Seventeen Lao women and two Thai employers were arrested during raids on karaoke bars and restaurants in Chon Buri's Laem Chabang in the early hours of Thursday.
More than 20 immigration officers raided several entertainment venues in the tourist district of Si Racha at about 1am following reports of illegal migrant workers.
Officers checked the workers' passports, work permits and other documents. Seventeen Lao workers were found without proper documentation. Among them, fourteen lacked work permits, two had entered Thailand illegally, and one had failed to notify authorities about her workplace and job type within the required 15-day period.
Two Thai employers were arrested and charged with hiring illegal migrants.
All were taken to Laem Chabang police station. The migrant workers will be deported back to their home country.
