People Trafficking

[valentine]

Udon Thani police are currently investigating reports of local people paying large sums of money to a woman that runs a language school in Udon.
Apparently this woman offered to find employment for people in Korea but first they had to pay 30,000bht to learn the language and for a medical. Those that passed this stage then had to pay a further 80,000bht for visa and travel. The scam came to light when 25 people filed a complaint with the police that although they had parted with the money they were never offered employment. Since then another 70 complainants have come forward
The case is proceeding and investigations are under way in South Korea.
Details are from Daily News who named and published a picture of the woman and her accusers, however I have omitted those details.

[BKKSTAN]

There always seems to be plenty of people around to take advantage of those seeking to improve their lot

[beer monkey]

still... at least they learnt a new language.

[FrazeeDK]

Being poor many Isaan farmers are more than willing to believe crazy tales of great jobs to be had in Korea, Taiwan, The Persian Gulf, Israel etc.. I've got relatives who've gone, been there, done that, and came back in disgust with little money saved and months of extremely hard work under tought conditions. But.. when the lure looks good enough or some Recruitment firm sings a sweet enough song, they sometimes do it again..
Oh, how great it must feel when you stop hitting yourself in the head with that hammer!!!
The Bangkok Post ran a Perspective Article on the job scammers a couple of years ago. All Job Recruitment companies must register with the Thai Dept. of Labor in order to "export" workers. They also must pay a hefty surety to the Labor Dept. to guarantee they won't be defrauding their clients.. The problem is of course, that the Thai Labor Dept. works hand-in-hand with the Recruiting Firms as you know, it benefits Thailand to have exported labor and money coming back from overseas.
In the BKK Post Article the newspaper interviewed the Labor Dept. representative about various well known cases of job fraud.. The Labor Rep had the utter gall to crow that the Labor Dept. had the "surety fund" to the tune of millions and millions of Baht to compensate those laborers they found "defrauded".. He then glibly stated that the Labor Dept. HAD NEVER ONCE HAD TO USE THE FUND!!! You see, in the most egregious cases the Labor Dept. would arbitrate a 'settlement" between the aggrieved party and the Recruting firm.. What's that mean?? The abused worker got MOST of their money back..
Since the Gov't doesn't give a hoot about taking care of Isaan peasants and does (the bureaucrats) care about getting remuneration from their partners in exporting Thai workers, the Recruitment Firms, this type of abuse probably will never end..
On the Korean job gig thing.. If I'm to believe one of my neices, yes, it happened. She got the info on the job and was considering scraping up the "application fee" knowing full well that it was a scam, and knowing full well that even if she did get to Korea she would be their illegally.. Luckily, she listened to my tirade against the scum recruiters and didnt' pursue it..

[bamboopaul]

Val, do you have a link to that story ? I can it find it anywhere, thanks

[tawan3]

Thai people living in foreign countries help spread the rumours of the riches that can be made living abroad. They are so concerned with their face they tell everybody back home how rich they are never mentioning the living conditions or quality of life they have to live even to save a little money.

The same with Thai investors claiming how many trillions of baht they invested in their noodle stand its all face.

[valentine]

Val, do you have a link to that story ? I can it find it anywhere, thanks

www.udontoday.com

By coincidence Tawan 3 News story on TITV last night reported 3 Thai men perished in a fire inside the container they were living in , in the car park of the factory., In Korea.

[bamboopaul]

Thanks, do they have an english version ? can't seem to find a translation button !!

[valentine]

Thanks, do they have an english version ? can't seem to find a translation button !!

Unfortunately its a Thai only news source.

[BKKSTAN]

It was in the Nation!

[Freedom Fried]

Poor Isaan farmers with 30,000 to 110,000 baht to play with? Hmmm, wonder where, when and through whom those particular nest eggs hatched.

FF

[valentine]

Poor Isaan farmers with 30,000 to 110,000 baht to play with? Hmmm, wonder where, when and through whom those particular nest eggs hatched.

FF

The majority in my village pledge their land papers, either to the procurer or the bank. So really its a double whammy for them. No job to go to and no land here either.

[beer monkey]

probably not nest eggs and quite probably not money to play with, more borrowed money i would think.

edit: just read vals post, and thats what i am saying too.

[oldfield]

It must be said that not all of these people trafficking outfits are cons.

I do believe that some Thai's go to work overseas and make some decent money.

I have met a couple who have done it twice.

However, I wouldn't allow my Thai friends to do it as I'm not sure who is legit or not.

[bamboopaul]

Some of my wifes family have been working overseas, Israel and Australia. She also has two Uncles who are in Korea, the latter left there jobs for other jobs in Korea because conditions were crap and the pay not what they expected.

[beer monkey]

Brother-in-law does this type of thing, but in Taiwan, and was'nt ripped off,initial cost was around 70000B several years back,even met a new girlfriend over there...also from Issan !!