CHONBURI, April 26 – About 1,000 illegal migrant workers were arrested in the eastern seaboard province of Chonburi after the extension period for the foreign worker registration expired on April 13.
Officials of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Department of Employment and Pattaya police searched “Sriracha House” in Sriracha district where more than 3,000 foreign workers live in the five-storey building, said Cherdsak Wisutthikul, director of the Inspection and Job Seekers Protection Division.
Initially, he said about 30-40 per cent of the workers were believed to be illegal migrant labourers without immigration documents and work permits.
Most came from Myanmar and Cambodia across the border with help from brokers to get jobs in industrial plants in Chonburi, he added.
Arrested workers will be charged with illegal entry and deported to their home countries, while legal action will be taken against their employers with a possible fine of Bt10,000-100,000 per illegal worker hired.
The DSI will also conduct similar operations in other provinces to crack down on illegal workers. (MCOT online news)
