The Labour Minister showed concern for Thai workers in Israel and reiterated that the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv provide close assistance to workers, with the preparation of a medical team to monitor workers’ health conditions and keep updated with the situation.The Labour Minister showed concern for Thai workers in Israel and reiterated that the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv provide close assistance to workers, with the preparation of a medical team to monitor workers’ health conditions and keep updated with the situation.
On November 26, 2018, Labour Minister H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo spoke about the incident where BBC Thai News Service identified Thai workers in Israel being taken advantage of, violated receiving lower compensation than stated in contracts and living in substandard conditions. The report also states that over the past six years, more than 170 Thai workers in Israel have died, saying that the Thai government has signed a labour agreement with the Israeli government on temporary employment of Thai workers in the agricultural sector in Israel in 2012. There are currently 24,746 Thai workers working in Israel with a 2-year duration of employment with the option of renewal for another 3 years and 10 months, not exceeding 5 years and 10 months. The workers are mainly in the agricultural sector, whereby the minimum wage in Israel is 5,300 Israel Shekels or about 47,000 Baht.
Pol.Gen. Adul said that legal Thai workers deployed by the Department of Employment will pass through a selection process including health checks to ensure workers are ready to work in the Israeli agricultural sector. Furthermore, the Ministry of Labour has also taken measures to ensure that Thai workers in Israel receive legal benefits. If there are problems, complaints can be made through the Labour Relations section at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, which is the main agency providing assistance to workers in Israel. In the past, Thai workers have been able to claim over than 47 million Baht in compensation.
The Labour Minister ordered the Labour Department from the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv to take care of Thai workers in the area closely. In 2019, the Department of Labour has arranged a team of doctors and nurses from the Department of Medical Services from Ministry of Public Health to perform medical checkups for workers three times and focus on the study and assessment of work and living conditions.
Furthermore, Gen. Adul has closely monitored the situation and is scheduled to visit Thai workers in Israel soon.
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Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab/
Information by Department of Employment/
November 27, 2018/
