BANGKOK, 4 November 2014 – The Ministry of Labor has revealed that Israel is seeking cooperation from the Thai government in sending workers back to the country after violence along the Israel-Gaza border has eased off.
Labor Minister Gen Surasak Kanchanarat stated that he has recently met with Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Simon Roded to discuss the two countries’ labor cooperation. He said after the exchanges of artillery fire between the Israeli government and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in July and August this year, the ambassador has confirmed that the situation has returned to normal.
Since Thai workers were evacuated from Israel during the time of turmoil, Mr Roded, on this occasion, requested the Thai government to consider resuming its supply of labor for Israel’s agricultural sector, adding that more assistance will be provided for the incoming workers than before. The two countries have been engaging in labor exchange under the Thailand-Israel Cooperation on Placement of Workers.
Despite Israel’s satisfaction with the quality of Thai workers, Gen Surasak admitted a number of inappropriate behaviors have been reported in the past, such as drinking, gambling and drug abuse. Therefore, he vowed that the ministry will be more stringent from now on in screening the Thai workers who are to be sent abroad.
