The Invisible Lives OF Israel's Thai Workforce.

ISRAELIS; UNEMPLOYED people; LABOR market; LABOR supply; THAI people; BOYCOTTS; FORCED labor

This article provides an overview of the experiences of Thai migrant workers in Israel, focusing on their challenges during the Hamas attacks in October 2023. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 39 Thai workers and the hostage-taking of 31 others. However, the media, both in Israel and the West, have largely overlooked the plight of these foreign workers. The article also examines the shift in Israel's labor force from Palestinian to foreign workers due to economic and political factors. The loss of Palestinian workers has led to a labor shortage, prompting Israel to import workers from other countries, including Thailand. The Thai workers, mainly from the rural Isaan region, have faced exploitative and precarious conditions, despite efforts to regulate labor contracts and educate workers about their rights. The article also highlights the story of Manee Jirachat, a Thai worker who was held hostage by Hamas during the conflict in Gaza. The Thai government eventually secured the release of the hostages, and Manee returned to Thailand, where he became a Buddhist monk. [Extracted from the article]

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