Patong crackdown on foreign workers to continue till August
Ramon Bencharitiwong

PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office will continue its ‘crackdown’ on illegal workers, according to Phuket Immigration Superintendent Colonel Sanchai Chokhayaikij.

Col Sanchai explained that Patong has now been separated into five ‘work zones’ to make the checking of Patong workers swift and efficient and that the ‘serious crackdown’ would continue, at least, until the end of the month.

His comments come on the back of Friday’s arrest of 84 illegal workers. Col Sanchai said, “The 84 people arrested were mostly Burmese with four Vietnamese, two Indians, two Pakistanis and two Cambodians arrested in Patong, with expired visas.”

On a patrol along the Patong Beach Road by Col Sanchai, Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Urumporn Khundejsumrit and Police Colonel Jirapat Pohchanapant, they chanced upon a young Burmese worker ‘Na Yar Yan’.

Na Yar Yan told The Phuket News after the 'all clear' from the investigating officers, “To have a job is the main magnet for me. I have all of the correct documents from my employer.

“I pay 50 per cent of all my expenses to have it renewed every year. Even though the process of getting the right documents from the Labour department was difficult, it’s worth it though. I have been in Phuket for four years now. I am going to go back home in the next three months. My employer is fine with it and he told me it depends on my decision of how long I plan to work here.”

He added that all foreign workers should try to have such documents for the right to work and act legally, “It’s safer and more relaxing to live,” said Nar Yar Yan.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/patong-crackdown-on-foreign-workers-to-continue-till-august-41461.php

-- Phuket News 2013-08-18

Crackdown on employer would be a better solution which will increase the flow of brown envelopes.

What happens after August ? haha. ASEAN free flow of labour across borders? So why bother.

ASEAN will only be valid for workers to travel freely for those in SKILLED professions

Under MRAs, ASEAN members have agreed on the free flow of professional-level labor in seven fields, namely engineering, architectural, surveying, nursing, medical, dental, and accounting services.
For the tourism industry, skilled workers must register their profession, or obtain job certification, or pass specific job tests of the host nation. They must also obtain a work permit from the host country and comply with related rules and regulations.

The English-language proficiency of Thai workers is a weakness that needs to be addressed quickly, as well as skills in information technology.

The challenge is that Thai workers might lose their jobs to foreign workers. More Thai professionals will go to work in foreign countries, as well.

wont affect 99% of those working illegeally. ( Burmese./Neapli/ Bangleshi's working in shops.restaurants etc etc)

Thais; willbe at a disadvantage because of their poor english skills in these fields

I know this sounds lame... I get that all the Russian girls can work at the bars because the boss obviously pays someone to look the other way. But the DOZENS of non-Thai kiosk workers at Jungceylon is so obvious and during the day. I mean I doubt very much that the copy watch stand is valued over 1 million baht to have foreigners working there, so they have to be paying someone off.....strange they have to go looking on the beach to find the ONLY legal Burmese, but don't walk into the mall or down a side soi....

I know this sounds lame... I get that all the Russian girls can work at the bars because the boss obviously pays someone to look the other way. But the DOZENS of non-Thai kiosk workers at Jungceylon is so obvious and during the day. I mean I doubt very much that the copy watch stand is valued over 1 million baht to have foreigners working there, so they have to be paying someone off.....strange they have to go looking on the beach to find the ONLY legal Burmese, but don't walk into the mall or down a side soi....

You are bang on - known fact that many foreigners in Jungceylon have no proper papers but i know for fact that they will not be hassle din there as the right people are paid to stay away.

Wow... a ton of Burmese and a few assorted others....

Those BIB, they really know how to go after the BIG offenders.

So once the first of September rolls around it's okay to be an illegal foreign worker?