Phuket Tightens Grip on Migrant Labour Amidst Crackdown

Photo courtesy of The Phuket News

Phuket is intensifying efforts to regulate its extensive migrant workforce, which includes approximately 126,980 workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This move aims to ensure compliance with employment regulations and fairness in workplace practices.

On Monday, 23rd June, a pivotal meeting was held, led by Thanapong Oncharoen, the Provincial Labour Welfare and Protection Officer, at the Phuket Provincial Employment Office. This marked the second gathering of a working group dedicated to monitoring foreign workers and ensuring that employers adhere to labour laws.

As of 25th May, Phuket recorded 15,233 foreign nationals with valid work permits, comprising 14,460 temporary workers, 517 under investment promotions, and 250 minority workers. Despite challenges from the monsoon season, inspections have been relentless, focusing on eradicating illegal employment.

Over May and June, officials inspected 2,850 establishments, assessing 25,940 migrant workers. This resulted in checks on 2,293 businesses and 20,060 workers, leading to prosecutions against nine employers and 48 workers for legal violations, marking progress in preventing exploitation.

A growing concern involves Cambodian workers due to reports of illegal border crossings. Consequently, there will be heightened monitoring of Cambodian migrants in the area. To bolster enforcement, the working group will expand to include the Phuket Provincial Local Government, Public Health Office, and Social Development and Human Security Office.

Officials emphasise that the initiative’s aim extends beyond enforcement; it seeks systematic, lawful, and fair management of foreign labour in alignment with national policies. Collaboration among government bodies is deemed crucial for the initiative's success, ensuring equitable working conditions for all foreign workers on the island.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-25