On 17 June 2011, Labour Section of the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel-Aviv, went to visit Thai agricultural workers at Kibbutz Bahan in Israel’s northern city of Netanya. They inspected Thai workers’ employment and living conditions.
Kibbutz Bahan has orange and avocado farms. Oranges and avocado grown there are sold in a domestic market and exported to other countries. The Kibbutz hires workers of many nationalities, including 4 Thais and 3 Lao trainees. The Thai workers have an average income of 6,000-8,000 shekel per month. They can send home more than half of their income each month, some 4,500 shekel, as they are only allowed to withdraw 1,500 shekel per month for personnel use.
The Thai worker acknowledged that due to high income, they love and desire to work overseas. They said they had a good working relationship with their employers. They also said that they normally work 6 days a week, all day from Sunday to Thursday, and half a day on Friday, noting that sometime they have to work overtime. They added that they have learned how to use the computer to operate drip irrigation system. The workers said they spend their free-time resting, playing sport, or listening to music. Workers are allowed to go home for a two-month holiday after they have work at the Kibbutz for 2 years. Thereafter, they can have 1 month holiday each year. Before leaving, the Labour Section gave the workers rattan sepak takraw balls, soccer balls, a net, badminton racquets, and a national flag to boost their morale.
