Thailand Cracks Down on Illegal Foreign Workers
Thailand has arrested over 2,000 foreign nationals in the last three months for illegal employment, following a campaign launched by the Labour Ministry. Inspections of over 20,000 workplaces revealed many were hiring workers without proper documentation, primarily from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Efforts led by Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn aim to balance the labor sector while Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt is working to free public spaces from street vendors with a model inspired by Singapore.
Thailand's Labour Ministry has reported the arrest of over 2,000 foreign nationals for illegal work over the past three months.
Spearheaded by Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, a campaign was initiated to inspect workplaces employing migrant workers under the theme 'finding, arresting, and extraditing.' Between June 5 and October 2, officials visited 20,152 workplaces with 277,770 migrant workers.
The largest group hailed from Myanmar with 209,435 individuals, followed by 42,766 Cambodians, 16,481 Laotians, 181 Vietnamese, and 8,907 from other countries.
Out of these inspections, 844 workplaces were found employing illegal workers, resulting in 2,063 arrests: 1,289 from Myanmar, 281 Cambodians, 315 Laotians, 41 Vietnamese, and 137 from various nationalities.
Thailand aims to balance its labor needs between domestic and foreign workers, as reiterated by the Department of Employment's director-general, Somchai Morakotsriwan, signaling a stricter focus on preventing foreign nationals from taking jobs reserved for Thais.
Concurrently, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt is advancing efforts to clear public spaces of street vendors and is planning to introduce regulations based on the Singaporean Hawker Centre model.
Spearheaded by Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, a campaign was initiated to inspect workplaces employing migrant workers under the theme 'finding, arresting, and extraditing.' Between June 5 and October 2, officials visited 20,152 workplaces with 277,770 migrant workers.
The largest group hailed from Myanmar with 209,435 individuals, followed by 42,766 Cambodians, 16,481 Laotians, 181 Vietnamese, and 8,907 from other countries.
Out of these inspections, 844 workplaces were found employing illegal workers, resulting in 2,063 arrests: 1,289 from Myanmar, 281 Cambodians, 315 Laotians, 41 Vietnamese, and 137 from various nationalities.
Thailand aims to balance its labor needs between domestic and foreign workers, as reiterated by the Department of Employment's director-general, Somchai Morakotsriwan, signaling a stricter focus on preventing foreign nationals from taking jobs reserved for Thais.
Concurrently, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt is advancing efforts to clear public spaces of street vendors and is planning to introduce regulations based on the Singaporean Hawker Centre model.
