Hi everyone,
the recent news about heavy jail and fine sentences for foreigners working illegal and the related business owners who employ them are true.
They have also been officially reported on Thai TV.
The new labor regulations for foreigners are effective from 23rd June 2017.
Please take note that casual positions like 1 or 2 days work are also illegal and carry heavy penalties.
The following video is the TV news reporting in Thai.
There is an English translation of the new regulations posted by Adrien Bray in this group.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The recent Thai labor regulations, effective from June 23, 2017, impose severe penalties on foreigners working illegally, including potential jail time and fines for both the workers and the employers. Casual work, even for just a day or two, is also deemed illegal. These updates have been covered in Thai media, and a translation of the regulations is available in the community.