Nov 9, 2021. Pol.Maj.Gen. Archayon Kraithong, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, announced that the Immigration Bureau has allowed the illegal migrant workers who currently live in Thailand to register and work legally, effective from November 1 – 30, 2021, due to an increase in demand for workers in the business sector.
However, illegal entrance into the Kingdom in order to get registered is still considered unlawful, Pol.Maj.Gen. Archayon said. Therefore, immigration police will continue to tighten border security to prevent smuggling and illegal migration.
Pol.Maj.Gen. Archayon added that most illegal migrant workers in the Northern region are in agricultural sector, while 80% of workers smuggled through Kanchanaburi province (in Western region) often head to Bangkok and surrounding provinces for jobs.
Pol.Maj.Gen. Archayon also stressed that any police officers found aiding the labor trafficking network will be prosecuted on both disciplinary and criminal charges.
Regarding the case of an accident involving 23 illegal migrant workers, of which 3 were dead, 7 were injured, the rest were picked up but later abandoned in Kamphaeng Phet Province with 3 tested positive for COVID-19, significant progress has been made. The arrest warrant has been issued for the driver and the owner of the vehicle. Pol.Maj.Gen. Archayon assured that the police should be able to arrest the perpetrators shortly.
Latest statistics on the arrest of illegal migrants (as of November 9, 2021);
- November 8, 2021: 147
- Monthly statistics
- November 1-8 : 1,408
- October : 3,229
- September : 3,276
- August : 2,476
- July : 2,221
- From January 1 – November 8 : 18,952
According to the police report, most of these illegal migrants entered the country on foot through natural border with the help of the locals, then stayed at the waiting area where they had to pay the fee of 300-500 baht. Afterwards, they would be driven by local drivers to the agents in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.
