On May 17, 2024, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, spoke about the death of two Thai workers who were held hostage in Israel. The Labour Minister expressed his condolences to the families of the Thai workers who lost their lives in this event. He received a report from the Minister Counselor (on Labour) at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, Mr. Kitthana Srisuriya, that the Israeli government considered reliable circumstantial evidence and concluded that two Thai workers who were taken hostage had died. The workers are Mr. Sonthaya Akrasri and Mr. Suthisak Rintalak, who were on the list of hostages who had not yet been released. Eight people have died since October 2023. Mr. Sonthaya Akrasri, whose hometown is Nong Bua Lamphu Province, works at Bee’ri with the employer Bitan Reuven, while Mr. Suthisak Rintalak, whose hometown is in Nong Khai Province, works at Bee’ri with the employer Lavi Asher.
Mr. Phiphat added that the support that the families of the two deceased workers will receive includes: 1. Compensation from the fund helping job seekers overseas in the case of death, whereby the family will receive an allowance of 40,000 Baht and support for funeral expenses abroad as actually paid, not exceeding 40,000 Baht. From checking the Department of Employment’s electronic system that manages Thai workers abroad, they found that the workers were still under the protection of the fund. 2. Support from the 50,000 Baht compensation project 3. Compensation from the Israeli Insurance Institute. In the case of death, the family will receive financial assistance for funeral expenses, approximately 79,000 Baht in Thai currency, and burial expenses, which are as much as actually paid, not exceeding approximately 47,000 Baht (1,300 USD). Families will receive a widowhood allowance of approximately 57,000 Baht, as well as monthly and annual compensation (the amount is according to the criteria set by the National Insurance Institute). 4. Follow up on compensation at the end of the employment contract (pisuim). The Labour Department from the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv is in the process of following up on this, and 5. Social security funds. An examination of information found that both workers are no longer insured, but there are still old age funds in the social security system. Mr. Sonthaya Akrasri ceased to be an insured person in 2015; he has an old-age pension fund of 7,301.68 Baht (excluding interest). Mr. Suthisak Rintalak ceased to be an insured person in 2016; he has an old-age pension fund of 31,108.26 Baht (excluding interest).
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the two victims. We would like to send encouragement to the remaining six workers to be released as soon as possible. Currently, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, has assigned the five agencies under the Ministry of Labour in the area to visit the families of the deceased. As for the financial assistance, Mr. Sonthaya Akrasri’s family will receive an estimated amount of 320,301.68 Baht, and Mr. Suthisak Rintalak’s family will receive approximately 344,108.26 Baht. In Thailand, agencies under the Ministry of Labour will quickly follow up on the benefits and support the families. As for following up on entitlements in Israel, the Labour Department will coordinate with the Embassy and Israeli authorities to ensure that the families receive the compensation as soon as possible,” Mr. Phiphat said.
