Thai nationals abandoned at airport after promise of work in Australia

Long lines at a southeast-Asian airport reveal the dark truth of how desperate people are exploited in hopes for a better life.

Hundreds of Thai nationals were left abandoned at a Bangkok airport after allegedly being duped by a “recruiter” who claimed to work at the local Australian embassy.

The purported recruiter allegedly raked in 12 million baht – or more than $550,000 – after signing up 250 people to work a variety of jobs in Australia before leaving them stranded in the Thai capital’s international airport, according to Asia Pacific Press.

One of the victims claimed the Thailand-based recruiter had told him they worked at the Australian embassy, and had promised to secure them employment in Australia.

People who were allegedly scammed by promises to work in Australia at a Bangkok airport. Picture: Asia Pacific Press

Footage taken at Suvarnabhumi International Airport shows dozens of people with packed luggage left to confer with staff after learning they had allegedly been duped.

The people claimed to have paid the recruiter up to 200,000 baht ($9300) each for processing documents to work in roles at farms, nursing homes and restaurants.

But when they tried to check in for supposed flights at the airport on January 4, they were told their tickets were not linked to any bookings, the Asia Pacific Press reports.

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Packed luggage brought along for the promised flights to Australia. Picture: Asia Pacific Press

The outlet reported that alleged victims raised the issue to Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station Police, and a senior officer advised them to file a complaint.

“Given the large number of victims and the high amount of damage, he suggested they report the case to the Crime Suppression Division for a more efficient investigation,” the officer said.

One victim, Narongchai, told the publication: “(The recruiter) told us she works at the Australian Embassy, so she could easily arrange work for us there. She recruited us to work at farms, hotels, nursing homes, and restaurants.”

Narongchai, who was recruited together with his brother, claimed they signed a 10-year job contract.

“At first, we could still call her phone, and she promised we could fly after a week as she was just working on the medical documents. Then she became unreachable.”

Generic passport, immigration, border force Picture: Getty Images

Anna Boucher, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, said it appeared the alleged scam was less “sophisticated” than others which have led to hopeful migrants landing in forms of modern slavery.

“I’ve seen cases where (plane) tickets are bought … and a person will be trafficked,” she said.

“Then they find they have a different job, then they find they’re not really being paid.”

Ms Boucher said as the would-be migrants did not leave their own country, investigations would be a matter for the Thai government.

The Thai Ministry of Labour was working with the Crime Suppression Division to find the recruiter, who was reportedly seen in the Bang Na district, Asia Pacific Press reports.

The Australian Embassy in Thailand has been contacted for comment, as has the departments of Home and Foreign Affairs, the Australian Federal Police and Border Force.

Ex-Victorian police commissioner Christine Nixon led an review of Australia’s immigration networks in 2023. Picture: David Geraghty / The Australian.

The Bangkok Post reports the alleged victims were offered work in Australia or Israel, with government deputy spokesman Karom Ponpornklang saying it had ordered strict monitoring of job brokers

“Thai people wanting to work aboard need to go there legally, and should check carefully before handing their money over to brokers. Overseas job agencies must be approved by the Department of Labour,” he said.

Somchai Morakotsriwan, director-general of the Department of Employment, told Thai media this month there was no official record that the employment agency involved had a permit to send Thai citizens to work abroad.

Many foreign nationals seeking a new life in Australia have been targeted by international and Australian-based syndicates with fraudulent visa schemes in recent years.

Former Home Affairs minister Clare O'Neil addressed the visa fraud issue in 2023. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The prospect of well-paid work and higher living conditions has tempted desperate migrants to pay huge fees, only to be left stranded and empty-handed.

In 2023 former Victoria Police commissioner Christine Nixon found in a report that criminal syndicates were using the immigration system to facilitate human trafficking, sexual slavery and exploitation.

Temporary migrant workers were more likely to be abused and exploited by employers, the report found.

The findings prompted former Home Affairs minister Clare O’Neil to declare criminals were comitting “the worst crimes known to humanity and abusing our migration system in order to do it”.

Fiona David, the founder of forced labour research organisation Fair Futures, said deceptive recruitment schemes were “baked into” the global immigration space.

Ms David said prospective migrants were often exploited by criminals through exorbitant fees and interest rates, leaving them with “debt bondage”.

“People work months and months and sometimes even years paying off these fees before they make money for themselves,” she said.

The ABC last year revealed an Indian migration company had allegedly scammed would-be students by promising visas to study in Australia before going dark.

Authorities said the agency, World Visa Advisors, allegedly defrauded families across northern India to the tune of more than $1.2 million.