Thailand’s Department of Employment will send 800 workers to Israel this month, despite the ongoing conflict in the region. DoE chief Somchai Morakotsriwan announced on Monday that interest among Thais in working in Israel remains high.
Mr. Somchai assured that the workers would be stationed only in safe areas and highlighted that employment agencies are prohibited from deploying Thai workers to conflict zones in northern Israel.
In the event that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, Mr. Somchai mentioned that the government would draw up an evacuation plan for the workers.
He noted that representatives from the Labour Ministry have been in discussions with officials from the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok regarding this matter.
Responding to concerns about the workers’ safety, Mr. Somchai stated that halting cooperation would not guarantee their safety. He explained that those determined to work in Israel might attempt to do so independently, making it more difficult for the government to monitor and protect them.
The strong demand for jobs in Israel was evident at a recent recruitment event at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, where thousands of candidates took part in a skills test.
Marius Savescu, an Israeli recruitment agency representative, noted that Israeli firms are looking to fill approximately 2,000 jobs, particularly for carpenters, ironsmiths, bricklayers, and tilers, predominantly seeking male workers aged 25-45.
Mr. Savescu added that the Israeli construction sector needs an additional 3,000-4,000 workers by year’s end, with expectations to need up to 10,000 workers next year.
Last year, 2,174 locals from Chiang Rai took up various job roles in Israel. Following the Hamas attack in October 2023, three were killed, one was injured, and two were rescued from being held hostage.
Following a recent rocket attack by Hezbollah in the northern city of Metula, which resulted in the deaths of four Thai workers and injured one, Mr. Somchai said that the Labour Ministry is negotiating with Israeli authorities about repatriation and compensation under Israeli labor laws.
The DoE, in coordination with the Overseas Employment Fund unit, is arranging financial support for the affected families, including 40,000 baht for funeral expenses and an additional 40,000 baht for their descendants, according to Mr. Somchai.
