Consequences For Employer And Employee Without Work Permit

[Permin]

First of all please excuse me if there is information out there on the world wide web that I may have missed while searching. So I now turn to you as i know that many members have knowledge and experience of this kind of questions.

Background info:

I have for the last 3 months been doing an internship at a Hotel in Thailand. I was issued a Non-Immigrant Visa type ED somewhere in Central Europe.

I do not have a work permit but as I had the ED Visa I thought that I would not need a work permit as the reason I was there was for training and not working even though they gave me some pocket money . My employer did not mention anything about work permit until a few days ago while he during a meeting told me that I have no rights and that he could call immigrations whenever he wanted. After this meeting i resigned as this was a real threat. Of course I should have done some deeper research before coming but that is to late now. (I have to say that I am not one of those who exploit the system, I am a Student from the hospitality industry). In total this employer has employed another two trainees without giving them a work permit..

To my question:

If my now former employer goes to immigration and tells them about me; will there be any consequences for the company/employer of hiring me (alien) without correct papers such as work permit? and if there is consequences for me? I have heard about people from the Philippines that gets 2 days in prison and later deported when working without work permit (BUT with tourist visa)

I have a new internship coming up, no monkey business etc - they will issue me a work permit, insurance etc.

All answers are very appreciated .

Best regards

D & C

[CharlieH]

Whilst legally and in theory there may be repocussions for the Hotel owner, in reality if he is Thai it is unlikely anything will happen especially if he knows anyone at that office. Thais will try and bully you with threats but rarely actually amounts to anything.

I believe the formal answer is working without a valid permit is subject to a fine and up to 5 years imprisonment, although this is rarely applied to the maximum.

Make mo mistake, as a foreigner you will never win against a Thai, you are doing the right thing by just moving on and getting the paperwork correct.

[lopburi3]

Make mo mistake, as a foreigner you will never win against a Thai, you are doing the right thing by just moving on and getting the paperwork correct.

That is not really true - but agree that in most cases it would not be worth taking a chance.

I have a new internship coming up, no monkey business etc - they will issue me a work permit, insurance etc.

I trust you will not be working until you do have that work permit this time? All too often people are told 'it is in process' but they never get and it probably was never intended that they get.

[Soutpeel]

Whilst legally and in theory there may be repocussions for the Hotel owner, in reality if he is Thai it is unlikely anything will happen especially if he knows anyone at that office. Thais will try and bully you with threats but rarely actually amounts to anything.

I believe the formal answer is working without a valid permit is subject to a fine and up to 5 years imprisonment, although this is rarely applied to the maximum.

Make mo mistake, as a foreigner you will never win against a Thai, you are doing the right thing by just moving on and getting the paperwork correct.

The business can be fined THB 50,000 per violation, but in reality dont think a Thai company has ever been fined for employing someone without a WP.

The onus is on the person intending to work to ensure thay have the proper documentation.