Nine Foreigners Held On Work Permit Charges

[webfact]

Nine foreigners held on work permit charges
Naraporn Tuarob


The nine Chinese are brought into the Immigration office in Phuket Town.

PHUKET: -- Nine people, apparently Chinese and Burmese nationals, were arrested this afternoon (May 21) at Wat Kathu for working without work permits.

The nine – eight men and a woman, all dressed in yellow – were rounded up by Immigration Police officers after a tip-off that they were working in a shop inside the wat, selling Buddhist amulets to Chinese tourists visiting the temple.

At a press conference to display the arrestees, Pol Col Sanchai Chokhayaikij said, “These people tend to work in one place for three months or so and then move on to another.

“They get paid to sell the amulets, and the employer gives some of the proceeds to the temple.” Asked if this meant that someone attached to the temple must know what was going on, he replied, “We have to check into this.”

He added that this was the first time that police had come across this kind of case, and that they would be trying to find the person who had employed the nine to sell amulets. Officers will also check other popular temples to see whether there are similar groups operating in their grounds.

The apparent leader of the group, who seemed to be from Guangdong Province in China, denied the nine were working and said they had just gone to the wat to pay respect.

Identification of the nine is not yet complete because they were not able to produce passports, and all refused to sign their names on any police document.

The nine were sent to Tung Thong Police Station to be charged with working without work permits. Further charges may follow when their passports can be tracked down.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/nine-foreigners-held-on-work-permit-charges-39540.php


-- Phuket News 2013-05-22

[BookMan]

very interesting

Identification of the nine is not yet complete because they were not able to produce passports, and all refused to sign their names on any police document

[eezergood]

Well done boys, you really are getting the big fish!

[HarryMilton]

Great to see a group of apparently illegal workers arrested particularly as they were being so blatant about it. A number of them standing out, wearing bright yellow "uniforms" is almost like a dare to the authorities.

[Payboy]

How dare they set up shop inside a Buddhist temple!

[WAERTH]

very interesting

Identification of the nine is not yet complete because they were not able to produce passports, and all refused to sign their names on any police document

It is very wise of them. My friends at the Thai police advised me that 14 years ago. Never sign anything, or put your name on anything otherwise it will be very difficult to make things undone.

They are obviously expecting someone to bail them out.

W

[Divyan]

why i dont see burmese people ? whole thailand is full of burmese, were i live are countless workers..why such racism?the law is for everyone or we choose for political reasons?

[lee b]

yes i can see why the police wanted to go for this one, not much else of importance happening in thailand now is there?

[NamKangMan]

Why wasn't the head monk charged for employing them????

No doubt his Wat profited from sales.

[cup-O-coffee]

It seems odd that as soon as the benevolent police find someone working in a shop. selling trinkets, and harming no one in particular, they descend with full force and arrests are immediately handed out; yet when they deem that there is some kind of underage sex activity going on with a foreigner and a 9 year old girl or boy, they engage in a sting operation and observe for quite some time before making an arrest.

You can't write this stuff up.

[NomadJoe]

Seems immigration is still at it. A few minutes ago I noticed 3 Thai's standing outside the shop, one on a phone. I suspected what was about to happen and sure enough they were immigration. Not sure if it was random or "focused" check, or perhaps they are checking dive shops. Looked at my PP and WP which I keep next to me, and they were done and gone in 90 seconds. I didn't even have to stand up. Super polite immigration officers. Farangs without WP in Kata, watch out today.

Edited May 22, 2013 by NomadJoe

[AlexDorneles]

They just want to make sure only Thais rip off tourists.

[commande]

Seems immigration is still at it. A few minutes ago I noticed 3 Thai's standing outside the shop, one on a phone. I suspected what was about to happen and sure enough they were immigration. Not sure if it was random or "focused" check, or perhaps they are checking dive shops. Looked at my PP and WP which I keep next to me, and they were done and gone in 90 seconds. I didn't even have to stand up. Super polite immigration officers. Farangs without WP in Kata, watch out today.

LOL, if immigration did a sting operation for WP's in Pattaya on Dive Shops half would be shuttered. I know of only a handful of diving instructors that have a WP the rest are freelance. All they would have to do is stand at the docks early in the morning in plain cloths, wait for the boats to load up and then start the check, nowhere to run or hide and the Thai boat captain would give everyone up instantly, not many if any of the boats would be taking anyone out to dive that day LOL... Lot of people would be going home. Of course it's not just diving it's everywhere.

Edited May 22, 2013 by commande

[Phronesis]

Well it has been a great couple of months for Phuket immigration. Should be a half dozen or more new cars in the staff car park in the coming weeks...perhaps even a merc or two

[NamKangMan]

Seems immigration is still at it. A few minutes ago I noticed 3 Thai's standing outside the shop, one on a phone. I suspected what was about to happen and sure enough they were immigration. Not sure if it was random or "focused" check, or perhaps they are checking dive shops. Looked at my PP and WP which I keep next to me, and they were done and gone in 90 seconds. I didn't even have to stand up. Super polite immigration officers. Farangs without WP in Kata, watch out today.

Did they check how many Thai staff you employ?

[NamKangMan]

They just want to make sure only Thais rip off tourists.

Which is pretty difficult for Thai's to do when they can't speak Russian or Chinese.

