Thailand grapples with surge in illegal foreign workers in tourism

[webfact]

 

The Labour Ministry of Thailand has expressed worries over the persistent issue of foreigners being unlawfully employed within the country’s tourism sector.

 

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed that the ministry has been vigilantly tracking the situation and has reported a steady increase in the number of illegal foreign workers. From October 2023 to February 2024, as many as 13,424 foreigners were found to be working in the country without proper legal documentation.

 

The unsettling trend shows no signs of abating, with the number of illegal foreign workers escalating from 35,258 in fiscal 2022 to 42,520 in fiscal 2023, as indicated by the Employment Department’s records. The 68 year old Phiphat pointed out that many of these individuals were found to be engaged in jobs reserved for Thai citizens, including roles such as tour guides and barbers.

 

In a bid to curb this illegal employment, the government prosecuted 505 foreigners who were found guilty of working without the necessary permits. The majority of these offenders hailed from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, and were most frequently employed as sales clerks, street vendors, construction workers, and barbers.

In addition, Phiphat stated that the ministry has been collaborating with the Immigration Bureau and Commerce Ministry to crack down on businesses run by foreigners. In fiscal 2023, the government scrutinised 42,520 foreign workers across all provinces, resulting in the prosecution of 1,641 individuals.

On a positive note, the ministry is also working on an initiative to elevate the minimum wage in ten key tourism provinces. This move is seen as a proactive measure to boost the industry, which is slowly regaining momentum and is expected to mirror activity levels seen in 2019.

 

The targeted provinces for this wage increase are Bangkok, Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Krabi, Songkhla, Phang Nga, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Rayong.

 

A comprehensive study was conducted among operators and employees in 950 tourism businesses and venues to determine a suitable wage structure. For larger enterprises with more than 50 employees, between three to five staff were interviewed, while for companies with more than 100 employees, a sample of ten staff members was surveyed.

 

The tripartite wage committee is set to convene tomorrow to review the findings from the study, with an announcement on the wage hike expected by Songkran.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture of foreign workers courtesy of ASEAN Now

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-25

 

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[OneMoreFarang]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

has reported a steady increase in the number of illegal foreign workers.

 

"has reported" is probably the most important part of this.

Illegal workers exist since forever. And lots of authorities allowed that to happen - obviously only for some compensation to look in the wrong way.

Now, with all those reports about all those bad foreigners, someone has to be seen as doing something.

Until everything gets back to normal, and they usual commissions will be paid again.

TiT

[2long]

Is there really a 'surge' as reported in the headline, or just a recent attempt at a purge and reports in the news?

[stoner]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

42,520 foreign workers across all provinces

 

again for perspective...

 

this 42k is all nationalities total in thailand. there are approx 150k thai working in SK alone. 

 

suck it up thailand you do the exact same thing all across the globe. 

[2baht]

Everyone wants a piece of the Centre of the Universe!

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The majority of these offenders hailed from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, and were most frequently employed as sales clerks, street vendors, construction workers, and barbers.

So nothing to do with tourism as the title states.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Labour Ministry of Thailand has expressed worries over the persistent issue of foreigners being unlawfully employed within the country’s tourism sector.

 

[transam]

No surge, it's always been there, they have just left their desks to see what's happening outside...............😝

[stoner]

4 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

So nothing to do with tourism as the title states.

 

 

 

don't let the need for traffic go to waste.  

[Korat Kiwi]

7 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Everyone wants a piece of the Centre of the Universe!

I know which piece I want.... 

[2baht]

Just now, Korat Kiwi said:

I know which piece I want.... 

R U another food and temple guy? 🤣

 

 

[Denim]

From the picture it looks like guided tours of construction sites including a slap up som dtam buffet are all the rage.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Labour Ministry of Thailand has expressed worries over the persistent issue of foreigners being unlawfully employed within the country’s tourism sector.

So start jailing the Thai business operators who employ them.

[Zack61]

With almost 5000km of porous land borders with neighboring countries it’s no wonder. I’m not sure they are a threat to the Thai economy insofar as most of them would not work in tourism and are being exploited and used in many of the crap jobs not wanted by the average Thai. Thailand’s economy would be much worse without them. 

[arick]

Poor Burma and Cambodia 

[arick]

39 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

With almost 5000km of porous land borders with neighboring countries it’s no wonder. I’m not sure they are a threat to the Thai economy insofar as most of them would not work in tourism and are being exploited and used in many of the crap jobs not wanted by the average Thai. Thailand’s economy would be much worse without them. 

