Police charge 156 under migrant workers laws

Over the same period, 816 migrant workers were arrested on related offences. 
Police have formed 113 teams to inspect employers after the latest registration and nationality-verification period for migrant workers expired at the end of June.
“More checks will be conducted,” Employment Department director-general Anurak Tossarat revealed the other day. 
He said during the first half of July, 119 employers were charged with hiring migrants who had no work permits or for jobs not allowed by their work permits. 
If convicted, these employers will be liable to a fine of between Bt10,000 and Bt100,000 for each migrant they had hired. 
Over the same period, other employers were charged with sheltering illegal migrants. If convicted, they will be fined up to Bt50,000 and punished with a jail term of up to five years. 
Several employers were also charged with sheltering migrant workers without informing applicable authorities. This offence is punishable by a fine up to Bt2,000. 
Anurak added that 687 illegal migrant workers were arrested on charges of working without a work permit between July 1 and July 15. 
“This offence is punishable [under a foreign-labour law] by a fine ranging between Bt5,000 and Bt50,000. After paying the fine, the migrants are deported. They will also be barred from seeking a work permit from Thailand for the next two years,” he said. 
Some migrants were also arrested for being in Thailand illegally, Anurak said. This offence is punishable by a fine of up to Bt20,000 and a jail term of up to two years. 
As well, those overstaying their visa, will be fined Bt5,000, Anurak said.