People's Party MP Bhuntin Noumjerm recently issued a statement urging authorities to investigate the rising number of foreign child beggars.
He highlighted concerns that increasing beggars are exploiting children to solicit money, which he says is a violation of both beggar and solicitation laws, regardless of whether the adults and children are related.
Bhuntin added that many of these beggars may be in Thailand illegally, either having overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally.
He also pointed out that many of these individuals appear to operate as part of organized networks, earning daily incomes of 2,000-3,000 bahts (US$57-85), with some even using high-end smartphones.