For several years, Israel has hosted around 30,000 Thai agricultural workers from poor regions of their home country. Although this opportunity allows them to earn up to six times their usual salary, their situation remains precarious. Indeed, these foreign workers are often exposed to difficult working conditions, unsanitary housing and are often victims of unexplained deaths.
Unfortunately, this summer, the conflict between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas took a dramatic turn for Thai workers in the territory. Twenty-one of them were killed in Hamas attacks, and fourteen others are still being held hostage. This tragic situation has caused great concern among families remaining in Thailand, who are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
Faced with this tragedy, many Thai workers are now expressing their desire to return home, thus avoiding further exposure to the dangers plaguing the region. Precarious living conditions, food shortages and lack of electricity are among the difficulties they face.
Thai authorities have already taken steps to repatriate the workers to Israel. Around 5,000 of them are expected to be repatriated in the coming days, to shelter them from violence and return them to their worried families.
This tragedy highlights the risks faced by immigrant workers, who are often exploited and exposed to precarious living conditions. It is time to change this situation and guarantee their safety and well-being, regardless of the country in which they work.
In conclusion, the situation of Thai agricultural workers in Israel is worrying. Their vulnerability to the current conflict highlights the need to guarantee their protection and ensure that they benefit from dignified working conditions. It is essential to find sustainable solutions to ensure their safety and well-being, while providing them with equitable economic opportunities. Foreign workers deserve to be respected and protected, wherever they are.