June 30, 2024
Thailand’s Ministry of Labour has announced that nearly 80,000 undocumented foreign workers have been arrested within the first 24 days of a 120-day crackdown that began on June 5. The operation, conducted by Thailand’s Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Labour, and police force, targeted 203 locations known to have high numbers of undocumented workers.
Among those arrested, 58,868 were from Myanmar, and 352 of these Myanmar workers are set to face further legal action.
Undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 THB and deportation. The Thai government emphasizes that only Thai citizens are allowed to work in certain protected job categories. Foreign workers caught working without a permit will be fined and deported, with a two-year ban on re-entry for employment.
Employers who hire undocumented workers will also face severe penalties. For the first offense, fines range from 10,000 to 100,000 THB per worker. Repeat offenses can lead to fines of 50,000 to 200,000 THB per worker and up to one year in prison.
As of now, Thailand has 813,869 documented migrant workers with valid work permits: 676,515 from Myanmar, 103,442 from Cambodia, 31,170 from Laos, and 2,742 from Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Labour.
The crackdown aims to protect Thai citizens’ job opportunities and uphold the country’s immigration laws. The Ministry of Labour reiterates the importance of compliance with legal employment procedures to avoid legal consequences.
