Karaoke crackdown: Illegal workers caught off-key in Bangkok raid
The Department of Employment, under the Ministry of Labour, conducted a raid on seven karaoke venues in Khlong San district, uncovering 28 illegal workers. The operation, yesterday, March 5, followed a tip-off about foreign workers lacking proper permits.
The investigation identified 52 migrant workers, with 24 possessing valid documents, while 28 were found working illegally. Legal proceedings have been initiated against four employers involved in hiring the illegal workers.
Employers found employing illegal workers face fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 baht (US$300 to US$2,975) per foreign worker. Repeat offenders could face up to one year in prison or fines between 50,000 and 200,000 baht (US$1,490 to US$5,950) per worker, along with a three-year ban on employing foreign workers.
For the illegal workers, penalties include fines from 5,000 to 50,000 baht (US$150 to US$5,950), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on applying for work permits in Thailand.
Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn emphasised the ministry’s commitment to rigorously investigating and prosecuting offenders to ensure fairness in the labour market and safeguard the rights of legal workers while also addressing human trafficking issues, reported KhaoSod.
“Employers wishing to hire foreign workers legally can verify information and apply for permits at the Department of Employment or provincial employment offices nationwide.”
In similar news, officers from the Immigration Bureau arrested eight South Korean nationals for working illegally as teachers at two language schools in Bangkok.
The officers raided two language schools in the Bang Na and Ratchada areas of Bangkok on February 6. The schools had multiple separate classrooms, each equipped with students’ tables and teachers’ tools, including whiteboards, student exercises, Korean textbooks, and monitors.
Police found eight South Korean nationals teaching students both online and in person at the two schools and requested to inspect their work permits. However, none of the South Korean teachers at either location could provide the required documentation.
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