[stevenl]

Seems immigration is still at it. A few minutes ago I noticed 3 Thai's standing outside the shop, one on a phone. I suspected what was about to happen and sure enough they were immigration. Not sure if it was random or "focused" check, or perhaps they are checking dive shops. Looked at my PP and WP which I keep next to me, and they were done and gone in 90 seconds. I didn't even have to stand up. Super polite immigration officers. Farangs without WP in Kata, watch out today.

Did they check how many Thai staff you employ?

Normally they don't do that, that check is done on visa and WP renewal.

[nachiket]

Nine people, apparently Chinese and Burmese nationals, were arrested this afternoon (May 21) at Wat Kathu for working without work permits.

very interesting

Identification of the nine is not yet complete because they were not able to produce passports, and all refused to sign their names on any police document

Yeah!

Identification is yet to complete and still police reveal them as Chinese and Burmese.

[NamKangMan]

How come there have been no arrests of Indians and Nepalese?

[NomadJoe]

Seems immigration is still at it. A few minutes ago I noticed 3 Thai's standing outside the shop, one on a phone. I suspected what was about to happen and sure enough they were immigration. Not sure if it was random or "focused" check, or perhaps they are checking dive shops. Looked at my PP and WP which I keep next to me, and they were done and gone in 90 seconds. I didn't even have to stand up. Super polite immigration officers. Farangs without WP in Kata, watch out today.

Did they check how many Thai staff you employ?

Nope. Just came straight for me, the only farang here behind a desk. Anyway, that is not their mandate. That would be under the labor dept, and that would be only if they launched an investigation. But several of our Thai staff was standing right there so I think it was obvious.

[NomadJoe]

Seems immigration is still at it. A few minutes ago I noticed 3 Thai's standing outside the shop, one on a phone. I suspected what was about to happen and sure enough they were immigration. Not sure if it was random or "focused" check, or perhaps they are checking dive shops. Looked at my PP and WP which I keep next to me, and they were done and gone in 90 seconds. I didn't even have to stand up. Super polite immigration officers. Farangs without WP in Kata, watch out today.

Did they check how many Thai staff you employ?

Nope. Just came straight for me, the only farang here behind a desk. Anyway, that is not their mandate. That would be under the labor dept, and that would be only if they launched an investigation. But several of our Thai staff was standing right there so I think it was obvious.

Just checked with some neighbors. They did the whole street so we weren't targeted. One Russian on our street was detained, but he is back now.

I am really glad they checked my WP. I spent a lot of money on the damn thing and until now it was just peace of mind.

[sonar6ca]

Were those shirts on special?

[dunque]

They just want to make sure only Thais rip off tourists.

Which is pretty difficult for Thai's to do when they can't speak Russian or Chinese.

Yeah right, because every country in the world allows unrestricted immigration to cater for all tourists' language needs.

Edited May 22, 2013 by dunque

[NamKangMan]

They just want to make sure only Thais rip off tourists.

Which is pretty difficult for Thai's to do when they can't speak Russian or Chinese.

Yeah right, because every country in the world allows unrestricted immigration to cater for all tourists' language needs.

In most countries this would be deemed an "occupation in demand" or something similar. That means, the country NEEDS people with that particular skill. The profession is usually a high end profession. Eg. specialist doctor.

However, for the sake of one of Thailand's biggest earning industries, tourism, you would think they would allow a few permits for Chinese and Russian tour guides, or retail, for example, so this target market of tourist has a better holiday experience here, and thus, more likely to recommend to others and to return themseleves.

Sadly, all we see is the usual "occupation reserved for Thai's only" routine, protectionism through protests and arrests like these.

They all want the Chinese and Russian money, but will not make a few temporary adjustments or amendments to law, until the Thai's can learn some Chinese and Russian, to allow this money to flow.

[eezergood]

Small distraction to appease the local tuk tuk monkeys & appear not top be a xenophobic nation!

[belg]

good tip: never sign any documents if it is not translated in your own country... you migth sign a : guilty, go directly to jail, do not pass start, document

Edited May 22, 2013 by belg

[disagree]

In the end there's two cases here :

* Thai law prohibiting foreigners to work without a work permit

* Thai law prohibiting specific jobs to be maintained by non Thai workers, to keep the masses happy and employed

That Thais do not specialize in speaking Russian or Chinese, that's not the problem of the Russians or Chinese to take care of in that sense; especially and as long as it's illegal. The main idea behind the business of the mentioned people is quite known as they do work without WPs. They do know that they are working illegally.

What is the smart approach to be taken by Russians and Chinese ( or whoever else ) in such cases? Creating language schools, training Thai staff and owning the appropriate businesses with focus on the Russian and Chinese tourists, which benefits both Thais and foreigners in the long run.

What is the not so smart approach? Getting a few illegal foreign workers and competing against the locals; it's the quick buck approach.

[espinoza]

For the Royal Thai police the temple grounds are not holy grounds. Strange. Are they not Buddhists ?

Edited May 22, 2013 by espinoza

[bangarang]

why i dont see burmese people ? whole thailand is full of burmese, were i live are countless workers..why such racism?the law is for everyone or we choose for political reasons?

If they arrested the burmese.... who would make the new villages for all of us to live in?

[britpop]

somewhere there's a Thai guy selling tours outside the Chinese wall, karma ah !!!!!!!