Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul expressed optimism following a successful meeting with Israeli Labor Minister Yoav Ben Zur. The discussions, which included Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv, centered on the increasing demand for Thai workers in Israel.
According to Thai News Agency, there are currently over 40,000 Thai workers in Israel, with an urgent need for an additional 30,000 to meet a total demand of 150,000 workers. The Israeli representatives emphasized the need for workers beyond the agricultural sector, particularly in construction. Despite concerns regarding unrest from regional conflicts, the Israeli government assured that robust security measures are in place. They have also committed to compensating the families of any affected Thai workers, providing 90,000 baht monthly to families of the deceased indefinitely.
Mr. Anutin highlighted the positive feedback from the Israeli Labor Minister, who praised Thai workers for their dedication and hard work. The Israeli side expressed a preference for Thai workers over those from neighboring countries facing challenges. In response, Mr. Anutin and Mr. Pipat are working to expedite a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries. The aim is to streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and minimize opportunities for exploitation by brokers. The proposed government-to-government (G2G) approach is intended to optimize the benefits for Thai workers, with both parties seeing significant potential in this collaboration.