On November 8, 2024, at 14.00 hours, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, said that the bodies of the four Thai workers, Mr. Akkapol Wannasai, Mr. Prahyat Pilasram, Mr. Thana Tijantuek, and Mr. Kawisak Papanang, who died in a rocket attack from Lebanon to the northern Israeli city of Metula on October 31, 2024, were sent by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv yesterday (November 7, 2024) at 21.55 hours local time on Israel Airlines flight LY 081, arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport today (November 8, 2024) at 14.05 hours. On the Ministry of Labour’s part, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, assigned the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, to represent the Ministry of Labour in the ceremony to receive the bodies of the Thai workers back from the State of Israel by laying wreaths by the Labour Minister and the Permanent Secretary of Labour to express their condolences. The Ambassador of the State of Israel to Thailand, Ms. Orna Sagiv, also participated in laying wreaths in order. The bodies of the four deceased will be moved to their hometowns in Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Buriram provinces for their relatives to perform religious ceremonies according to the following procedures.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, said that in terms of assistance and compensation, the Social Security Office found that Mr. Kawisak Papanang, a resident of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, is eligible for old-age benefits of 35,730.18 Baht. Mr. Thana Tijantuek, a resident of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, is eligible for old-age benefits of 41,480.87 Baht. However, the investigation found that the other two deceased were not insured persons. As for the benefits of being a member of the fund to help people find work overseas, all four workers applied for financial support to return to their country from the war at the end of last year and were included in the government’s assistance project. In terms of compensation from the Israel Insurance Institute in the event of death, there are funeral expenses of 79,000 Baht, actual funeral expenses not exceeding 47,000 Baht, and widowhood assistance for workers who have a wife of approximately 57,000 Baht. In addition, there are other forms of monthly and annual compensation. The Royal Thai Embassy is currently coordinating with Israel on compensation to ensure that the families of all Thai workers receive their entitlements. The Ministry of Labour assures that the entitlements of the deceased workers will be taken care of as soon as possible to ensure that they receive the entitlement they deserve according to the law.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, said that Thai workers who are still working in Israel should cooperate closely with the Israeli authorities. When there is an announcement warning and evacuation, he is advised to strictly follow the instructions and enter the safe area. The conditions say that workers must be in the green areas only. He asked workers to follow the news from the embassy and the Thai Labour Office closely. The Ministry of Labour will take care of Thai workers as best as possible. For Thai workers who will travel to work abroad, he asked them to inform the immigration checkpoint before leaving the country every time so that the Ministry of Labour will be notified and can follow up and take care of the benefits from the government. It is also a prevention to prevent such undesirable incidents from happening again.
