22 Chinese and Myanmar workers detained at Phuket construction site
Phuket authorities detained 22 foreign workers, 19 Chinese and three Myanmar nationals, at a Chalong construction site after they could not present valid work permits or identification.
Phuket officials said they detained 22 foreign nationals, including 19 Chinese and three Myanmar workers, after they were unable to present valid work permits or identification documents during an inspection at a construction site in Chalong.
The workers were taken to the provincial command unit for further investigation and legal proceedings, according to officials.
The inspection took place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, and was carried out by a joint task force led by Deputy Governor Ratcharat Chansilp. The operation also involved Rear Admiral Praphan Srisuwipa, deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command in Phuket, Pol. Col. Pasakorn Sontikul, deputy commander of Phuket Provincial Police, as well as the provincial employment office and labor department.
Ratcharat said the crackdown would go beyond routine arrests and would include scrutiny of company structures, shareholders and funding sources to determine whether any nominee businesses were involved.
He said the "Phuket Model" is intended to identify the people behind illegal labor practices and their beneficiaries.
Officials said the approach is in line with a broader government policy to suppress nominee businesses and unlawful foreign enterprises while protecting legitimate investors who comply with Thai law.
Authorities added that daily inspections of foreign workers and monitoring of suspicious businesses are already underway in Phuket.
