Thai workers warned of recruitment scams

BANGKOK, March 26 (TNA) - The Ministry of Labour's Department of Employment has warned Thai nationals seeking to work abroad to beware of recruitment scams. Department of Employment Director-General Prawit Kiangphon on Wednesday alerted Thai people seeking to work overseas of the possibility of recruitment scams. Prawit pointed out that his department received 955 employment-related fraud complaints in 2013, with a total loss of about 17.50 million baht. Prawit acknowledged that the reported cases include illegal employment, payment scams, application fee scams, employment misconduct and illegal entry. According to the senior official, most of the complaints were filed by people in Bangkok, Chaiyaphum, Nong Khai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani Provinces. The senior official advised, to avoid falling into all forms of employment fraud, Thai workers, especially female masseurs, should carefully look into recruitment agencies and check employment terms and conditions, as well as labour laws and relevant regulations in each country before making any job application in a specific country. The senior official also suggested that Thai people contact Thai embassies and consular offices in countries in which they plan to travel to work in case they need assistance or further information. (TNA)