Among the troubles seen in Israel following the October 7 massacre was the plight of local farmers, who watched as their workers from Thailand left the country following the trauma they experienced after dozens of their colleagues were murdered or kidnapped by Hamas.
A significant change took place following Thai Labor Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn’s visit to Israel. The minister was assured there were safe agricultural areas in the country and arranged for his office to cancel the travel warning issued to Israel. He even requested his counterparts in Israel increase the quota for Thai workers coming to the country each year from 6,000 to 20,000.
Since the warning was revoked on May 7, Thai workers have been arriving back to Israel in droves. The country is considered a very attractive destination for Thai workers, especially for those coming from the poor rural areas in the northern part of the country. There, they earn about 1,000 shekels a month. In Israel, they can earn five to eight times more.
Despite six Thai hostages still being held by Hamas, the number of foreign workers in Israel has returned to its previous level, and may have even increased. According to the Population and Immigration Authority, on October 5, 2023, the number of foreign agricultural workers in Israel – most of whom are Thai – stood at 30,259. As of June 4, 2024, this number has risen to 35,009.
Israel's ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv visited 37 out of 39 families whose relatives were brought back for burial in their homeland. "In almost every visit, neighbors and relatives asked me: 'How can we travel to Israel?'" she said in an interview with Nikkei Asia.
According to her, in an agreement reached between the countries in 2020, the fees paid to intermediaries at the workers' expense were canceled, making the move even more worthwhile for the workers. Each worker is allowed to stay in Israel for up to five years and three months.
Sagiv also noted the two countries are currently negotiating an agreement to bring in construction workers, another sector suffering from a severe labor shortage.
The Center for International Migration and Integration (CIMI) Chairman Arnon Mantver added, "The Thais suffered the highest number of deaths and abductions on October 7 among all foreign workers in the country. I think the State of Israel recognizes this.”
“The risk of such an event has always been low, and they also understand what happened on October 7 wasn’t a mundane occurrence. Their years of experience in Israel have proven to them it was worthwhile to return and work in the country,” he said.