Tel Aviv: Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the Minister of Labor, has announced the progress regarding the unfortunate incident involving Thai workers in Israel, where four workers lost their lives and one was seriously injured due to recent unrest. The Minister called for labor ambassadors to closely monitor the situation and provide support to the affected families. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor has dispatched five labor leaders to the area to offer moral support to the victims’ relatives.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Kittithana Srisuriya, Minister Counselor (Labor) at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, reported that the incident occurred on October 31, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. local time. The Hezbollah group launched rockets into an agricultural area in northern Israel near Mettula, resulting in five fatalities and one serious injury. The Labor Department confirmed with the Israeli Population and Immigration Bureau (PIBA) that among the deceased were four Thai workers and one Israeli empl
oyer. The Thai workers hailed from Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Buriram provinces. The injured Thai worker, identified as Mr. Chatchai from Chaiyaphum Province, is currently receiving medical treatment.
The Labor Department’s report highlighted that Metula is a designated military closure zone by the Israeli army due to ongoing military operations in Lebanon. Despite several warnings from the Royal Thai Embassy and the Labor Department, some Thai workers have refused to evacuate the area.
Mr. Pipat expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and extended support to the injured worker, emphasizing the Ministry’s commitment to closely monitoring the situation and ensuring the welfare of Thai workers in Israel.
Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, stated that he has instructed officials in the affected provinces to assist the families of the deceased and injured workers. The Ministry aims to facilitate the provision of legal benefits to the heirs. Coordin
ation with the embassy and Israeli authorities is ongoing to expedite the process. For further assistance, families can contact the Ministry of Labor or call the hotline at 1506.