The Labour Ministry is threatening to take legal action against golf course operators who illegally hire migrant workers as caddies to replace Thais, an issue Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has also expressed concern over.
"Migrant workers are not permitted to work as caddies," Labour Minister Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo said Tuesday.
"They are only allowed to work as manual labourers and maids, so those who are being hired as caddies are breaking the law," he said, adding the premier wanted to ensure Thai workers were not losing their jobs to illegal aliens who are prepared to work for a lower wage.
The ministry has ordered inspections of all golf courses nationwide and instructed local offices to talk with operators to make sure they are not in breach of the law, he said.
Somboon Traisilanan, a ministerial inspector working on behalf of the director-general of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, sent a letter to all provincial governors on May 9 requesting they assign their labour protection and welfare officers to inspect every golf course in their area to this end, according to a source.
"If any golf course operators are found to have hired migrant workers to do jobs other than those permitted under the law, they may face legal action for violating the 2018 act on managing the work of migrant workers," Anurak Thosarat, director-general of the Department of Employment, said Tuesday.
Under Section 102 of that act, employers who flout the rules can be handed fines of up to 100,000 baht per illegally hired migrant worker. Repeat offenders can face a year in jail and fines of double this amount.
The migrant workers can be suspended for reapplying for a work permit for up to three years and fined up to 50,000 baht, Mr Anurak said.
