March 26, 2025 – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, confirmed to the media at the parliament that “the Ministry of Labour has always been proactive about illegal foreign workers and has never used the issue as a political tool.” He also immediately instructed the “Trai Thep Phithak” Special Task Force along with the special task force to investigate foreign workers from the Central Employment Registration and Jobseeker Protection Division, Department of Employment, to inspect Chinese businesses in Sriracha District, Chonburi Province, after reports of illegal foreign workers.
This operation is a joint effort between the special task force to inspect migrant workers, the Central Employment Registration and Jobseeker Protection Division, led by Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, and the special task force for the Eastern Region, under the direction of Mr. Pichet Thongphan, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, and Pol. Lt. Col. Amnat Chuaklin, head of the special task force for the Eastern Region. The group inspected the area of Bo Win Subdistrict, Chonburi Province, and identified nine illegal workers, including 4 Chinese, 4 Burmese, and one from an ethnic group. They were found working without a permit, working outside of what was permitted, and taking up jobs reserved for Thais. The officers have taken the offenders into custody and sent them to Bo Win Police Station for legal proceedings.
Mr. Phiphat revealed that the team has conducted constant inspections; they did not just happen after the debate. The team conducts thorough inspections, truly identifies illegal cases, prosecutes them, and is prepared to deport such cases if they have taken actions against the law. He said that they have no hidden agendas and confirmed the protection of careers reserved for Thai workers to the utmost. According to data from the Department of Employment, there are currently over 50,000 Chinese workers who have been permitted to work in Thailand, most of whom are in the EEC area. However, there are still illegal Chinese workers who enter on tourist visas, especially in the service sector, restaurants, construction, and small businesses, which is considered “taking away jobs from Thais jobs.” Between June 2024 and March 2025, the Ministry of Labour inspected over 52,000 establishments and over 724,000 workers, identifying 2,010 violations. The special task force “Trai Thep Phithak” has inspected over 2,198 specific groups of Chinese workers, identifying 207 violations.
Mr. Phiphat emphasized that Thailand is open to foreign investors, but they must be under the same rules. Currently, many Chinese businesses use Chinese people throughout the system, from capital, raw materials, and workers to retail stores, without relying on Thai workers at all, affecting the grassroots economy and employment opportunities in the local area. The Ministry of Labour is therefore proposing urgent measures, such as checking nominees and hidden shops, reviewing the quota of foreign workers in vulnerable areas, promoting the employment of Thai workers as replacements in some occupations, and expanding strict inspections in the EEC area and tourist cities, for example.
“We have known about the problem for a long time and are taking action seriously. If any party has additional information, we are happy to listen and take action immediately. Let me reiterate that the Ministry of Labour has always been proactive and impartial, never giving preferential treatment to anyone,” Mr. Phiphat concluded.
