Thailand’s labour ministry denies foreigner visa fee claims

The Labour Ministry refuted states that Thai nationals who worked as part of a labor cooperation agreement between Thailand and its neighbors were required to pay up to 20 000 Baht for a new work permit.

The allegations were made by opposition MPs at a recent conference in parliament to examine the issues that migrant workers in the country face.

Ministry official Phumphat Muanchan said the cost of extending for permits generally do not go beyond 7, 600 baht per man, adding the amount covers card and work force processing fees, a wellness check-up, health insurance, and a 1, 000-baht deposit which can be claimed at the end of the two-year contract. &nbsp,

When asked if the extension fee was appropriate in light of the income of migrant workers, Mr. Phumphat responded that it is necessary to cover the costs of identity verification and medical examinations, which are necessary to ensure the protection of workers ‘ rights.

Separately, Phanuwat Pankate, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support ( DHSS), said private hospitals have been reminded to adhere to the requirements when providing check-ups to migrant workers.

He issued the reminder in response to reports that claimed some private doctors are selling health certificates to immigrant workers without actually conducting any assessments.

According to Dr. Phanuwat, the world’s first line of defense against public health threats is through health monitoring. As of November last year, a total of 3, 350, 969 immigrant staff were registered with government.

Nine Myanmar citizens were detained in Pathum Thani in a separate incident, according to police, when the car they were using was intercepted by the police.

The staff claimed they had paid 12, 000 ringgit to agents to be taken from Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai area to the internal state, according to authorities.

The pilot, who was charged with facilitating human trafficking, told officers he was paid 400 baht per head to get the employees from Ayutthaya to Pathum Thani. He claimed that they were dropped off at the pick-up area on the backside of a vehicle.