BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday the government cannot assist Thai laborers from four provinces recently placed on a South Korean blacklist if they violated immigration laws, citing the necessity of legal compliance. South Korea has placed four provinces in northeastern Thailand on a blacklist, suspending the import of seasonal agricultural and fishery workers for 2026. The recruitment suspension under the Memorandum of Understanding (E8) affects Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, and Maha Sarakham provinces for the remainder of the year.
“If they entered to work illegally, they must face the consequences,” Anutin told reporters. “We cannot help because you broke the law yourselves. However, if you follow the law and are being mistreated, the government will protect you to the fullest.” He used a Thai proverb, “one rotten fish spoils the entire basket,” to describe how the actions of a few impact the reputation of the group, but added he was prepared to clarify the matter with the South Korean government.
Labor Minister Julapun Amornvivat confirmed that the suspension followed reports that more than 20% of Thai workers in recent groups had deserted their employers. He noted the issue often stems from the short-term nature of seasonal contracts. “The Ministry of Labor is coordinating with the South Korean Ambassador to discuss this,” Julapun said. “We need to create mechanisms to ensure this does not happen again and to protect the quality and welfare of our workers while ensuring they honor their contracts.” South Korea remains a key destination for Thai labor. Officials stated they aim to reach an understanding with Seoul to mitigate a total province-wide impact resulting from the actions of a specific group. (TNA)
