Chonburi – Jirawut Singthothong, a Member of Thai Parliament from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party representing Chonburi, has raised concerns over the alleged employment of illegal foreign workers in factories owned by Chinese investors in the region.
According to Jirawut, there has been a significant increase in Chinese investments, particularly in the form of industrial estates and factory constructions, predominantly managed and owned by Chinese nationals. “The surge in Chinese investments in Chonburi is notable,” Jirawut stated, emphasizing that local Thai workers are seldom involved in these projects. Instead, construction work is largely carried out by Chinese and other migrant workers, many of whom are employed illegally. Thai nationals are mostly relegated to roles such as security.
Jirawut highlighted the unfairness to the local community, pointing out that these factories exploit local resources and contribute to pollution without offering employment opportunities to Thai citizens. He intends to bring this matter to Parliament, pressing the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Industry to enforce regulations that ensure more job opportunities for Thai workers in these Chinese-operated facilities.
Recent enforcement actions underscore the issue. A collaborative recent raid by the Chonburi Labor Department and the Ban Bueng Police at a local factory led to the arrest of six individuals for illegal employment, including Chinese and Burmese nationals. Some of the Chinese workers were engineers supervising construction activities.
Jirawut has urged for a thorough investigation into these practices, advocating for swift and decisive action to curb the employment of illegal foreign labor in Chonburi’s manufacturing sector. This call to action aims to protect local job markets and ensure compliance with Thai labor laws.
