Attention, Thailand has begun strict inspections of Chinese nationals' work visas.

Recently, in response to the opposition's issue of "Chinese people working illegally in Thailand," the Thai government has officially responded and will intensify scrutiny and enforcement.

Current data shows that there are over 50,000 people in the system who hold legal work permits to work in Thailand, of which about 20,000 obtained their qualifications through the BOI (Board of Investment) projects, and the remaining approximately 30,000 Chinese will be gradually investigated on-site by the Thai Employment Department.

Should any of these individuals be found without work permits or engaging in illegal employment, the government will take measures including arrest, fines, and deportation.

For this purpose, the Thai Ministry of Labor has formed a special team to expedite the crackdown on illegal workers and to manage and rectify the involved intermediaries and employers, especially focusing on the EEC (Eastern Economic Corridor) areas—Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao—where inspections will be prioritized.

Additionally, the review of foreign worker quotas in certain industries will be revisited, and the promotion of local Thai laborers being prioritized for employment will be pushed forward.

It is noteworthy that the Thai government also pointed out that many Chinese working illegally are gradually penetrating the Thai economic sectors, from catering and retail to the building materials business, raising concerns about potential long-term economic impacts. Therefore, it is necessary to accelerate the handling of these issues to prevent further escalation.