Which government department is responsible for "policing" Work Permits?

In one particular town it seems to be the province of the Tourist Police... and the resulting $$$ handshakes.

In our upcountry province, it's actually the Labor Dept. which polices the permits. They did a "raid" on our university teachers' offices a while back to make sure all foreign teachers held valid work permits. However, if you fail to turn in a work permit at the end of your job/contract, then it becomes a matter for the local police dept. which either tracks you down or receives your 2,000B fine.

Edited September 12, 201015 yr by Fookhaht

However, if you fail to turn in a work permit at the end of your job/contract, then it becomes a matter for the local police dept. which either tracks you down or receives your 2,000B fine.

That is no longer true, work permit does not need to be returned.

Due to the fact that the Employment Department no longer requires the cancellation of work permits, the Immigration Department has changed the procedure for the cancellation of a work permit holder's employment visa and for the dependant visas of his/her family members. When an expatriate employee's work is terminated, the company must issue a letter confirming the cancellation of employment. The employee must present such letter to the Immigration Department to be used for the cancellation of his visa and the visas of all dependant family members. The employee and family members must make the cancellation in person at the Immigration Department and the cancellation must be made exactly on the employee's last official working day. In the case that the last working day is a holiday or weekend the employee will need to make the cancellation on the last government working day before the holiday or weekend. Upon cancellation, in order to remain in Thailand, the work visa holder and his/her dependants must apply for a visa extension. The Immigration Department will grant a 7-day temporary visa extension.

Dej-Udom Law

The lure of easy money will attract some law enforcers, who operate outside their role, to suit their own pockets.

It is correctly the Dept of Labour, which uses Immigration Police to carry out inspections.

In my limited experience, they check all employees in an organisation, and rarely target individuals. An isolated targeting is normally a tipoff from some jealous individual, or based on revenge.

The lure of easy money will attract some law enforcers, who operate outside their role, to suit their own pockets.

It is correctly the Dept of Labour, which uses Immigration Police to carry out inspections.

In my limited experience, they check all employees in an organisation, and rarely target individuals. An isolated targeting is normally a tipoff from some jealous individual, or based on revenge.

Spot on Jombom.

Remember that the work permit must be kept at the place of work. If the labour boys check you out and you say that the WP is in a safe at home - you are fined. Not sure how much. If you have two jobs - two work permits are needed. If you are a director of a company - you still need a WP. (All those papers to be signed - this is deemed work in Thailand.)

The list goes on.

s. An isolated targeting is normally a tipoff from some jealous individual, or based on revenge.

This was my experience... It was cancelled without me being informed.. then the company director called the Tourist Police and informed them that I was working without a licence.

It would appear that the said company director committed an offence in not informing me.