Work may be fruitless for Phuketians in Sweden

PHUKET: People tempted by offers of jobs picking fruit in Sweden have been warned by the Phuket Provincial Employment Office to check very carefully that the offer is genuine. The office pointed out that this year’s fruit harvest in Sweden is not particularly good, so demand for foreign workers is not high. But confidence tricksters working in Phuket have been convincing the naïve to part with “fees” and “insurance premiums” in return for spurious promises of jobs. The office pointed out in particular that Thais wishing to work in Sweden must have work visas from the Swedish Embassy, and that they must obtain these visas themselves. Anyone offering to obtain visas on behalf of others should therefore be regarded as highly suspect. It was not immediately known how many Thais [or local foreign residents] had fallen prey to the scam and gone off to Sweden in search of more promising berries or melons. Further information may be obtained by calling the office at 219660-1.