Phairoj Chotikasatien, the permanent secretary for labor confirmed on Wednesday that under Israeli law, employers have the authority to shift their employees to other companies. This information comes at the heel of numerous complaints from Thai workers who fled conflict areas in Israel. These workers felt betrayed by their original employers – the companies which they had initially signed agreements with – affirming claims of being sold to new employers.
Reassuringly, Chotikasatien asserted that the transfer of workers between companies is completely lawful in Israel. His assertion relies on validated information provided by the Thai labour attache regulated under the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv.
The labour attache wasn’t just offering confirmations, but also extended his help to the Thai workers submerged in the crisis. A range of crucial support measures was promised to be provided by the labour attache. This included formal financial assistance schemes, repatriation process navigation, and negotiations for the settlement of unpaid salaries and allowances.
In his statement, the permanent secretary for labour, Phairoj Chotikasatien provided some alarming numbers that outlined the overall impact on Thai workers. Out of all the Thai workers stuck in the conflict, 13 were reported as injured with two among them battling serious injuries. An unsettling and yet unverified report was pointed out by him, reporting a death toll of 20 Thai workers on Israeli soil. The issue escalated as 14 Thai workers were taken hostage and an alarming census of 5,205 Thai workers was outlining a desperate desire to return back to their native land.
As of now, the well-being of the Thai workers trapped in this situation hangs in the balance with hope that improvements on the ground can be made swiftly. Meanwhile, the conflict is a sending a harsh reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by foreign workers during times of crisis and the need for robust support mechanisms to protect their rights and well-being.
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