Thai workers in debt eager to return to Israel after conflict cessation

The cessation of conflict in Israel is eagerly awaited by Thai workers who have returned home, as they are burdened by significant debts that require their return to work. Among them is 38 year old Thaworn Aksornsue, a recent returnee from Israel where he spent seven months labouring on a farm, earning approximately 55,000 baht (US$ 1,507) monthly. A substantial part of his earnings was sent back to his family in Thailand’s Khon Kaen province.

Thaworn’s work placement in Israel’s Ofakim town was part of a state-to-state labour cooperation scheme between the two nations. With Ofakim being a mere 25 kilometres from Gaza, the conflict that erupted on October 7 made him opt for Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs repatriation programme, and he returned to his home country on October 16.

Thaworn’s circumstances have left him in a debt exceeding…