Compensation for Thai families with members killed in Israel conflict
Eight deceased Thai workers, who were victims of the attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, were brought back home this morning, aboard a commercial flight. Upon landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan province, their bodies were transported to their respective hometowns.
The commercial flight, El Al Flight LY083, carried the eight verified Thai males from Israel, touching down at the airport at 9.33am. A mourning ceremony was held at the airport’s Free Zone of the Customs Office where the coffins were placed.
After the ceremony, the coffins were transported by vans, provided by the funeral services company, Suriya. Destination routes were set for Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket, and Sukhothai, with two bodies heading to Udon Thani.
Labour Ministry’s permanent secretary, Pairote Chotikasathien, announced on Friday that local labour officials would visit the families of the deceased to inform them about the death benefits they are entitled to.
Each family will receive an initial payment of 40,000 baht for funeral expenses. The ministry will additionally work with Israeli authorities to secure further death benefits for the families.
The spouses of the deceased will also receive a monthly payment of 40,000 baht until remarriage, while each child will be paid between 8,000 and 12,000 baht a month until they reach 18 years old.
Thai workers stranded
Pairote shared that the Labour Ministry has dispatched approximately 4,000 sets of drinking water and dried food to Thai workers stranded in Israel, with plans to expedite their repatriation, irrespective of their legal status in the country.
In light of reports of Thai workers being forced to continue work amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the labour attaché in Israel has been directed to intervene, as it contravenes the law.
A send-off ceremony was held at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on Thursday at 3.30pm (Israel time), to bid farewell to the eight bodies being transported to Thailand.
Dignitaries from Thailand, including Pannabha Chandraramya, the Thai ambassador to Israel, Naruchai Ninnart, deputy director-general of the Consular Affairs Department, and the labour attaché at the Thai embassy in Israel, were present.
High-ranking Israeli officials such as Michael Ronen, director-general of the Department of Asia and the Pacific, and Inbal Mashash, head of the Foreign Workers Administration, also attended the ceremony.
In a separate development, another group of 136 Thais returned home on Friday, after boarding an air force flight from Israel.
