Guidelines for Preventing and Suppressing Migrant Worker Smuggling in Thailand
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Abstract
The academic article aimed to study the characteristics of migrant smuggling in Thailand and propose measures to prevent and suppress it. A qualitative research method was used to collect news and related research from August 2024 to February 2025. It was found that migrant smuggling in Thailand operates as a network, with brokers luring migrant workers to work in Thailand through natural channels or along the border. They use various vehicles to transport migrant workers, and the costs of each trip into the country vary depending on the agreement. The costs start at 800 – 96,000 baht, with an average price of 15,000 – 25,000 baht. The measures to prevent and suppress migrant workers in Thailand include: 1) Enforcement agencies related to migrant workers, such as the Immigration Police or the Department of Employment, should strengthen their detection measures; 2) Establishing checkpoints and interceptors along key border rotes can address the problem of illegal migrant workers; 3) Penalties should be an increased for employers who fail to comply with migrant labor laws; 4) Measures should be put in place to ensure that migrant workers enter the legal employment system; and 5) Agencies related to migrant workers should publicize and provide helpful information to migrant workers.
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