previous maid  (Burmese) was ‘caught’ on her day off outside of the district she is registered. We had to go & get her from the Police station, it cost me 2000 baht for her to be released. When I collected her there were about 30 burmese all sat on the floor in a room.  
 

Quite the earner. If there are no foreign labourers, there are fewer opportunities to extort them & or their employers.
 

 

[Thaddee]

45 minutes ago, ezzra said:

you don't see any other country allowing Thai workers to work there without the proper work permits do you? s whey should Thailand do?

How many countries have you been to ? All Western countries, Europe and America depend on foreign workers for menial jobs that superior white people don't want to do. Thailand has a very gentle, uncomplicated and user friendly administration. The Immigration dept that we all know is a prime example of the humanity and kindness Thailand is famous for. A huge web of corruption wraps the whole society like a giant rubber band but on the face, the law is feared and respected. And if they can't pay, they send the Burmese boys and girls back across the border, to their death. Bravo !

[2long]

"international crime or misbehavior" either covers a very wide range, or focuses on two quite different things.

[ChipButty]

58 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Because Thai’s don’t want that sort of work….  

 

Factories, building sites, construction, restaurants etc….  There is a huge availability of jobs for migrant labourers because Thai’s won’t do those jobs (in so many cases)….  Authorities know this so have to turn a blind eye while playing the game and also getting some payouts too.

 

Our previous maid  (Burmese) was ‘caught’ on her day off outside of the district she is registered. We had to go & get her from the Police station, it cost me 2000 baht for her to be released. When I collected her there were about 30 burmese all sat on the floor in a room.  
 

Quite the earner. If there are no foreign labourers, there are fewer opportunities to extort them & or their employers.
 

 

The police drive around my area looking for them, our cleaner tells us all the stories, you were lucky only 2000 baht I know of a story were it was 12,000 baht for 2 of them and to get the bike back which the police also confiscated, 

[HappyExpat57]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

These people are just trying to survive on peanuts, give them a break 

It's the same damned problem in the US. They need a common sense worker's visa/work permit program. There's obviously a NEED for these folks.

[ezzra]

To all those who does not agree with wit my input, what's wrong in asking for work permit like we, European foreigners do? are they better than us? poorer than us? we go through the motions, let them do the same, poor or not.

[HappyExpat57]

7 minutes ago, ezzra said:

To all those who does not agree with wit my input, what's wrong in asking for work permit like we, European foreigners do? are they better than us? poorer than us? we go through the motions, let them do the same, poor or not.

I've personally known only two guys who tried to get work permits. There was a mountain of paperwork, multiple trips to Bangkok because there were always MORE documents required than the instructions originally stated, and in the end neither of them got a permit granted. I have a feeling a street vendor has neither the time nor the resources to do this.  As I just posted above, they need a common sense worker's visa/work permit program.

 

 

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by HappyExpat57
gramar

[Sheryl]

1 minute ago, ezzra said:

To all those who does not agree with wit my input, what's wrong in asking for work permit like we, European foreigners do? are they better than us? poorer than us? we go through the motions, let them do the same, poor or not.

In order for workers from neighboring countries to get a work permit they need to get a certain type of visa which cists about 20k baht and takes 6 months to arrange.  Not feasible for daily laborers like this to afford and pretty sure bet the Thai rmployer won't pay for it.

 

The Thai economy is heavily dependent on cheap unskilled labor from neighnoring countries but Thsiland has fsiled to develop lefal  systems to facilitate this. The result is hundreds of thousands of underpaid illegals living in fear and dubject to all manner of exploitation. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

The result is hundreds of thousands of underpaid illegals living in fear and dubject to all manner of exploitation. 

… and that exactly the way those in power like it…

 

Cheap labour for the wealthy factory owners & real estate tycoons…..  Who I wonder…. 
 

 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

These people are just trying to survive on peanuts, give them a break 

Guess you also fully support the wages of the locals going down to compensate for illegal workers too then in many industries ? That is the issue will illegals. 

[ChipButty]

11 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I've personally known only two guys who tried to get work permits. There was a mountain of paperwork, multiple trips to Bangkok because there were always MORE documents required than the instructions originally stated, and in the end neither of them got a permit granted. I have a feeling a street vendor has neither the time nor the resources to do this.  As I just posted above, they need a common sense worker's visa/work permit program.

 

 

 

The work permits are different and usually a separate department for Burmese workers but I agree with you, around where I live there has been a lot of construction over the last couple of years and from what I can see is mostly migrant workers, 

[fredwiggy]

33 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

In order for workers from neighboring countries to get a work permit they need to get a certain type of visa which cists about 20k baht and takes 6 months to arrange.  Not feasible for daily laborers like this to afford and pretty sure bet the Thai rmployer won't pay for it.

