KUALA LUMPUR - Thailand has confirmed that around 80,000 of its workers in the Middle East are currently safe, with no injuries or deaths reported.

The Labour Ministry has also paused sending new workers to high-risk areas and prepared emergency plans, including possible evacuation measures.

Permanent Secretary for Labour, Pol Lt Col Wannaphong Khotcharak said the ministry remains concerned for Thai workers in countries with ongoing conflicts and has increased its readiness.

The ministry has created a four-level contingency plan to respond to different levels of crisis, from stable conditions to post-incident support.

Level 1 covers stable conditions with limited fighting in strategic areas, while Level 2 addresses expanded fighting and rising threats.

Level 3 involves long-term management and coordination, and Level 4 focuses on recovery, care, and job placement for affected workers.

Wannaphong said each country may face different conditions, and the Ministry of Labour is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for joint evacuation plans, including routes and assembly points.

Based on recent reports, he said the situation is currently stable, with limited civilian impact and communications mostly intact.

Thai workers continue daily life normally and have not had to evacuate or move to shelters, with contact possible in over 90% of cases.

Provincial labour officials are tasked with checking on workers who cannot be reached and supporting families to reduce anxiety.

The largest group of Thai workers is in Israel (58,000), followed by the UAE (12,000), with others spread across the region, according to Pol Lt Col Wannaphong.

He added that the ministry is surveying whether workers in conflict zones want to return to Thailand.

New deployments, particularly to Israel, have been delayed, affecting around 1,000 workers under government to government arrangements.

Director General of the Department of Employment, Somchai Morakotsriwan said relevant agencies are delaying new worker deployments to risk areas and have evacuation plans ready depending on the situation.