Strict measures implemented to stop problem of illegal Thai workers in SKorea

BANGKOK, April 23 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Labour, has implemented its measures more strictly to block attempts of Thai people who want to work in South Korea and other economies as illegal workers. Labour Minister Police General Adul Sangsingkeo told journalists of the update in Bangkok on Tuesday, acknowledging that the stricter measures have monthly held back 400-600 Thai nationals attempting to fly to South Korea and work as illegal workers so far. The minister said that the measures include stricter screening and more thorough checks by immigration authorities at all Thai airports, in parallel with imposing tougher legal penalties against private brokers who assist Thai people to work illegally abroad. The minister conceded, however, that out of a total of about 190,000 Thai people working in South Korea now, 130,000 of them are illegal workers, citing the high demand for Thai workers and high wages for them in the more prosperous East Asian country, at about 45,000-60,000 bahtmonthly each. According to the minister, Thai nationals are now allowed to work legally in South Korea no higher than 5,000 a year and there has been no green light from Seoul yet for the Thai government's request for an increase in the official quota for 7,000-10,000 Thai nationals to be allowed to work legally in South Korea. In response to media reports on more than 400 Thai passengers aboard a flight to South Korea recently were blocked by South Korean immigration authorities at a South Korean airport for suspicious illegal immigration, the minister stressed that a serious probe on the case by his ministry has been on progress. (TNA)