Department of Employment to be stricter over work permits for foreign teachers
The Department of Employment received an order from the Ministry of Labour to be more strict in issuing work permits to foreign teachers wishing to teach at Thai schools.
Bangkok Post reported that “the order is part of the ministry’s stepped-up efforts against illegal foreign teachers who do not possess work permits. Public and private academic providers are being shown how to apply for work permits for the teachers.”
There are 6,129 foreign teachers working in 922 public and private schools all over Thailand — with the Philippines having the most number at (2,667), UK (588), US (465), China (237), and South Africa (160). The rest of them are from other countries, according to the Department of Employment.
Eight foreign teachers were found to not have a work permit or be working in a reserved profession. Three failed to inform a government employment registrar of their employer, workplace and nature of work within 15 days of the first day they started working.
One academic institution was found guilty of hiring foreign teachers who did not have a work permit or allowing foreigners to take jobs they are not allowed to do.
Twenty academic institutions faced charges of failing to inform the registrar of the names, nationalities and the work performed by foreign teachers within 15 days of their first day of employment, according to the Employment Registration and Job Seeker Protection Division.
To be eligible in getting a work permit, foreign teachers must have a non-immigrant visa, not a tourist/transit visa.
Under Thai law, foreigners wishing to work in Thailand must have a non-immigrant visa obtained by their employer. The visa is issued at the Thai embassy in their country.
If found working without a work permit, foreign teachers will face fines ranging from 5,000-50,000 baht and will be deported, said Suchat Pornchaiwiseskul, director-general of the department.
Schools or academic institutions hiring illegal foreign teachers will be fined 10,000-100,000 baht for each illegal foreign teacher and could face jail terms.
Source: Bangkok Post
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