Mr. Phumipat Mueanchan, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, revealed that Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, is closely monitoring and expediting the work of the Trai Thep Phithak Special Task Force, which was established under the Labour Minister’s directive. The task force is tasked with inspecting employment conditions, labour practices, forced labour or services, and the worst forms of child labour among migrant workers. The aim is to combat illegal labor, prevent unauthorized occupation of Thai jobs, and address illegal immigration, as well as protect Thai workers’ rights. The initiative involves strict enforcement of labour-related laws by integrating efforts from three core departments: the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour, the Department of Employment, and the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare. It also involves collaboration with 11 other state agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Thai Police, the Military, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), to conduct nationwide inspection operations.
The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson said that from December 18, 2024, to April 30, 2025, the Trai Thep Phithak Special Task Force conducted 20 inspection rounds, covering 1,063 workplaces, and 13,409 workers. Legal action has been taken against 228 migrant workers, including 194 from Myanmar, 10 from Laos, six from Cambodia, and 18 from other countries (e.g., India, Russia, and highland ethnic groups). Violations included working without a valid permit or outside the authorized job scope, failing to notify the registrar within 15 days of hiring about the employer’s name, work location, and job type, and residing in the kingdom without legal permission or with expired or revoked authorization. The Ministry also conducted public awareness campaigns to educate employers and employees on legal employment practices and compliance with labour laws.
“The Labour Minister takes this issue very seriously to safeguard the interests of Thai nationals. Foreign workers working without permits or beyond permitted roles face fines of 5,000–50,000 Baht and deportation. Employers hiring illegal migrant workers face fines of 10,000–100,000 Baht per worker. Repeat offenders may be imprisoned for up to 1 year, fined 50,000–200,000 Baht, or both, and will be banned from hiring migrant workers for 3 years. Please report violations involving migrant labour by calling the Ministry of Labour Hotline 1506 or reporting online to the Trai Thep Phithak Special Task Force at the Ministry of Labour,” said Mr. Phumipat.
