Office of Labour Affairs in Israel visits orange pickers

On 22 October 2010, the Office of Labour Affairs of the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel-Aviv traveled to Hadera to visit Thai labours who worked as orange pickers. On their arrival, they found out that there were totally 25 Thai workers. They told them that during a harvest season, there would be hundreds of Thai workers in this orange farm and this earned it a title of “A Hundred Camp”. Due to recent problems the farm faced, its cultivated area had shrunk to 1,000 square rai. Everyday, workers had to plant and look after orange trees as well as harvesting them. They had an average income of 40,000 Bath per month and they were paid on piece work rates, 25 shekel per block. One worker would normally pick 2.5 blocks per day. They lived in a shipping container; 2-3 persons in each container and their living condition were quite satisfied. The workers made a complaint about the fact that their employer did not clarify them about the method their payment were calculated or deducted. In addition, they asked the Office of Labour Affairs in Tel-Aviv to talk to their employer regarding the wage payment as they prefer a wage payment on an hour basis as stipulated by the laws to a wage payment on piece work rate. In this way, The Office of Labour Affairs in Tel-Aviv had already coordinated with Leebar Recruitment Company to sort out the issue with the employer. Before they leave, they warned the workers not to pick up parcels for other people because there might have been drugs hidden in it. They also gave the workers flags and sport gears in order to provide them inspiration.