The Ministry of Labour warns employers about the violation of illegal employment of illegal immigrants to work without a permit. There is a fine of 10,000 – 100,000 Baht per foreigner. Repeated offenses are punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of 50,000 – 200,000 Baht, or both. Foreigners working illegally are liable to a fine of up to 50,000 Baht and deported to their country of origin.
The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, reported that the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prayuth Chan-ocha had urged the Ministry of Labour to manage the work of migrant workers after the COVID-19 situation has been resolved, taking into account the economic situation and the importance of the workforce, which is an indispensable factor in the country’s recovery. The Ministry of Labour has adjusted rules and regulations to adapt to the situation with the aim of employers and migrant workers complying with the Cabinet’s resolutions that allow migrant workers to stay and work temporarily. But nowadays, there are still many migrant workers working illegally. The Ministry of Labour has therefore worked with the defense forces, the military, police, and administrative agencies to organize a special task force to inspect, suppress, arrest and prosecute migrant workers, employers/establishments, and those involved in the smuggling of illegal migrant workers, to prevent the offender from committing the offense and to punish offenders so as not to repeat the offense.
“I would like to remind and request cooperation from employers and business owners to not employ illegal foreign workers. If you wish to hire foreign workers, please proceed following the legitimate process of bringing foreign workers to work with employers in the country, according to the MOU. The Ministry of Labor has also taken measures to prioritize the country’s existing workforce. There is a plan for Thailand to have enough foreign workers in the work system to meet business needs. Foreign workers who have received an exemption following the Cabinet’s resolutions on various agendas, if proceeding following the steps within the specified period, will be able to stay in the kingdom and work in Thailand legally. Workers do not have to hide; they have welfare and benefits from social security, and their rights are protected under the labour laws like the Thai people. We take care of Thai and foreign workers equally according to human rights principles,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
The Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Phairoj Chotikasatien, said that the special task force to inspect, suppress, arrest and prosecute illegal foreign workers is an integration between the competent officials under the Department of Employment, the Immigration Office and security agencies, which include the administrative, military, police and public health departments. There is a fine of 10,000 – 100,000 Baht per foreigner. Repeated offenses are punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of 50,000 – 200,000 Baht per foreign worker illegally employed, or both. In addition, illegal foreign workers will not be allowed to work for another three years. The penalty for foreign workers illegally working without permission is a fine ranging from 5,000 – 50,000 Baht, deportation to their country of origin, and they cannot obtain a work permit until two years after their penalty. If anyone sees or suspects that illegal foreign workers are working, they can be reported to the Provincial Employment Office in every province, the Bangkok Employment Office Area 1-10, or the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline, press 2, or call the Department of Employment’s 1649 hotline.
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Division of Public Relations
25 January 2023
