Thailand tightens grip on undocumented foreign teachers

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 9 Feb 2025 at 15: 39

Immigration police check work permits of teachers at a school in Nonthaburi, an adjacent province northwest of Bangkok, on Sept 28, 2020. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Immigration authorities check work enables of educators at a university in Nonthaburi, an opposite territory north of Bangkok, on Sept 28, 2020. ( Bangkok Post file photo )

Following the arrest of eight undocumented South Korean language teachers, Thailand’s Department of Employment ( DoE ) conducted language school inspections in Bangkok’s Ratchada and Bang Na areas on Sunday.

DoE director-general Somchai Morakotsriwan&nbsp, said the ministry had been constantly inspecting foreign workers under the” Search, Arrest, Fine, Deport” procedure after receiving reports from members of the public that foreigners had been working without function enables at well-known Asian language schools in the Ratchada and Bang Na areas.

On Sunday, the DoE’s foreign labor inspection unit and Immigration Bureau ( IB ) police visited language schools in the affected areas and examined the work permits of their teachers. The team found no unusual teachers who were employed inadvertently. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Somchai, the procedure was to stop Thai workers from having a negative impact on their employment prospects.

Eight North Korean nationals were detained on Thursday after IB authorities raided two speech school branches on Ratchadaphisek Road and made arrests for their non-permit work. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Somchai, foreigners seeking a work permit for teaching positions in education institutions must provide Thailand under a non-immigrant visa, submit their applications along with appropriate teaching credentials and other necessary documentation at one of the Bangkok Employment Office Areas 1-10 or at the Provincial Employment Office where their school is located, along with appropriate teaching qualifications and different necessary documents.

Foreign teachers found working without a valid work permit will face a fine of 5, 000 to 50, 000 baht and deportation. Any school found to have employed undocumented foreign teachers will be fined 10, 000 to 100, 000 baht per person.

For repeat offences, the school’s owner is punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a bigger fine of 50, 000 to 200, 000 baht per illegally employed worker. &nbsp,

” Foreigners wanting to get work permits can call the Labour Ministry’s 1506 hotline and press 2 or the DoE’s 1694 hotline. We have English interpreters who can provide guidance on how to legally work in Thailand, according to the DoE director-general. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,