Report Thailand Cracks Down on Illegal Expat Workers to Protect Local Jobs

[webfact]

File photo for courtesy of Siam Rath

 

In a bold move, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has unleashed a sweeping crackdown on expatriates occupying jobs reserved for Thai citizens.

 

Over the last nine months, an astounding 4,400 arrests have been made as the government stamps down on illegal foreign employment, aiming to safeguard jobs for domestic workers.

 

Labour Ministry spokesperson Phumphat Muanchan revealed that the initiative targets offenders in "List-1" occupations, such as street vending, barbering, and traditional Thai massage, which are strictly off-limits to expats.

 

Of the thousands apprehended, only 417 have faced charges, highlighting gaps in enforcement. The plight of job protection does not solely fall on law enforcers, with Mr. Phumphat blaming some employers for cutting costs and failing to adhere to recruitment laws, exacerbating the issue.

 

Collaborative efforts are ramping up as the ministry teams up with the police and the Department of Employment to thoroughly address the problem. Illegal expat workers in "List-3" roles – bricklaying, construction, and agriculture sectors – are also under scrutiny, with charges pressed against 53 individuals among 4,720 identified.

 

Meanwhile, in "List-4" conditionally prohibited areas, 696 charges have been filed against 22,414 surveyed workers, pointing toward a concerted effort to standardise employment practices and protect local interests.

 

Thailand's Labour Minister Phiphat underscores the urgency of cooperation among related sectors to yield tangible outcomes. Public participation is strongly encouraged, with citizens urged to report sightings of illegal expat employment to the Central Employment Registration and Workers Protection Division of the DoE.

 

This latest crackdown is set to reinforce the nation’s resolve in supporting Thai workers, amid concerns over the legality and fairness of employment practices across industries.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-16

 

 

[ikke1959]

When will the outdated Thai labour law being reviewed?? There should not be any protected job in Thailand, except Thai massage and rarely occupations, as Thai dance teachers, food carving etc.. Why not open the labour market for everyone.. It will stimulate the economy more than protect jobs for lazy Thais who don't want to work....

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In a bold move, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has unleashed a sweeping crackdown on expatriates occupying jobs reserved for Thai citizens.

Eventually you can just let AI out to assess how many times a year the same article is published, and then just allow AI to write the articles on a pre-determined timeline and save the money spent on hiring journalism students to write this boiler-plate. 

 

So, Immigration will be stopping by soon?  Cool, I show them my passport, sign something stating that I'm not stealing jobs from Thais trying to put food into their children mouths, and then my wife has someone to talk to for an hour.  My wife loves talking with the IOs and police when they stop by.  Kui Kui Kui, Chat Chat Chat  ❤️  I don't worry cause my paperwork is in order and I don't work, well unless some yaba high kids decide to stop on the street outside the house to listen to me blast bass guitar while I practice.
 

 

 

*Oversized trolling emoji removed.*

[redwood1]

I sure hope I dont see any of you retired expats selling noodles from a street cart or giving out oil massages for 150 baht a hour to tourist..Or selling the goods ST/LT on beach road in Pattaya, or at the Nana car park......These jobs are reserved for Thais....

[ikke1959]

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

I sure hope I dont see any of you retired expats selling noodles from a street cart or giving out oil massages for 150 baht a hour to tourist..Or selling the goods ST/LT on beach road in Pattaya, or at the Nana car park......These jobs are reserved for Thais....

Every job is reserved for Thais... Protectionism of the labour market will not bring the country forward

[hotchilli]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

In a bold move, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has unleashed a sweeping crackdown on expatriates occupying jobs reserved for Thai citizens.

Thailand is becoming the place to avoid... other Asian countries are so much more welcoming.

[Magictoad]

This is aimed at all the foreign labourers and construction workers not at farangs.

[johnnybangkok]

19 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Every job is reserved for Thais... 

No they're not. Plenty of ex-pats working in I.T., logistics, oil & gas, wealth management, insurance, banking and manufacturing to name but a few. In fact the 'Thai only' job list is actually pretty small and centers around low level roles such as masseuse, hairdressers etc. Here's a list if you really want to know

 

https://thailand.acclime.com/guides/restricted-jobs/

[FlorC]

Don't they have a labour shortage ?

[Quentin Zen]

Once in Chiang Mai, I was served by this white, pretty European kid who didn't speak Thai.  Always wondered what the story was there.....

 

Still waiting to see a Nigerian street vendor or a Russian making SomTam.   Yeah, maybe a masseuse is from Myanmar, I'm not 100% sure....but not some Karen from California.  

 

Thailand is always about 50 years behind.  In 50 years, I can guarantee there will be way more non-Thais doing common jobs.  I'm a NASA-certified rocket propulsion reactor specialist.  AI attacks me in my sleep.

[alw22]

That's good.  If you go to MBK the upper floors are full of Indians selling junk. 

[watchcat]

On 6/16/2025 at 2:33 AM, webfact said:

In a bold move, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has unleashed a sweeping crackdown on expatriates occupying jobs reserved for Thai citizens.

 

But then no more construction work will be done, Thais are too lazy for construction work.

[Scouse123]

25 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

But then no more construction work will be done, Thais are too lazy for construction work.

