Chonburi, July 4 – A joint task force comprising Chonburi’s Employment Office and the Internal Security Operations Command has detained 17 foreign nationals working illegally in Pattaya-area businesses, following complaints that foreigners were taking jobs reserved exclusively for Thai citizens.

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The operation, conducted across Banglamung and Sattahip districts, inspected six establishments where foreign workers were allegedly operating street food stalls, ice cream carts, and beauty services—including hairdressing and manicures—without proper permits.

Among those arrested were seven Laotian women, eight Cambodians (six men and two women), and two Myanmar nationals (one man and one woman). Authorities transferred the workers to three police stations—Banglamung, Nongprue, and Plutaluang—for legal processing.

The suspects face charges under Section 8 of Thailand’s Foreigners’ Working Management Emergency Decree (2017) for working without authorization or outside permitted job categories, punishable by fines and deportation. Meanwhile, their employers are being prosecuted under Section 9 for illegally hiring foreign labor, which carries potential penalties including hefty fines and business suspensions.

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This crackdown underscores Thailand’s strict enforcement of labor laws protecting certain occupations for Thai nationals. Authorities warned businesses against hiring undocumented migrants and urged compliance with work permit regulations to avoid legal consequences.

-Thailand News (TN)