Labour Minister Cracks Down on Illegal Foreign Workers, Pushes for Legal Registration

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling illegal migrant workers while promoting lawful employment registration. The minister stated that the “Traithep Pitak” special task force had recently conducted operations in Nonthaburi and Chonburi, resulting in the arrest of 34 illegal migrant workers.

 

The Ministry of Labour aims to strike a balance between the demand for foreign workers in industries such as tourism and construction and the need to protect job opportunities for Thai nationals. Minister Phiphat stressed that while migrant workers are an essential part of the economy, they must comply with Thai labour laws and refrain from taking jobs reserved for Thai citizens.

 

During the latest enforcement operation, 19 undocumented workers were arrested in Nonthaburi and 15 in Chonburi, all of whom face legal action and deportation. The crackdown was carried out in coordination with the Department of Employment, provincial authorities, and security agencies.

 

The penalties for illegal employment include:

 

• Fines of between 5,000 and 50,000 baht for workers without valid work permits, along with deportation.

 

• Fines of 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker for employers hiring illegal workers.

 

• Repeat offenders face up to one year in prison, fines of 50,000 to 200,000 baht, and a three-year ban on hiring foreign workers.

 

Minister Phiphat reiterated that the government’s approach is not solely focused on enforcement but also on creating a clear and sustainable labour policy. Employers are encouraged to hire foreign workers legally through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) system, which ensures compliance with Thai labour laws and fair employment practices.

 

“We will no longer allow illegal workers to undermine Thailand’s labour market. Employers must ensure their workers are properly registered, and all foreign workers must understand that Thai labour laws clearly designate certain occupations as exclusive to Thai nationals. Compliance is mandatory,” Minister Phiphat stated.

 

The Ministry of Labour will continue nationwide inspections and welcomes information from the public to safeguard the stability and fairness of Thailand’s job market.

 

 

-- 2025-03-24

 

[flyingtlger]

23 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

the demand for foreign workers in industries such as tourism and construction and the need to protect job opportunities for Thai nationals....

 

The problem is that the Thai locals don't want or refuse to do the hard and dirty work....

 

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