Employers warned of illegal worker registration deadline
As the 15-day period for employers to register their illegal migrant workers at 100 temporary centres nationwide comes to an end, Sa Kaew Immigration Police and Aranyaprathet district officials have begun a door-knocking campaign.
The officers started visiting potential employers’ houses or work establishments on Sunday to make sure that they abide by the law before the Monday deadline.
Many residents in Sa Kaew border villages are believed to hire Cambodian farm workers.
Besides campaigning for all employers to register their workers on Monday, the officers warned people about the punishment for harbouring an immigrant foreigner.
Under the Immigration Act 1979, a public member who fails to report a foreigner’s stay within 24 hours is liable to a fine of Bt2,000. For a hotel manager, the fine can be up to Bt10,000.
The owner of premises harbouring a foreigner who entered the Kingdom illegally would be guilty of a criminal offence punishable with up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to Bt50,000.
The temporary service points – including 11 in Bangkok – have been open every day since July 24 to help allow the legalisation of existing illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
The measure was taken to lessen the impact of the Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens 2017.
The June 23 introduction of the new law – which allows for fines of Bt400,000 to Bt800,000 for employing illegal foreign workers – led to many employers letting go of illegal workers, resulting in thousands of people heading back to their home countries of Myanmar and Cambodia.
The Labour Ministry introduced the temporary centres to help alleviate the law’s effects.
