On January 28, 2025, at 16.30 hours, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, assigned Mr. Pichet Thongphan, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, as the president of the special task force to investigate employment, working conditions, forced labour or services, and the worst forms of child labour among foreign workers, to lead the special task force, “Trai Thep Phithak,” to inspect and arrest illegal foreign workers in Bangkok and surrounding areas.
Mr. Pichet Thongphan, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, gave a report after foreign workers were brought in for questioning, and the arrest was recorded at Phaya Thai Police Station, Ratchathewi District. He said that Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, places importance on the work of foreign workers in the country. He has set up a special task force called “Trai Thep Phithak” to look after and protect Thais whose jobs have been taken by foreign workers, to prevent foreigners from working without permission, and to address human trafficking in the workforce by cracking down on, arresting, and prosecuting foreign workers, employers, and establishments who break the law. Today, the special task force, “Trai Thep Phithak,” inspected the work of foreign workers at Indra Square shopping mall, Pratunam area, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok. The inspection found 32 foreign workers who had violated the law, occupying jobs reserved for Thais. There were 14 males and 18 females. Most of them worked as clothes and mobile phone sellers, and the majority were Myanmar nationals, with 25 people, followed by 6 Indian nationals and 1 Iranian national. The arrest came from tips from the public. After this, the foreign workers will enter the legal process.
“I would like to emphasize that the Ministry of Labour is determined and thorough about foreign workers coming to work in Thailand. If any violation of the law is found, foreigners working without a work permit or working outside of their rights will be fined between 5,000 and 50,000 Baht and deported. Employers who hire foreigners without a work permit or allow foreigners to work outside of their rights will be fined between 10,000 and 100,000 Baht per illegal foreign worker. If the offense is repeated, they will be imprisoned for up to 1 year or fined between 50,000 and 200,000 Baht, or both, and will be prohibited from hiring foreigners for 3 years,” said Mr. Pichet
If anyone observes wrongdoing by foreign workers in the country, you can report it to the Ministry of Labour’s hotline at 1506 or to the Trai Thep Phithak Task Force, Ministry of Labour, Mitmaitri Road, Din Daeng District, Bangkok, so that the team can investigate further.
