The Labour Ministry is reminding Thai transgenders working overseas that cross-dressing in Middle Eastern countries can get them thrown in jail.
The ministry's Employment Department issued the warning Friday that men publicly dressing in women's attire in public is against the law and subject to heavy penalties.
Sumeth Mahosot, the department's director-general, said the warning came out after labour officials in the United Arab Emirates reported that two Thai transvestites working there as masseuses had been detained for going out in public in dresses. The two now were facing legal charges.
Mr Sumeth said in the UAE, homosexuality is prohibited by law and violators are liable to heavy penalties ranging from 10-year imprisonment to death.
He said more transgender workers are being recruited to work in the Middle East, but most of their employers do not inform them about the law.
If arrested, apart from being subject to being jailed and deported, they could also be caned if ordered by the court, he said.