Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, announced following her chairing of a meeting of the Centre for Assistance, Coordination and Monitoring of the Unrest Situation in the Middle East, held together with labour attachés from three missions in the region, that the Ministry of Labour has prepared to support evacuation operations for Thai workers returning to Thailand in accordance with government policy and under the direction of the Prime Minister. The situation has been categorised into four levels of severity: stable, severe, prolonged, and resolved. She has assigned Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, as Director of the Centre, with full authority to command and coordinate all relevant sectors. At present, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities among Thai workers.
Regarding assistance for Thai workers in host countries, Ms. Trinuch stated that labour attachés in Israel have been tasked with facilitating and coordinating assistance, particularly with Israeli authorities and employers, to relocate Thai workers from high-risk areas (such as border areas near Lebanon) to safer locations. For Iran, although Thailand does not have a dedicated labour office, the Labour Office at the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, which oversees Iran, has been instructed to follow the same procedures to assist Thai workers. Initial reports indicate that some Thai workers in Iran are scheduled to return to Thailand on March 7 and 10.
Regarding evacuation planning, the Labour Minister stated that the Ministry of Labour’s responsibilities include arranging temporary shelters and evacuation points in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, provincial labour offices nationwide have been instructed to communicate with families of Thai workers to reduce anxiety, including using the Department of Employment’s tracking application to enable workers to stay in contact with their families.
Ms. Trinuch further stated that the Department of Employment and the Department of Skill Development have been instructed to prepare comprehensive reintegration plans for returning workers. These include coordination with relevant agencies on physical health checks and mental health assessments (including PTSD) by the Ministry of Public Health, ensuring access to benefits and compensation under the Overseas Employment Fund, as well as providing remedial support, skills development, job placement within Thailand, and preparation for re-employment abroad once the situation stabilises.
Regarding Thai workers intending to work in the 12 Middle Eastern countries, namely Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Cyprus, Yemen, and Iran, the Labour Minister stated that all provincial employment offices, including Bangkok employment offices (Areas 1–10), have been instructed to suspend the deployment of Thai workers to the Middle East through all channels until further notice, pending improvement of the situation.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Labour, we stand ready to immediately support any mission to assist Thai workers upon government instruction, as the primary coordinating agency responsible for facilitating assistance. I would like to extend my encouragement to all Thai workers currently in the Middle East, as well as those wishing to return to Thailand, and wish for their safety. The Ministry of Labour reaffirms its commitment to providing the best possible care and support to all Thai workers,” Ms. Trinuch concluded.
