BANGKOK: Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is leading a team to Israel on May 26-29 to follow up assistance for Thai workers affected by conflict there, ministry spokesman Phumiphat Mueanchan said on Sunday (May 26).
Phiphat will ask the Israeli government and private agencies to ensure that Thai workers are working in safe zones, and accelerate wage payment for workers whose employment contracts have expired, he said.
He added that the ministry will request increasing the quota of Thai workers in the agriculture sector, setting up a deposit fund to support agricultural workers, and sending construction workers to Israel as well.
Phumiphat confirmed that the ministry will continue sending workers to Israel to meet the country’s demand for more than 20,000 Thai workers.
“This trip to Israel will prove the ministry’s commitment and boost confidence among Thai workers,” he said, adding that the ministry will do its best to take care of Thais working there.
Phumiphat went on to say that the ministry had paid compensation totalling 465.45 million baht to 9,309 Thai workers affected by the ongoing conflict between the Israel Defence Force and Palestinians.
“Also, the ministry had paid 144.27 million baht to 9,892 workers under the fund to assist Thai workers abroad,” he said, adding that workers affected by the conflict will receive compensation from Israel as well.
He further added that the Social Security Office had paid 1.36 million baht to relatives of 35 workers who died during the conflict.
According to the ministry, 41 Thai workers had died during the conflict so far, and six workers were being detained as hostages.
“The labour minister has instructed relevant agencies to accelerate the compensation payments to be completed by June this year,” he added. - The Nation/ANN
