South Korea blacklists Thai workers from four northeastern provinces

11 Sept 07:59 Key points summarised by AI

South Korea blacklisted Thai farm workers from four northeastern provinces (Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham) after they violated employment contracts.
Sixteen out of 80 Thai farmhands, holding E-8 visas for a 5-month program, abandoned their employers, leading to the blacklisting.
Workers who failed to complete their contracts are permanently blacklisted from future employment programs and face potential imprisonment and fines for visa violations.
The Thai government will not assist the errant workers, emphasizing individual responsibility and expressing concern over the incident's negative impact on other Thai workers seeking employment in South Korea.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.