Public debate erupts after over foreign foot masseur in Phuket
Thai netizens demanded action from relevant government departments after a viral video showed a foreign man working as a foot masseur in Phuket.
The video showing the foreign man providing a foot massage service to two customers was shared by the Phuket Times yesterday, February 5.
In the video, the foreigner was seen cleaning the feet of male and female customers, believed to be foreign nationals as well.
The man’s workplace was a small roadside spa shop. It was unclear whether he was an employee or the owner.
If he was an employee, his actions would violate Section 7 of the Foreigners’ Working Management Act, which prohibits foreigners from working illegally in restricted occupations, as a masseur is a profession reserved for Thai citizens only.
The penalty for this offence is a fine of between 5,000 and 50,000 baht, deportation, and a two-year ban on applying for a work permit.
Many Thai netizens demanded that police officers and the relevant official department raid the shop and arrest the foreign man. Others urged the media to conduct further investigation before reporting, suggesting he might be working legally.
“This foreign man might have a Thai wife who owns the shop, and he might just be helping her out.”
“He might own the shop legally and have all the necessary permits.”
“The media should have provided more information for the story, not just posted a picture or video to draw criticism of this foreigner.”
Others criticised Thai workers, arguing that foreigners did not steal jobs from Thai people, but rather that Thai people sought only easy work and were too lazy. They claimed that this forces employers to opt for foreign workers.
As of now, the media has provided no further information on the case, and no relevant government official has come forward to clarify the matter.
Recent arrests of foreigners working illegally in Thailand took place in the southern province of Surat Thani last week. In that case, 17 foreigners were arrested on Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Tao, and Koh Samui. They were found to be working illegally in an unauthorised school and nursery.
Around the same time, two Chinese and four Burmese nationals were arrested in Bangkok for working illegally in a beauty salon, an occupation also restricted to Thai citizens.
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