Almost 400 foreigners working in trade Arrested
The Department of Employment has begun to search for foreigners illegally working in the trading business and other jobs that were not properly registered in the working permit and jobs prohibited by the law for foreign workers to engage in. Currently, 378 foreign workers are in the prosecution process and 211 workers have been deported back to their country.
Phetcharat Sinuay from the Department of Employment reported that the Department has begun serious searches in finding the illegal foreign workers, mainly those who work in buy and sell businesses. Such jobs of selling, especially selling on the streets or at the front of the store is illegal for foreigners. This is mainly because the foreign sellers are stealing income from other Thai’s involved with the same businesses.
From the 1st of October 2018 to the 7th of May 2019, the Department has performed checks on the jobs of 1,229 foreign workers. 701 workers were working as street sellers, 501 workers were working in the front of stores, 27 were working in other jobs such as a security guard, Win motorbike drivers, beauty salons, and more.
Out of the total number, 378 foreign workers have been arrested and prosecuted while 211 workers have already been deported back to their home countries. 126 workers are from Myanmar, 98 from Vietnam, 63 from Laos, 51 from Cambodia, 34 from India, 2 from China and 4 other workers from other countries. The workers were fined to a total of 1,055,000 THB.
The Department of Employment stated that foreign workers must work accordingly to what is stated in their working permit. The job must also not violate any restricted jobs unless special permission is granted specifically to such person. Any person who violates this law will face a fine that runs from 5,000 to 50,000 THB. The people can call the department at 1506 (+2) to report any foreign workers working illegally in Thailand.
