July 15 – A group of employers who hire foreign workers, known as the “White Employers Group,” led by founder Nilubon Pongpayom and other business representatives, met with Pol. Lt. Col. Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and Pol. Lt. Col. Thanawat Wongananchai, a special case expert, to submit additional evidence concerning an extortion scheme involving “commission fees” from Cambodian migrant workers.
This submission followed a DSI raid on a foreign labor documentation consulting company in the Khlong Sam Wa district of Bangkok, which was suspected to be part of a network charging Cambodian workers 2,500 baht each and laundering the money through Cambodian officials.
Nilubon revealed that the evidence submitted to the DSI came from affected individuals and included money transfer records and mule bank accounts. After the DSI’s July 3 raid, nearly 100,000 Cambodian workers whose documents were pending were approved without the 2,500 baht extortion fee. However, those who had paid were still required to pay an additional 300–500 baht for a Calling Visa to complete the approval process.
Nilubon pointed out that the online permit renewal system remains flawed and vulnerable to exploitation, due to a lack of transparency regarding fees. The Cabinet resolution and Ministry of Labor announcements lack clear details, leaving employers and workers unaware of the actual costs. She noted that a request to address the issue was submitted to then-Labor Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn in January, but no response was received.
Another employer representative, Chitsanucha Charuphan, stated he was directly affected. While trying to renew permits for Cambodian workers, he was asked by an agency to pay an extra 5,000 baht per person for inclusion on the Name List—a cost not stipulated in official regulations. However, after the DSI intervened, approvals resumed normally.
Pol. Lt. Col. Yutthana confirmed that the investigation initially found the 2,500 baht fee was indeed being demanded, and without payment, approvals would not proceed. The evidence submitted will be included in the case file for further investigation and expansion.
He added that an in-depth investigation is ongoing, and 14 witnesses have already been questioned—including mule account holders, government officials, and business operators. Additional affected employers will be invited to provide further information, as the money trail appears to involve over 100 million baht.
“If wrongdoing is found, both Thai and Cambodian officials involved will be held accountable,” said Pol. Lt. Col. Yutthana.
Although Ministry of Labor officials have denied the existence of the extortion, the DSI will rely on money transfer records as key evidence.
Regarding suspicions that the issue may be linked to policies under former Labor Minister Phiphat, Pol. Lt. Col. Yutthana stated that the investigation will follow the evidence, but it is not yet at the stage of summoning him for questioning.