Bangkok: The Department of Employment is taking stringent measures against foreigners working illegally and those selling products live without proper authorization. Mr. Pichet Thongphan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, has emphasized the necessity for foreigners to possess work permits.
According to Thai News Agency, a public tip-off led to the discovery of a Chinese national allegedly working illegally in a residence in Bangkok’s Din Daeng area. Mr. Pichet Thongphan instructed the Central Employment Registration and Jobseeker Protection Division to collaborate with the Investigation Division, Immigration Bureau Division 1, and Suthisan Metropolitan Police Station to investigate. The aim is to prevent illegal foreign employment and ensure compliance with employment regulations.
A site inspection of a residence in Soi Inthamara 49, Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, revealed its conversion into a hostel for Chinese residents, where a company was conducting online livestreams to sell popular Chinese products, including sacred objects, amulets, and snacks. The company also exported these products to customers in China. The inspection identified three foreign workers: two Chinese men without work permits and one Myanmar man who failed to notify the registrar about his employment details within the required timeframe. Legal proceedings were initiated against them at the Suthisan Metropolitan Police Station.
Mr. Pichet highlighted that foreigners working without a permit face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation, and a two-year ban on reapplying for a work permit. Employers hiring such workers face fines between 10,000 and 100,000 baht per foreigner, with repeat offenses leading to imprisonment, higher fines, and a ban on employing foreigners for three years.
The Department of Employment urges businesses to comply with legal standards to protect Thai workers’ rights and maintain a standardized employment system. The public can report illegal foreign employment to the Central Employment Registration and Job Seeker Protection Division or the Ministry of Labor hotline.