Col Sanchai explained that Patong has now been separated into five ‘work zones’ to make the checking of Patong workers swift and efficient and that the ‘serious crackdown’ would continue, at least, until the end of the month.
His comments come on the back of Friday’s arrest of 84 illegal workers. Col Sanchai said, “The 84 people arrested were mostly Burmese with four Vietnamese, two Indians, two Pakistanis and two Cambodians arrested in Patong, with expired visas.”
On a patrol along the Patong Beach Road by Col Sanchai, Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Urumporn Khundejsumrit and Police Colonel Jirapat Pohchanapant, they chanced upon a young Burmese worker ‘Na Yar Yan’.
Na Yar Yan told The Phuket News after the 'all clear' from the investigating officers, “To have a job is the main magnet for me. I have all of the correct documents from my employer.
“I pay 50 per cent of all my expenses to have it renewed every year. Even though the process of getting the right documents from the Labour department was difficult, it’s worth it though. I have been in Phuket for four years now. I am going to go back home in the next three months. My employer is fine with it and he told me it depends on my decision of how long I plan to work here.”
He added that all foreign workers should try to have such documents for the right to work and act legally, “It’s safer and more relaxing to live,” said Na Yar Yan.