Buriram Labor Department to Take Action Against Company Hiring 13-Year-Old as Sales Representative
Buriram labor authorities are investigating a company accused of hiring children as young as 13 as sales representatives and abandoning them when they failed to meet targets, violating Thailand's strict child labor laws.
On May 20, 2025, a mother filed a complaint through media outlets stating that her 18-year-old son was hired as a sales representative for massage equipment and CCTV cameras by a well-known company in Buriram municipality. When he failed to meet sales targets, the employer abandoned him at a gas station in Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province. Among the five to six young salespeople in the vehicle, mostly aged 16, fears arose about being abandoned. It was later discovered that girls aged 13 and 14 had also been hired as sales representatives and similarly abandoned midway. After the news went viral online, questions arose about whether hiring children under 15 years old violates labor laws.
Reporter spoke with Katima Tirasetthasema, Buriram Province's Labor and Employee Protection Officer, who explained that while the department hasn't yet gathered clear evidence, they are investigating. Under the Labor Protection Act, Section 44, employers are strictly prohibited from hiring children under 15 years old in any case. For children aged 15-18, employers must submit forms to the labor department beforehand. If children under 15 are hired, it constitutes a violation.
Katima stated the company's lawyer had already visited the labor department and provided evidence. Initial questioning of affected children has been completed, and the department is scheduling the company's representatives for further inquiry. If evidence supports the allegations, legal proceedings will be initiated immediately without exception.
Subinspector Chaonarong Chaisakor of Hin Lek Fai Police Station, who assisted the abandoned children, reported that the children's parents mentioned the company's lawyer visited their homes requesting document signatures, though not pressuringly. However, parents were advised to consult police before signing anything. The police commitment is to proceed with the case to the fullest extent.
Under the Labor Protection Act, Section 44, employers violating the prohibition on hiring children under 15 face imprisonment of up to 2 years or fines ranging from 400,000 to 800,000 baht per employee, or both imprisonment and fine.
