Bangkok: "Pipat" is ready to investigate the opposition party's expose of Chinese people illegally working in Thailand, explaining that officials have been proactively working in the area all along, emphasizing that foreigners are prohibited from working in reserved occupations, stating that if found to be breaking the law, they will be arrested, fined, and deported back to their country.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labor, mentioned the case of Mr. Sitthiphon Wibulthanakul, MP for the Prachachon Party, who discussed the issue of Chinese workers entering Thailand to work without a permit. He would like to clarify that there are reports of Chinese people entering Thailand and being issued with work permits of approximately 50,000 people, with about 20,000 people from the BOI, and about 30,000 more people in addition. The Department of Employment has investigated after the MP disclosed the information and will have a special task force set up by him, the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare, and the Department of Employment, which will go to the area to investigate whether these individuals referred to have entered the country legally or not. If they entered illegally or did not receive a work permit, the Department of Employment or the BOI, Ministry of Labor, will have to take the following measures: arrest, fine, and deport them out of the coun try.
Mr. Pipat also said that importantly, the Chinese are taking Thais' reserved occupations, about 40 occupations, which his special task force or the Department of Employment, Department of Labor Protection and Welfare has been inspecting the area daily. The latest inspection in Chonburi Province was able to arrest 52 foreign workers. He emphasized that the Ministry of Labor is not indifferent, especially those who come to take Thais' occupations, even if they have legal work permits. However, if they take Thais' reserved occupations, legal action must be taken, including deportation back to the country.