 

Construction, fishing, packing in CP foods, and logistics at FTZ areas near Suvarnabhumi Airport are mainly done by Cambodians, as Thais, even those who are jobless, don't want to do them.

 

 

[StevieAus]

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

Don't they have a labour shortage ?

I think they do in the agricultural sector as many Thais don’t want to work in the fields.

I don’t blame them either working all day in hot and humid conditions.

I live in the North and most of that work seems to be carried out by Burmese people.

I think the other issue is that in recent years younger people have become more educated and gone to university we know a few who came from low income families and went to university, there is no way they will undertake menial work

[ikke1959]

1 hour ago, johnnybangkok said:

No they're not. Plenty of ex-pats working in I.T., logistics, oil & gas, wealth management, insurance, banking and manufacturing to name but a few. In fact the 'Thai only' job list is actually pretty small and centers around low level roles such as masseuse, hairdressers etc. Here's a list if you really want to know

 

https://thailand.acclime.com/guides/restricted-jobs/

Indeed.. "normal" work is all restricted only the high end education jobs are available as Thai people are and can't be educated for that.. Nevertheless most foreigners are not the high end workers here as they can earn much more in other countries... I always talk in general, common people... even volunteer jobs are not allowed in Thailand, to do by retirees and in fact even not allowed to work in your garden or even cleaning your house... Nobody will complain, but according to the law it is forbidden... 

[ikke1959]

47 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Construction, fishing, packing in CP foods, and logistics at FTZ areas near Suvarnabhumi Airport are mainly done by Cambodians, as Thais, even those who are jobless, don't want to do them.

 

 

Thai people only want to make a lot of money for a light and easy clean job, but nobody like to work for simple work with a lower salary... They are too lazy.. I had some construction works and a Thai came and wanted to do the job, and I had to pay him , but he did not do anything and brought another worker for it... just to say... But I got the phone number of the man and now when I need to do something I contact him directly and he is happier as he earns more now as the intermediator is gone..just to say

[zyphodb]

2 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

Construction, fishing, packing in CP foods, and logistics at FTZ areas near Suvarnabhumi Airport are mainly done by Cambodians, as Thais, even those who are jobless, don't want to do them.

 

 

 

It has probably got a lot to do with the wages I'm sure...

[NedR69]

Hard to understand why someone would leave their country and come here to work, and work for peanuts.

[Scouse123]

59 minutes ago, NedR69 said:

Hard to understand why someone would leave their country and come here to work, and work for peanuts.

 

No jobs are available, and even the ones that are available pay less than in Thailand.

[2long]

Why does the report refer to expats / expatriates, when surely it should refer to all non-Thai nationals / all foreigners?

[djayz]

7 hours ago, FlorC said:

Don't they have a labour shortage ?

No, there are enough able bodied people to do the work. The problem is, finding people here who want to work. 

[it is what it is]

On 6/16/2025 at 4:16 AM, ikke1959 said:

When will the outdated Thai labour law being reviewed?? There should not be any protected job in Thailand, except Thai massage and rarely occupations, as Thai dance teachers, food carving etc.. Why not open the labour market for everyone.. It will stimulate the economy more than protect jobs for lazy Thais who don't want to work....

 

nonsense, pretty much every economically successful country has immigration rules and regulations that control the number and type of non-citizens who work in their country, thailand is no different.

why refer to lazy thais? again, most economically successful countries have jobs that the local population will not do. 

 

 

[ikke1959]

29 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

nonsense, pretty much every economically successful country has immigration rules and regulations that control the number and type of non-citizens who work in their country, thailand is no different.

why refer to lazy thais? again, most economically successful countries have jobs that the local population will not do. 

 

 

And most of these countries have jobs that allow every nationality, work in EU is not protected by outdated laws like Thailand... and if you claim it is different please show me some figures

[dinsdale]

8 hours ago, Magictoad said:

This is aimed at all the foreign labourers and construction workers not at farangs.

I'm not so sure about that. My thinking is more toward Chinese and Russians. Tour guides for example.

[ujayujay]

Thai employers illegally hire foreign workers.....wait

[ujayujay]

On 6/16/2025 at 10:16 AM, ikke1959 said:

When will the outdated Thai labour law being reviewed?? There should not be any protected job in Thailand, except Thai massage and rarely occupations, as Thai dance teachers, food carving etc.. Why not open the labour market for everyone.. It will stimulate the economy more than protect jobs for lazy Thais who don't want to work....

.....and within a very short time the market will be flooded with cheap foreign workers......do you have any more such great ideas, like "It will stimulate the economy"...... or is your post just stupid Thai bashing?

[norsurin]

But they have issue about 4000 working permits to Russians n Phuket .

Money talks as usual.

[CallumWK]

1 minute ago, norsurin said:

But they have issue about 4000 working permits to Russians n Phuket .

 

And your source for that is............?

 

[oxo1947]

I have been staying in Pattaya for the  last week  (wife having eye opp)-- the resort I usually stay at has changed hands and now all the workers except reception & security are from Myanmar -- always know when you are in a Muslim owned place only boys allowed to clean rooms-- My wife said their Thai is very basic-- they told her they get 12K a month for work everyday no holidays etc quite long hours. 

[norsurin]

9 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

And your source for that is............?

 

I read it in Phuket news about 2-3 weeks ago.