Immigration officers meticulously examined the documents of 160 migrant workers at a construction camp in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri on July 25. To their dismay, 26 workers were discovered to be in violation of immigration laws, as reported by Chaiyot Pupattanapong.
In a persistent effort to curb illegal employment, a series of rigorous crackdowns over the last two months have led to the detention of 1,179 migrant workers, announced the Department of Employment. These measures have also put a spotlight on the employers who, knowingly or unknowingly, hired them.
According to Somchai Morakotsriwan, the director-general of the department, migrant workers found laboring in Thailand without proper permits, or those engaged in unauthorized jobs, face stern penalties. These include fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation, and a potential two-year ban from reapplying for work permission within the country.
The repercussions for employers are equally severe. Any employer caught hiring an illegal migrant worker, or assigning tasks to legal workers that they are not sanctioned to perform, risks fines between 10,000 and 100,000 baht per illegally hired employee. For those who persist in breaking the law, the stakes get even higher—repeat offenders could face up to a year in prison, fines ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 baht per worker, and a prohibitive three-year ban on hiring new migrant workers.
Of the 1,179 migrant workers detained, a diverse group emerged: 724 workers were from Myanmar, 190 from Cambodia, 162 from Laos, 22 from Vietnam, and 81 hailed from other countries. Somchai detailed that these improperly employed workers were identified across 438 out of the 12,983 workplaces inspected from June 5th until the recent Thursday, with a total of 162,130 workers undergoing inspection during this period.
This crackdown is a blatant disregard for human rights! These workers are just trying to feed their families.
While I understand the human side, laws exist for a reason. Employers and workers alike must follow them.
But the system is broken! It should be easier for these people to get work permits. The laws are too rigid.
Couldn’t agree more. The permitting process is cumbersome and discriminates against poorer migrants.
The fines seem pretty steep for both workers and employers. Is this really the best way to handle illegal employment?
Steep penalties are necessary to discourage illegal hiring practices. Without them, employers would have no incentive to follow the law.
Yeah, but small businesses could easily get wiped out by such huge fines. It’s not fair to them.
Small businesses should still abide by the law. If they can’t, maybe they shouldn’t be in business.
I think the crackdown is overdue. Migrant workers are taking away jobs from locals, and we need stricter enforcement.
That’s a bit short-sighted. Many of these jobs are ones locals don’t want to do. Migrants fill essential gaps in the labor market.
If wages were higher, locals would take up these jobs. Simple as that.
Raising wages isn’t that simple. It could drive up living costs and hurt the economy.
Not just any job should be performed by just anyone. Specialized roles exist for a reason.
The statistics are staggering. 1,179 people detained in just two months? What’s going on?
It shows the scale of the problem. So many unregulated and illegal workers.
Makes you wonder how many more are out there slipping through the cracks.
Deportation seems harsh. Why not find a way to integrate these workers legally?
If the consequences for illegal work are this severe, shouldn’t there be a more streamlined way to get proper permits?
Yes, the bureaucracy is just insane. The government needs to make it easier for legit workers to get documentation.
Absolutely. This would also help employers who want to comply with the law.
Why isn’t there more focus on the employers? They’re the real criminals here, exploiting cheap labor.
Good point. If employers faced harsher punishments, maybe they’d think twice before hiring illegal workers.
Right? They’re getting away with a slap on the wrist compared to the workers.
What about the safety concerns? These workers might not be trained properly and could be risking their lives.
Out of all those inspected workplaces, only 438 had illegal workers? Seems like the vast majority are following the rules.
Or maybe they just didn’t get caught. Inspecting doesn’t guarantee finding all violations.
This enforcement could put families at risk. Imagine being deported and separated from your loved ones.
It’s heartbreaking. There should be more humane solutions.
Seeing the diverse origins of these workers shows how globally interconnected these issues are.
What is the alternative? Let all illegal workers stay and create chaos? That’s not a solution either.
True, but balance is key. Regulations should be enforced without being inhumane.
I agree. Senseless cruelty isn’t the answer. But neither is lawlessness.
Indeed, proper policy reform is needed for effective and humane enforcement.