Phuket Provincial Employment Officer Pichit Singthongkam said officers were unable to locate the restaurant owner during the inspection, which was carried out yesterday (June 17) following a complaint about undocumented foreign workers.
"The PPEO has handed over the case to Thalang Police Station to track down and find the owner so that we can press charges for illegally hiring a foreign worker," Mr Pichit told The Phuket News.
The inspection was carried out by officers from the PPEO’s Foreign Worker Inspection Division at Sushi Paradise restaurant on the second floor of Robinson Lifestyle Thalang.
Officers found Thai employees working alongside four foreign nationals comprising two Myanmar nationals, one Filipino national and one South Sudanese national.
The South Sudanese worker, 19 years old, was found to be allegedly working without a valid work permit.
According to the PPEO, Mr Brian had been employed at the restaurant for about one week and was training other employees when officers arrived to conduct the inspection.
After identifying themselves, officers requested to inspect the foreign workers’ documentation and determined that Mr Brian was working without authorisation, in violation of Thailand’s employment laws.
He was informed of the allegation and his legal rights before being taken to Thalang Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Under the Royal Ordinance on the Management of Foreign Workers Employment B.E. 2560 (2017), employers found guilty of hiring undocumented foreign workers face fines of between B10,000 and B100,000 for each illegally employed worker.
Repeat offenders face significantly harsher penalties, including up to one year’s imprisonment and/or fines of B50,000 to B200,000 per undocumented employee. Employers convicted of repeat offences are also prohibited from employing foreign workers for three years.
The Phuket Provincial Employment Office urged employers to ensure all foreign employees possess valid work permits and reminded foreign nationals that they must obtain legal authorisation before commencing work in Thailand.