Thailand asked to resend workers to Israel

BANGKOK, November 4 (TNA) - Israel has asked Thailand to send workers back to the Jewish state, as violence in the Gaza Strip has ended. Israeli Ambassador in Bangkok Simon Roded raised the issue on Monday afternoon, when he paid a courtesy call on new Thai Labour Minister General Surasak Karnchanarat, acknowledging that Thai workers are vital to Israel. The Israeli top envoy asked for the Thai government's allocation of a number of Thai labourers to work in Israel, especially in the agricultural sector, as peace has been restored in the Gaza Strip in the wake of violent clashes between Israeli and Hamas forces in July-August 2014. The Israeli ambassador insisted that Israeli employers are highly satisfied with Thai workers' performances and take care of their Thai employees like their family members. According to the Israeli ambassador, the Israeli government has already slashed unnecessary expenses and fees for Thai workers. Besides, Israel is pleased to cooperate with the Thai government on providing training for Thai workers so that they are equipped with knowledge and skills on the use of advance technologies and techniques beneficial to Thailand's development plans after their employment contracts expire and return home. Thailand and Israel have inked a government-to-government labour cooperation pact, called the Thailand-Israel Cooperation on Placement of Workers (TIC), under which Thailand agrees to send nationals to work in Israel. Based on the close Thai-Israeli labour cooperation, about 27,000 Thai workers are now employed in the Israeli farm sector. (TNA)