Island crackdown: Phuket ups the ante on illegal foreign workers
Phuket officials announced they are getting tough on the wave of illegal foreign workers casting a shadow on the island’s paradise status.
A high-stakes meeting unfolded at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 24, spearheaded by Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri.
Power players in attendance included Worawan Waritphuttimeth, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Labour Office, and Phichit Singthongkam, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Office, alongside top brass from the Provincial Defence Office and other key agencies.
Officials met to sift through foreign worker stats and ensure compliance with the governor’s strict directives. Concerns hitting the headlines include Myanmar workers allegedly mistreating school kids in Kamala, rowdy gatherings in the Naka area of Wichit, and reports of drug use among migrant labourers.
To make matters worse, there are whispers of Myanmar workers stepping into contractor roles and favouring their own compatriots for hiring.
In a bid to tackle these issues head-on, the meeting pushed for more stringent workplace inspections, fair and balanced law enforcement, and savvy awareness campaigns on online platforms popular with the labouring crowd.
Coordination between agencies was highlighted as crucial to successfully roll out an action plan to stomp out illegalities.
Official stats show that 97,569 foreign workers are legally on the island, with most hailing from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The Mueang district leads with 59,240 workers, followed by Kathu’s 18,572 and Thalang’s 19,757, reported Phuket News.
Last week, officers in Kanchanaburi, led by Police Major General Pornchai Chaloradej, intercepted a suspicious vehicle, uncovering sacks of dried cassava concealing illegal migrants.
During the inspection at a checkpoint in Sangkhla Buri district, police discovered 15 illegal migrants hidden inside the vehicle.
On February 18, officers spotted a heavily loaded white Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck, registration number นข 3507 Phetchaburi, approaching from Sangkhla Buri.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Supakit Mahachokthoranee, deputy chief of provincial investigations, ordered the vehicle to stop for inspection.
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