[International] Phuket, Thailand Cracks Down on Illegal Foreign Workers, 22 Foreign Nationals Apprehended

The Thai-Taiwan News today (24th) reported that the Phuket Provincial Government in Thailand continues to strengthen its crackdown on illegal employment and nominee companies. Law enforcement officers recently apprehended 22 foreign nationals suspected of working illegally in Mueang Phuket District, including 19 Chinese and 3 Myanmar nationals. The investigation has also been expanded to examine the shareholding structures and sources of funds of related companies. The joint inspection operation was led by Phuket Deputy Governor Khettharat Chansin and took place at a construction site in Chalong Subdistrict. Law enforcement officers requested the foreign workers to present their work permits and identification documents, but all 22 were unable to provide relevant proof and were subsequently taken to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Phuket Provincial Office for further investigation. Khettharat stated that in recent years, Phuket has repeatedly found foreign nationals working illegally, with a noticeable increase in cases of them working as technicians or supervisors on construction sites. Some of these involve working without a permit and may even be related to illegal business operations. In fact, Phuket and other southern regions have recently launched multiple crackdowns on nominee companies. Last week, authorities enforced the law simultaneously in three southern provinces, including Phuket, arresting a total of 48 Thai and foreign suspects suspected of using Thai nationals' names for shareholding to circumvent foreign investment regulations. Therefore, the scope of the investigation is not limited to illegal employment issues. Relevant agencies will further examine the background of the companies employing these foreign nationals. The Phuket Provincial Government announced that it will relaunch the "Phuket Model," previously used to combat transnational crime, to investigate the actual controllers and ultimate beneficiaries behind criminal networks through inter-departmental cooperation and digital technology analysis. Phuket Deputy Police Chief Passakorn Sonthikul pointed out that the police will also investigate the entry routes and facilitators of the involved individuals, while using technological tools to review historical entry and exit records to clarify whether organized illegal labor brokerage networks are involved. Officials emphasized that foreign companies and investors legally investing and operating businesses in Thailand need not worry. The government's enforcement focus is on cracking down on illegal employment, circumventing laws, and engaging in business activities using nominee companies, in order to maintain a fair competitive environment and national economic order. (Editor: Liu Xianghua)