Employing Migrant Workers in Thailand — Employer Obligations and Penalties
Employing Migrant Workers in Thailand — What the Law Requires
The duties that sit with the employer once a migrant worker is on your payroll, the penalties for getting them wrong, and the dates that matter.
Wages
Thailand’s minimum wage applies to every employee equally, whatever their nationality and whether they are paid daily or monthly. Rates are set by province and currently run from 337 to 400 baht per day, in force since 1 July 2025. There was no increase during 2026; the Wage Committee is scheduled to consider rates for 2027 on 29 September 2026.
| Province | Minimum wage per day |
|---|---|
| Bangkok, Chonburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Phuket | 400 baht |
| Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani | 372 baht |
| Chanthaburi | 352 baht |
| Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala | 337 baht |
Work permit scope
A worker may only perform the work stated on the permit, for the employer named on it. Thailand also reserves certain occupations for Thai nationals — Thai massage, hairdressing, beauty services and driving among them — and permits others only under conditions.
Enforcement is active. In fiscal year 2026 the authorities inspected roughly 74,000 establishments and identified around 1,700 migrant workers in reserved occupations. A first offence costs the employer 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker. A repeat offence carries up to one year imprisonment or 50,000 to 200,000 baht per worker, or both, plus a three-year ban on employing migrant workers. The worker faces 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation and a two-year ban.
Recurring duties
| Duty | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Hire and departure notification | Notifying the authorities of each new hire and each departure within the statutory period. This is the duty employers are audited on most often. |
| Social security | Registration of eligible workers, then 5 percent from the employee and 5 percent from the employer each month, calculated up to a wage ceiling of 17,500 baht. |
| Employee Welfare Fund | From 1 October 2026, employers with ten or more employees who have no provident fund deduct 0.25 percent from wages and contribute a matching 0.25 percent. There is no wage ceiling. Migrant workers are included. Remittance is due by the 15th of the following month. |
| 90-day reporting | Every foreign national must report their current address to immigration every 90 days. Separate from the work permit. |
| Permit and visa renewal | Renewal windows are fixed and missing one turns an administrative task into a penalty. Track expiry dates rather than relying on reminders. |
Frequently asked questions
Is the minimum wage different for migrant workers?
No. It is the same rate as for Thai nationals in the same province, for daily, monthly, probationary and seasonal employees alike.
Can a migrant worker do any job?
No. The worker may only do the work stated on the permit, and certain occupations are reserved for Thai nationals. Employing someone outside the permitted scope carries a fine of 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker for a first offence.
Do migrant workers get social security?
Yes. Employers must register eligible workers and remit contributions, 5 percent from each side, up to a wage ceiling of 17,500 baht.
What is the 90-day report?
A requirement under the Immigration Act for every foreign national in Thailand to report their current address every 90 days. It is separate from the work permit and is often overlooked.
What happens if we employ someone without a valid permit?
A first offence carries 10,000 to 100,000 baht per worker. A repeat offence carries up to one year imprisonment or 50,000 to 200,000 baht per worker, or both, plus a three-year ban on employing migrant workers.
Not sure where you stand?
We audit an existing workforce and tell you what is missing before an inspector does
