On January 14, 2025, at 10.00 hours local time in Israel, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Somchai Maruksriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, Ms. Pannabha Chandraramya, Ambassador of Thailand to Israel, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Kittithana Srisuriya, Minister Counselor (on Labour) and the Ministry of Labour’s executives, discussed official matters with Mr. Avi Dicter, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in Jerusalem, Israel.
Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he and his deletion traveled to Beit Hilkia Moshav, where they were welcomed by Mr. Avi Dicter, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. Together, they visited Leafresh Farm, a hydroponic vegetable farm. They met with 15 Thai worker representatives and learned about smart agriculture, which is the production and distribution of healthy fresh vegetables grown in a unique greenhouse using hydroponic technology, where computerized systems control water quality measurement points, process and manage temperature levels, and add fertilizers and nutrients. They then met with Mr. Avi Dicter, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, along with representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a discussion.
Mr. Phiphat added that the Ministry of Labour is prepared to send Thai workers to work in the agricultural sector in the State of Israel. It has requested that Israel consider sharing worker demands from employers, dividing them by the agricultural and livestock industries so that the Department of Employment can send the correct number of workers to meet employers’ requirements. The collaboration will help Thai workers get jobs that match their skill sets, allowing them to work continuously, earn income, and transfer money to their families in Thailand. In addition, this will also solve the problem of workers escaping from their employers and becoming illegal workers. The Israeli party agreed and is prepared to have relevant officials, especially PIBA, the leading agency responsible, to help with the process.
Mr. Avi Dicter, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, thanked the Thai Minister of Labour and Delegation for visiting Israel. He also informed them that the quota for hiring Thai workers in the agricultural sector in the State of Israel will increase by another 13,000 positions in 2025.
“I would like to inform Israel that the Thai government is concerned about our fellow Thai workers who were arrested on October 7, 2023. There are still six workers who have not been released. I would like to ask the Israeli authorities to closely monitor and take care of them, including the case of Mr. Nisant Meeram, who died while working in the Metula area in northern Israel on October 11, 2024. I would like to ask Israel to follow up on the worker’s entitlements so that they receive the same as the workers who died in the war,” Mr. Phiphat concluded.
Mr. Phiphat and his team then visited the Agrivoltaics farm. This farm was established in 2024 in an area of approximately 94 rai. It is a green energy agricultural farm in the Doral grassland. It has brought the vision of solar agriculture to Israel through the development of advanced agricultural innovations and solar energy to coexist. Combining these two systems significantly increases the production of electricity and agricultural productivity. In terms of employment, it has 74 employees working on agricultural and cattle farms. Thai workers earn approximately 60,000 Baht per month (excluding overtime pay) and can transfer approximately 30,000 – 40,000 Baht per month back to their families in Thailand.
