June 23, 2025 – Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, addressed the current situation of Thai workers in Israel amid the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. His remarks followed his chairing of the 3rd Meeting (2025) of the Coordination and Assistance Centre for Monitoring the Unrest in the State of Israel, held at the Prasong Rananan Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Ministry of Labour. He stated that, in light of the escalating tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, the Ministry of Labour is closely monitoring developments under the directive of Prime Minister Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The Ministry’s highest priority is to ensure the complete safety (100%) of all Thai workers in affected areas. The Ministry of Labour, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the armed forces, is jointly monitoring the situation. If any severe or undesirable incidents occur, Thai authorities stand fully prepared to repatriate Thai nationals immediately. At present, reports from the Labour Attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, and at the Royal Thai Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as well as other related agencies, confirm that all 39,500 Thai workers in Israel and 109 legally employed Thai workers in Iran are safe. Importantly, not a single worker has expressed the desire to return home, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported among Thai workers or Thai nationals in either country. Regarding today’s development (June 23, 2025), 22 Thai workers from Chemo Aharon company returned to Thailand. However, their return was due to the completion of employment contracts, not an emergency evacuation due to unrest. Their employer had arranged air tickets on June 16, and Ministry of Labour executives and staff at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s employment inspection unit will welcome them and offer moral support.
“In the event of an emergency, the Ministry of Labour is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement support measures under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ evacuation plan. Should the situation necessitate its implementation, actions can commence immediately. We urge all relatives of Thai workers not to worry. The Ministry of Labour, through the Thai Labour Offices in Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, will act as direct representatives to coordinate, support, and assist all Thai workers closely,” stated Mr. Boonsong.
“We urge all Thai workers in Israel and Iran to download the SMART TOEA application on their mobile phones, whether Android or iOS and to enable location access. This real-time tracking will allow us to provide timely support and, if necessary, facilitate evacuation efficiently during emergencies.”
“For relatives with questions or those wishing to assist users with app installation, please contact 02-232-1240 (office hours), 080-073-9885 (24 hours), or the Ministry of Labour Hotline 1506, press 2,” Mr. Boonsong concluded.