They need them especially when they can pay them half the wage

 

[Srikcir]

As I've said before, find a way for those foreign workers to have a path to work permits, ie., as undocumented immigrants, so that they aren't trafficked and not abused by their Thai employers. Spending resources to monitor, apprehend and prosecute illegal foreign workers is a waste of resources and does nothing to stop trafficking.

[Jack Hammer]

What has amazed me over the years is the number of these tailor shops.  I’ve never yet to see a Thai national being employed in one of them. Walk past the shops in question and the “tailor touts “ will try to con you to purchase one of their garments.   All employees seem to be of Indian or other sub-continent nationality 

[mran66]

Tourism hit by foreign workers??

 

I would think the headline should be "enabled by foreign workers" 

[thai006]

Need another crackdown 

[Buriramfelang]

Barbers,what every tourist comes for😂😂

[ChipButty]

There is already a shortage of hotel staff, so they need them and Thais dotn want to work in the kitchens or cleaning rooms, A friend of mine has two trendy restaurants he's paying a good daily wage, he cant get staff, 

[Gknrd]

"The majority of these offenders hailed from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos".  hummm lets see. The three countries where China has either devastated the economy or supports a genocidal regime.   Ahh, ok now it makes sense.

[2baht]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

As I've said before.........

But did they listen??? 🤔

[PETERTHEEATER]

What is the nationality of the barber who recently cut Thaksin's hair? 

[Cabradelmar]

And that's 42k people willingly hired by Thai businesses... Takes 2 to tango in the jobs market. 

[MrPancake]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The Labour Ministry of Thailand has expressed worries over the persistent issue of foreigners being unlawfully employed within the country’s tourism sector.

 

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed that the ministry has been vigilantly tracking the situation and has reported a steady increase in the number of illegal foreign workers. From October 2023 to February 2024, as many as 13,424 foreigners were found to be working in the country without proper legal documentation.

 

The unsettling trend shows no signs of abating, with the number of illegal foreign workers escalating from 35,258 in fiscal 2022 to 42,520 in fiscal 2023, as indicated by the Employment Department’s records. The 68 year old Phiphat pointed out that many of these individuals were found to be engaged in jobs reserved for Thai citizens, including roles such as tour guides and barbers.

 

In a bid to curb this illegal employment, the government prosecuted 505 foreigners who were found guilty of working without the necessary permits. The majority of these offenders hailed from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, and were most frequently employed as sales clerks, street vendors, construction workers, and barbers.

In addition, Phiphat stated that the ministry has been collaborating with the Immigration Bureau and Commerce Ministry to crack down on businesses run by foreigners. In fiscal 2023, the government scrutinised 42,520 foreign workers across all provinces, resulting in the prosecution of 1,641 individuals.

On a positive note, the ministry is also working on an initiative to elevate the minimum wage in ten key tourism provinces. This move is seen as a proactive measure to boost the industry, which is slowly regaining momentum and is expected to mirror activity levels seen in 2019.

 

The targeted provinces for this wage increase are Bangkok, Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, Krabi, Songkhla, Phang Nga, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Rayong.

 

A comprehensive study was conducted among operators and employees in 950 tourism businesses and venues to determine a suitable wage structure. For larger enterprises with more than 50 employees, between three to five staff were interviewed, while for companies with more than 100 employees, a sample of ten staff members was surveyed.

 

The tripartite wage committee is set to convene tomorrow to review the findings from the study, with an announcement on the wage hike expected by Songkran.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture of foreign workers courtesy of ASEAN Now

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-25

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

 

A classic when it comes to scapegoating.

Elites suck, blame foreigners (only poor ones of course).

Global phenomenon unfortunately.

[ujayujay]

No mercy for Thailand! The illegal workers in particular are recruited by Thai companies for wages at slave levels. Miraculously, we never hear anything about a court conviction against the Thai operators of these companies...

[brianthainess]

I've stopped shaving now, in case I get deported. 

[crazykopite]

If they paid Thais a better salary in the construction industry they could be tempted to work within it the salary is embarrassing so they have to bring in foreign workers to do the work 

[crazykopite]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

There is already a shortage of hotel staff, so they need them and Thais dotn want to work in the kitchens or cleaning rooms, A friend of mine has two trendy restaurants he's paying a good daily wage, he cant get staff, 

Let’s be honest most Thais are lazy and then there are others who work 24/7 to look after the family I’ve always had the impression that Thai woman work harder than there men folk