Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha urged the Ministry of Labour to arrange for the bodies of Thai workers to be returned to their homeland and care for the families of those killed in the Israeli airstrikes. The Ministry of Labour has worked with the Israeli Ambassador to transport the two bodies of Thai workers to Thailand, along with 18 other Thai workers who reported their intention to return. The workers are in quarantine for 14 days following the measures prescribed by the CCSA before returning to their homeland.
On May 26, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin traveled to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan to receive the bodies of the Thai workers who died from airstrikes by the Hamas group in Israel. Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol, Advisory Board Member to the Labour Minister Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour and Acting Director-General of the Department of Employment, Mr. Phairoj Chotikasathian, Consul for Consular Affairs from the Israeli Embassy Ms. Etty Mizrachi and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the occasion. The Embassy in Tel Aviv organized a mourning ceremony and transported the body of Mr. Weerawat Karunborirak and Mr. Sikharin Sangram, two Thai workers from the Ohad Agricultural Estate (Moshav) who died from airstrikes on May 18, at Ban Gurion Airport. The ceremony included a moment of silence and lit candles to mourn the deceased before the coffins were transported to the EI AI airline, Flight LY081, bringing Thai citizens in Israel back to Thailand. The flight departed from Ben Gurion Airport at 22.00 hours on May 25, 2021, and arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport today (May 26, 2021) at 00:30 hours. The bodies of the deceased will be delivered to their domicile in Phetchabun and Buriram provinces as soon as they arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Eighteen people were affected by the airstrikes on May 18, including two injured, Chakri Rattapolthi and Thanadol Khanthachai. The eighteen people also traveled back to Thailand on this flight.
Mr. Suchart said that the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, expressed his condolences over the death of Thai workers and concern for the injured Thai workers. He instructed the Ministry of Labour to arrange for the bodies of the Thai workers to return to their homeland and care for the families of the victims of the airstrikes in Israel, following all legal procedures. The 18 workers who requested to return to Thailand arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport today at 00.30 hours. The recruitment company will facilitate the transportation to the quarantine facility, where they will stay for 14 days following measures prescribed by the CCSA before returning to their homeland. It is expected that the flight will reach around midnight. The departments under the Ministry of Labour in the local areas will visit the workers’ families and provide further assistance on legal benefits.
The two Thai workers who died included Mr. Weerawat Karunborirak. His family will receive benefits in Thailand for a total of 94,798.81 Baht, consisting of (1) A subsidy from the fund for helping job seekers to work abroad for 40,000 Baht and (2) Benefits from Social Security Fund in Thailand amounting to 54,798.81 Baht. They will also receive compensation from working in Israel as follows: (1) Compensation in case of dismissal (Pisu Im) for a total of approximately 102,820 Baht. (2) Compensation from the Israeli Social Security Office, approximately 52,380 Baht per month, and (3) Accrued wages. For Mr. Sikharin Sangram, his family will receive benefits in Thailand for a total of 90,389 Baht, consisting of (1) A subsidy from the fund for helping job seekers to work abroad for 40,000 Baht and (2) Benefits from the Social Security Fund in Thailand amounting to 52,380 Baht. They will also receive compensation from working in Israel as follows: (1) Compensation from the Israeli Social Security Office, of approximately 52,380 Baht per month and (2) Accrued wages (not receiving compensation in case of dismissal, from working less than one year). The family will receive the benefits from the agency in Thailand on May 25-26, 2021. The compensation from working in Israel estimates, subject to the discretion of the Israeli Social Security Agency. For the criteria for considering family to receive monthly compensation from the Israeli Social Security Office, the persons who are entitled to compensation are parents and wives who are legally married and lawful children up to 18 years. The share being given to each family member is based on the dependency or care provided by the deceased and the living ability of the family members. The period of receiving compensation can be every month until the death of the wife who is legally married or is remarried, or the child can receive payment every month until the age of 18. The Labour Department at the Embassy in Tel Aviv will accelerate further progress.
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Division of Public Relations
26 May 2021
