PATHUM THANI – Thai police arrested a 30-year-old Lao singer after discovering that he had been performing concerts in Thailand on a tourist visa without a work permit.
Police in Pathum Thani province said on Wednesday (11 November) that they had received information about a Lao male singer who was scheduled to perform at the Food Festival and Balloon Fantasy event at Ginza Rangsit market in Thanyaburi district.
Authorities were alerted that the singer had entered Thailand on a tourist visa and was performing regularly across the country, with concerts reportedly scheduled almost daily until the end of the year.
Officers monitored the event and confirmed that a man matching the description was performing on stage. After the concert, they approached him backstage and inspected his passport and immigration documents.
Police found that the singer held a tourist visa but had no work permit, making his paid performances a violation of Thailand’s foreign employment laws.
According to police, the singer admitted to working without authorisation and told investigators that he received 15,000 baht for each performance.
He was informed of the charge of working without a permit under Section 8 of the Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Foreigners and its amendments.
The singer was subsequently taken to Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Police said the operation was part of efforts to prevent unauthorised employment by foreign nationals and protect employment opportunities for Thai workers.