 

The Thai economy is heavily dependent on cheap unskilled labor from neighnoring countries but Thsiland has fsiled to develop lefal  systems to facilitate this. The result is hundreds of thousands of underpaid illegals living in fear and dubject to all manner of exploitation. 

 

 

The same thing happens daily in the US. They pay coyotes to get them in, who don't care what happens after they are paid, and they are kicked out or used by their employers. I knew of a few that were housemaids in a small city next to San Antonio. Lived there and took care of the kids also. These were well off Americans who hired illegals because they know they can pay them cheap, and if they lose them they find another. It happens in Thailand on fishing boats, where they are hired then treated as slaves and beaten or killed if they talk. Human traffickers prey on them here and a lot of other places. With officials involved it's hard to prosecute the rich who are involved.

[still kicking]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

In line with the policies of Lt. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas, Chief of the Police Department, to monitor foreigners involved in international crime or misbehavior within Thailand, the Immigration Office, led by Lt. Gen. Phakphum Sapchatchawan, has initiated an investigation in collaboration with local enforcement agencies.

 

Acting on complaints received about unauthorized foreign vendors operating in Soi Phetchaburi 31, Watthana District, authorities descended on the area to investigate, reported Siam Rath.

 

They identified a group comprised of Laotian and Myanmar nationals, along with a Thai employer selling food. On inspection, none of the foreigners possessed valid work permits. Consequently, charges were brought against them for working without permission.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Additionally, the Thai employer was accused of hiring unauthorized foreign workers. All three were detained and handed over to Phaya Thai police station for legal proceedings.

 

Sanctions for these infractions can vary, with foreign employees facing charges between 5,000 and 50,000 baht, while business owners may be fined anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 baht. Once fined, the foreign individuals would be deported and blacklisted, preventing their re-entry into Thailand.

 

The Immigration Office urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to their hotline at 1178 or their official website.

 

Top Picture: Siam Rath

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-08

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Hang em high

[ezzra]

56 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

In order for workers from neighboring countries to get a work permit they need to get a certain type of visa which cists about 20k baht and takes 6 months to arrange.  Not feasible for daily laborers like this to afford and pretty sure bet the Thai rmployer won't pay for it.

 

The Thai economy is heavily dependent on cheap unskilled labor from neighnoring countries but Thsiland has fsiled to develop lefal  systems to facilitate this. The result is hundreds of thousands of underpaid illegals living in fear and dubject to all manner of exploitation. 

 

 

The same argument can be to justify, say, driving a motor car drivers's without a licence because getting a licence requiters knowledge and money, as well as other things in life that also require money and knowledge, so? what is the answer? to petition the Thai government to change the laws and allows those people to work as and when they wish without paying taxes without health cover in case of an accident not to mention retirement funds.

[PremiumLane]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Guess you also fully support the wages of the locals going down to compensate for illegal workers too then in many industries ? That is the issue will illegals. 

Any evidence for this?

[VocalNeal]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

These people are just trying to survive on peanuts, give them a break 

Apparently the Indians selling peanuts are exempt????

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Sanctions for these infractions can vary, with foreign employees facing charges between 5,000 and 50,000 baht, while business owners may be fined anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 baht. Once fined, the foreign individuals would be deported and blacklisted, preventing their re-entry into Thailand.

And the Thai owner will be frying tonight?

[kingstonkid]

8 hours ago, ukrules said:

Laughable, they're going after the lowest possible hanging fruit.

Willing to bet that it was a shopkeeper down the road the reported him.  Unfortunately the police have to act.

 

I agree it is low hanging fruit.  Hell in pats a Farang can't clear a table without competition complaining to police 

[HappyExpat57]

3 hours ago, PremiumLane said:

Any evidence for this?

Of course not. Some people are floating arguments looking for a place to spout.

[BritScot]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

I agree with not allowing undocumented foreigners to work in Thailand, the law is the law, and Thai workers jobs should be protected, you don't see any other country allowing Thai workers to work there without the proper work permits do you? s whey should Thailand do?

You also don't see other countries parading people with visa breaches on TV!!!

[Harveyboy]

10 hours ago, ukrules said:

Laughable, they're going after the lowest possible hanging fruit.

Yes mate true ..afraid to go after the thousands of more dangerous Russians working illigial in Phuket 

[AustinRacing]

I find behind the facade of ordinary Thai smiles a vindictive, jealous, two-face characteristic. I reckon they were tipped off by neighboring vendor. In my village I see this back stabbing while smiling to your face all the time. And I live in a fairly affluent area. 

[jvs]

Here i was expecting to see a bunch of Russians on Phuket in cuffs.

Is that going to happen?

I bet my next paycheck it will not.