It is debatable whether the Middle Eastern nation will continue to be appealing to employees seeking higher wages abroad in light of the surprise attack by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in Israel that killed 24 Vietnamese workers.
For more than 20 years, Israel has been one of the top five places for Vietnamese workers, particularly those looking for work in the agricultural sector.
There are 30,000 Vietnamese workers in Israel, with 5,000 of them working close to the Gaza Strip, according to Thai officials. They are aware of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and sometimes they get caught up in the fighting.
A rocket strike by Hamas on a farm near the Gaza borders in May 2021 resulted in the deaths of two laborers and the injuries of eight people.
Thai laborers have suffered one of the highest deaths in the most recent outbreak of violence.
24 people have so far died, 16 more have been hurt, and another 16 are being held captive. The second batch landed at Suvarnabhumi airports on Thursday, and on 7, 000 people have registered for departure. The range is probably going to rise as the hostilities rise.
Families of the victims have been devastated by the turmoil. People who are greatly concerned about the death of their loved ones do not know it.
The Bangkok Post recently discussed the future of the labor position in Israel with laborers, labor authorities, experts in international affairs, and employment agencies.
difficult decision
A laborer who works in Israel’s” dark area” claimed that in the face of challenges, he can relate to his family members’ concern for his safety. He has chosen to” fight his vision” a little longer, though, in the hopes that things will soon calm down.
For some Thai employment seekers abroad, pursuing their dreams entails enduring hardship for high pay in order to contribute to the improvement of their families’ futures. Trends in social media hashtags imply that employees do not want to leave their homes or communities, but rather do so in order to improve their lives.
Nitthaya Sunthornchai, a 50-year-old Mukdahan local, claimed that her younger brother, Sathit Promunart, made the decision to operate in Israel for good pay in order to contribute to the future of his home.
Their household income is unreliable due to price fluctuations and uncertain yields from their land as a result of flooding or drought, she added, adding that it is insufficient to support the family.
Her home is just pray for Mr. Sathit and the tens of thousands of other Thais who chose to return or be put, she said, adding that” the pay is better and it is a great desire to withstand hard work.”
Over the past five decades, the Thai hands abroad has sent back 200 billion baht on regular annually, according to the Bank of Thailand. They brought up nearly 165 billion ringgit from January to August of this year.
According to information gleaned from conversations with Thai workers in Israel, they are paid approximately 51, 300 ringgit per quarter, or 5, 571.75 shekels, the minimum wage for immigrant workers it, plus time.
Some employees claim that they send their entire quarterly salary home to pay off loans for things like fees and airline tickets. They claimed to have scraped by with the extra repayments.
According to the Thailand-Israel Cooperation on the Placement of Workers ( TIC ), agricultural sector Thai workers are known to borrow money from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives for travel and related costs. These loans range in value from 100, 000 to 150 000 baht.
Work contracts are typically two centuries long and can be extended to five years and three weeks. Ready workers must be between the ages of 25 and 41 and had agricultural industry experience.
About 5,000 Thais were employed under TIC in 2021, and the range has risen to 6,500 this time.
But, it is thought that there are over 30,000 Vietnamese workers in Israel, including 10,000 undocumented workers who made the decision to leave after their contracts expired. That, improper workers are content to lower pay and lack access to healthcare benefits.
In danger
According to a resource in the Labour Ministry’s Department of Employment, the number of Thai staff employed close to the Gaza Strip was estimated to be 1,000 from 2017 to 2018, but it is now 5, 000.
According to the cause, organisations must implement safety precautions and get ready for emergencies.
However, the authorities are being urged to reevaluate the giving of workers to the crimson zone by the parents of a Thai employee who managed to survive an attack near the Gaza border. Six people were killed in the attack, along with his brother and ten other soldiers who were stationed about 2 kilometers from the Gaza Strip.
When I learn about the horror, I feel scared and frightened, the dad said. ” It’s risky to put them in[ dangerous ] areas, and it needs to be looked into.”
He continued,” So that landowners don’t have to look for work abroad and put their lives in danger, the government should address the issues facing farmers around.”
A land worker who lives less than 10 kilometers from the Gaza borders claimed that he is happy to have worked there for more than two decades because of the way people treat him and the promised pay.
He added that workers were given food and shelter when the battle started, and the company worked with the authorities to arrange for their evacuation to secure locations.
He continued by saying that he had also discovered that workers in various fields are paid less and work in risky conditions.
I’m not sure why some people choose to work in high-risk areas, he said.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Lt. Gen. Somchai Virunhapol, a professor and general advisor, advised the government to look into more job opportunities in nations where security is guaranteed as opposed to those where violent conflicts are likely to occur.
He stated that it is crucial to look for new employment opportunities and help the private sector in the action. He said that Qatar or Saudi Arabia might require a sizable hands.
According to Lt Gen Somchai,” We does place a focus on workers’ protection and evaluate dangers that are worth it.” However, keeping them out of the conflict area is the best course of action.
If struggling in the Middle East continues, he urges the government to get ready for global financial challenges, including rising oil prices.
numerous prospects
The Thai Overseas Manpower Association’s chair, Aranya Sakulkosol, stated that the battle is likely to cause sending staff to Israel to be put on hold for around six months.
According to her, the Department of Employment has requested that employers postpone sending employees to Israel.
But she added that getting Siamese workers to health is currently the most important concern. Before they are repatriated again to Thailand, it is advised that Vietnamese workers be evacuated from Israel to nearby nations.
According to Ms. Aranya, the majority of Thai workers in Israel work in the agricultural industry, but a privately run work positioning firm is permitted to find qualified workers for the construction industry.
She claimed that 194 electricians have been hired by one company, Boss Delight Manpower. She added that their companies have agreed to cover their traveling costs and rejoin them once they are prepared to return to Thailand.
She claimed that because South Korea’s ship-building industry has increased its quota for Vietnamese welders next year, Thai workers, particularly experienced laborers, need not worry about finding employment.
Complete support pledge
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered state authorities to ensure the safe transfer of Thais from Israel, according to Pairoj Chotikasathien, permanent director for labor, in response to reports that 26 Thai passengers arrived on Thursday and 15 others had to buy their own cards back.
He claimed that because it is the president’s responsibility, it will cover all costs incurred. Additionally, improper staff may be found, he added.
He stated that until Israel verifies that the security situation has returned to normal, sending Thai employees there has been suspended.