The Thai Labor Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin recently urged for a crackdown on migrants in Thailand who have taken up jobs reserved for Thai citizens.
Mr. Suchart revealed that Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-O Cha is particularly concerned about Thai citizens who have had their jobs in their profession taken up by foreigners. As a result, the Prime Minister directed laws prohibiting migrants from working in unauthorized jobs to be strictly enforced.
After running checks on a total of 196,402 migrant workers, about 600 workers were found to be employed in restricted jobs. The workers who had taken up these jobs included 264 Burmese nationals, 187 Lao people, 121 Cambodians, 39 Vietnamese, 51 Indians, and 28 from other nationalities.
The check also identified the occupations migrants sought out the most, such as street vendors, barbers, public transport drivers, and work at massage parlors.
Mr. Suchart also stated that employers are subject to a fee of up to THB 100,000 per migrant they employ for a job that is otherwise reserved for a citizen of the country.
The fee can increase to THB 200,000 for any repeat offense. In addition, the employer will be barred from hiring migrant employees for three years. Additionally, people who are taking up the restricted jobs will face fines ranging from THB 5000 to THB 50,000, said Mr. Suchart.
According to Employment Department Director-General Pairoj Chotikasathien, migrants are not permitted to work in 27 jobs reserved for Thai people, such as public transport driver, wood carver, barber, secretarial work, and litigation service provider.
