Labour Minister Chatu Mongol Sonakul, has ordered relevant officials to suspend overseas trips of those who possibly go abroad to work illegally.
“In February, 260 people were suspended from going abroad — 220 to South Korea, 22 to Bahrain, 8 to Oman, 5 to United Arab Emirates, 4 to Qatar, and one to India,” he said.
Meanwhile, 6,156 people who worked abroad legally passed the Suvarnabhumi Labour checkpoint in the same month.
“Most people travelled to Asian countries, such as Taiwan or South Korea, while 723 went to Middle East countries and 481 to European countries,” he added.
South Korea is screening Thai people with more strictness, since Thais do not need a visa to visit the country. “Some Thai people were found escaping from tour groups or hotels to work illegally in South Korea,” Suchart Pornchaiwisetkul, Department of Employment’s director-general, explained.
“Labourers who work illegally will not be protected by the labour law or welfare, whether they are cheated, attacked, injured, or killed,” he warned.
He asked people not to immigrate illegally for work to protect the country’s image as well as those of legal workers.