Government Cracks Down on Illegal Foreign Worker Employment

The government has warned employers and businesses against hiring or using foreign workers without proper work permits or outside their authorized roles, threatening severe penalties for both employers and workers in order to prevent job displacement of Thai citizens. Deputy Prime Minister Spokesperson Pattaradarus Thongsalueykr stated that the government is prioritizing proper management of foreign workers within legal frameworks, instructing relevant agencies to take proactive measures and strictly enforce laws against employers and foreign workers breaking regulations.

The government warned employers, businesses, and the general public to refrain from hiring or using services from foreign workers lacking work permits or working beyond their authorized rights, particularly in reserved occupations such as Thai massage, hairdressing, beauty services, and vehicle driving, as these violate the Foreign Workers Management Regulation, 2017.

According to Pattaradarus, employers hiring undocumented foreign workers or allowing them to work outside authorized duties face fines of 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker. Repeat offenses carry imprisonment of up to one year or fines of 50,000 to 200,000 baht per worker, with a three-year ban on hiring foreign nationals.

Foreign workers employed without permits or outside their authorized scope face fines of 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation after payment, and a two-year ban on reapplying for work permits.

Pattaradarus stated that the government aims to establish fair labor standards to prevent human trafficking and protect reserved Thai occupations. The Labor Ministry and partner agencies conduct ongoing random workplace inspections. In fiscal year 2569, over 74,000 establishments employing foreign workers were inspected nationwide, with approximately 1,700 foreign workers found in Thai-reserved occupations.