“A new executive decree on foreign workers’ management was launched on June 26, according to which operators who employ illegal foreign laborers may be fined up to 800,000 baht. This has caused thousands of laborers to return to their home countries for fear of up to five years of imprisonment for not being properly registered,” said Prasart Boonthantrapiwat, chief of the ‘Association of Phuket Operators’. The group requested that the government start a registration process for illegal foreign workers and reorganize the Phuket Provincial Employment Office to make the process faster and more efficient. Weerachai Saeksom, chief of the ‘Association of Phuket Contracting Operators’ reiterated that the government must provide support for foreign labourers instead of forcing them to return. We will ensure that Phuket Provincial Employment Office develops a system to process foreign labourers’ work permits in close coordination with officials at the Ranong-Myanmar border,” he added.

Source: The Nation Bangkok July 07, 2017 07:18 UTC