Israeli Man Indicted for Forced Labor and Abuse of Thai Workers on Farm

The State Prosecutor's Office filed charges on Wednesday against 74-year-old Shmuel Gross from Netanya, accusing him of forced labor and sexual offenses against foreign workers from Thailand employed on his farm. The indictment, submitted to the Netanya Magistrate's Court, alleges Gross exploited the workers' vulnerable status and dependence on him for legal work permits and housing between 2021 and 2023.

Gross reportedly forced the workers to perform tasks beyond their permit conditions, paid wages irregularly or withheld them, and housed them in substandard conditions lacking basic amenities. He also failed to provide necessary work equipment and ignored their complaints. The indictment details systematic physical and verbal abuse, including hitting, pushing, threats, and intimidation, sometimes using a tractor or vehicle to scare them.

Additionally, Gross employed two foreign women for domestic work without permits, allegedly demanding one to cook, wash dishes, and give massages, while subjecting them to sexual misconduct under coercion. When one woman resisted, she was assigned harsher tasks and denied wages upon leaving.

Following investigations by the Population and Immigration Authority and the Israeli police's Lahav 433 unit, the victims were recognized as forced labor victims by the government's anti-human trafficking coordinator. This case is part of a broader government effort involving multiple agencies to combat human trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation of foreign workers.

In 2025, 30 foreign workers were officially recognized as trafficking victims, a sixfold increase since October 2023. Central District Prosecutor Dr. Haim Weismonsky condemned the systematic exploitation and pledged continued efforts to protect vulnerable workers and prosecute offenders. Government anti-trafficking coordinator Attorney Dina Dominitz emphasized the commitment to identifying victims and ensuring fair, humane treatment of foreign workers, calling on employers to respect workers' rights and dignity as a shared societal responsibility.