Maha Sarakham Employment Office Clarifies: Six Workers Fled Employers, Making Province One of Four Thailand Regions Banned by South Korea
Six workers from Maha Sarakham fled their South Korean employers, prompting South Korea to ban worker placements from the province and three others through 2025. The suspension affects only seasonal agricultural E-8 visa workers, leaving hu
The Maha Sarakham Employment Office has clarified that six workers in the province fled their employers, resulting in the province becoming one of four Thai regions placed on South Korea's blacklist. South Korea has suspended the import of Thai workers from four provinces—Maha Sarakham, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, and Udon Thani—for one year (January 1 – December 31, 2025) due to some seasonal agricultural and fishing workers under E-8 visas absconding from their employers. The office stressed that the suspension applies only to E-8 visa workers and does not affect other visa categories. Jiraphon Saechan, Maha Sarakham Employment Chief, explained that the measure suspends worker placements in the E-8 seasonal agricultural program, which typically lasts about eight months. Though over 100 workers applied for positions in South Korea, only 18-19 were selected; however, six workers from Maha Sarakham subsequently fled their employers. The office contacted the families of the six workers, ordering their return to Thailand by July 30, 2568 (2025), or they would be considered illegal residents in South Korea. This suspension affects not only the absconding workers but also many legitimate workers who lost their opportunities despite passing the selection process. The E-8 visa is an important pathway for Thai workers as it does not require Korean language testing like some other programs. Worker abscondence has damaged the destination country's trust, resulting in all four provinces being suspended from the program for 2569 (2026). The Maha Sarakham Employment Office urged Thai workers to comply with the laws of destination countries, respect employment contracts, and not flee employers—ensuring legal work abroad provides labor rights protection, wages, benefits, and healthcare access, while illegal status risks exploitation, wage theft, and deportation, ultimately harming Thailand's reputation.
