The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour revealed that Thai workers in the Middle East are safe and confirmed that the Ministry has contingency plans should the situation become critical. He emphasized delaying worker deployment until the situation improves.
On 2 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, spoke after a meeting of the Coordination and Monitoring Center on Unrest in the Middle East Region. The meeting aimed to track developments and establish support measures for Thai workers in the Middle East if the situation escalates. Attending were Ms. Buppha Ruangsut, Deputy Permanent Secretary; Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment; Mr. Samas Patamasukon, Director-General of the Department of Skill Development; and Mr. Sakdinat Sontisak Yothin, Assistant Permanent Secretary, at the press conference room on the 5th floor of the Ministry of Labour building.
Confirms Thai workers in Israel remain safe
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, stated that the current conflict remains confined to limited areas and most workers continue to work safely as usual. He confirmed that all Thai workers in Israel remain safe with no reports of injuries or deaths from the fighting. The situation is being closely monitored 24/7, with response plans tailored to the severity in each area, covering scenarios from stable conditions to post-event recovery, divided into four levels.
Level 1: Stable status — the current situation with limited fighting in key strategic locations such as airports or military zones, with minimal impact on civilians.
Level 2: Expanded fighting — an increase in the intensity and frequency of clashes or additional threats emerging in the area.
Level 3: Prolonged situation — focusing on long-term management, logistics support, and coordination both domestically and internationally.
Level 4: Event conclusion — emphasis on recovery, care, and job placement for workers to prepare for future risks.
Delaying sending workers to risky areas
Additionally, there is a suspension of sending new workers to risky areas until the situation stabilizes to ensure maximum safety for citizens. Relevant agencies are using technology to track workers’ locations and have assigned provincial labour officers to survey affected families, provide visits, communicate support, and establish provincial coordination centers to offer information and alleviate concerns among relatives of workers residing in Thailand.
Evacuation routes are ready
Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, added that the department has coordinated with relevant agencies to suspend sending Thai workers to risky areas, especially Israel, where over 1,000 workers await deployment. Most are agricultural workers sent through government-to-government (G to G) arrangements. Due to closed airspace and for maximum safety, deployment is delayed. Should the situation escalate critically, the Ministry of Labour will coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare evacuation plans, routes, and rest points. However, implementation depends on the actual situation and government policy.