Thailand to apply new migrant worker law
Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand will soon
apply a new law targeting immigrant workers and employers hiring foreign
workers, local media reported on June 9.
The new law will impose tougher punishments on
those who illegally hire immigrant workers or who violate the basic rights of immigrant
workers.
Accordingly, employers will face a fine from
400,000 THB – 800,000 THB (about 11,745 USD – 23,490 USD) for each illegal
migrant worker they hire.
Any migrant workers found guilty of working
without work permit or engaging in prohibited works will be fined from 2,000
THB – 100,000 THB (58.73 USD – 2,940 USD) or imprisoned for up to five years.
The new law will also impose a maximum jail
sentence of six months and a maximum fine of 100,000 THB on the offence of
illegally withholding important migrant workers' documents.
Workers will be compensated if they are found to
be victims by forced labour, or made to perform tasks other than those
initially agreed with employers, or paid lower than promised.
Thailand now has 1.3 million illegal migrant
workers who are allowed to work temporarily without work permit till March 31,
2018.
If employers want to hire and workers want to
continue their work, they have to undergo a verification process before being
granted legal work permits.-VNA