Freeze on Thai Labour Going to Gaza Strip

Governments of some developing countries encourage and tangibly assist their citizens who are willing to serve as laborers overseas. In Thailand's case, though, the safety of Thai laborers abroad is also garnering the government's attention. After three Thai workers were involved in a shooting in the Jewish settlement of Dolah last week, the Thai government is taking action. The Labor and Foreign Ministries now prohibit the placement of workers in regions of Israel that are prone to violence and will fine any job placement agencies that ignore the new regulation. The Labor Ministry is also in the process of relocating some Thai workers in Israel, of which there are about 25,000. – YaleGlobal

Freeze on Thai Labour Going to Gaza Strip

Wednesday, December 4, 2002

The government has stopped job placement agencies sending workers to the Gaza Strip in the Israeli Occupied Territories after two Thai workers were injured in shootout on Friday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ratthakit Manathat said that the ministry had sought cooperation from the Labour Ministry and employment agencies to avoid placing workers in the violence-prone area.

More than 100 Thais are reportedly working in Gaza.

Labour Minister Suwat Liptapallop has also issued an order prohibiting employment agencies from sending workers to Gaza. Companies violating the order would face legal action.

On Friday, a gunman belonging to the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, fired on the Jewish settlement of Dolah in Gaza, wounding two Thai workers and an Israeli. The gunman was killed during the attack. Suwat said that the two wounded workers were Prajak Sisalo and Soem Sa-ingram. Prajak was shot in the abdomen, while Soem sustained leg injuries. Soem was in a stable condition and has been released from hospital.

Another Thai worker, Somchok Klaithong, was also involved in the shootout but escaped injury.

Suwat said his ministry was mapping out relocation plans for Thai workers. About 25,000 Thais are working in Israel.

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