Cabinet offers 50,000 baht plus soft loans to encourage Thais to leave Israel
The Cabinet agreed on Tuesday to offer 50,000 baht as well as soft loans to Thai workers who are choosing to stay on in Israel due to financial commitments.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the Cabinet decided to use a cash incentive to try and convince Thai workers to return home now that the clash between Israel and Hamas has intensified.
The premier said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv had reported that both ground operations and aerial bombings had expanded, and it was too dangerous to continue living in Israel.
“I affirm the stand that the government wants our people to return,” Srettha said.
He added that the government has analysed the situation and resolved that several Thais were reluctant to leave Israel due to financial issues.
As a result, the Cabinet has decided to grant 50,000 baht in compensation to each Thai worker who returns from Israel, and they will also be eligible for a 150,000-baht soft loan.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that 32 Thais have been killed and 19 injured in the fighting, while 22 others have been captured by Hamas.
Srettha said Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had visited Qatar and Egypt to seek more information from all sides concerned to negotiate the release of the hostages.
He added that Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, who has connections with some Islamic nations, and the supreme commander have also joined the negotiations.
