Thai Labour Ministry Urges Workers to Avoid Gaza Gorder

Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong has urged Thai employees working near the Gaza border to find new jobs and stay away from the area after a Thai labourer died of a rocket attack by a Palestinian group in southern Israel.

Thai employees who are sent to Israel to work are normally forbidden to work in the area which is considered dangerous, Mr. Phaithoon said.

However, a victim used to work in Israel before and returned by signing a contract directly with his employer, Mr. Phaitoon said.

The victim, identified as Manee Singmuangpol, 34, died in a rocket attack in southern Israel on Thursday. His body is expected to be sent to Thailand within a week.

Sixteen more Thais are working in farms near the Gaza Strip, Mr. Phaithoon said, adding that he had instructed officials of the Ministry’s Office of Overseas Employment Administration to find new jobs for the workers and that they should not work in a dangerous area.

Currently, more than 13,000 Thai employees are now working in Israel out of over 27,000 possible work quotas given by the Israeli government.