Authorities arrested 38 foreign nationals for working without permits during a raid on a construction site of a Chinese-owned company in Nikhom Phatthana district of Rayong province.
Officials from the Rayong provincial employment office and officers from the Special Branch Division 1 and the Rayong branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) inspected the construction site in tambon Phana Nikhom of Nikhom Phatthana district on Tuesday.
The operation followed complaints from local residents that the site was employing foreign workers in possible violation of labour laws, the provincial employment office said on Wednesday.
The construction site was operated by a Chinese-owned company, which was engaged in the rental of warehouses, factories and office buildings.
During the inspection, authorities found many foreign workers onsite, who were unable to produce valid work permits when requested.
A total of 38 foreign nationals were found to be working without work permits. They comprised five Chinese men, 31 Myanmar nationals (27 men and four women) and two Cambodian men.
All 38 workers were taken into custody for legal action. Authorities also charged the company with employing foreign nationals without valid work permits.
The workers were handed over to investigators at Nikhom Phatthana police station for legal action.