VIENTIANE, Lao PDR – Women and men migrant workers, their families and communities in Bolikhamxay and neighbouring provinces will benefit from a new migrant worker resource centre (MRC) inaugurated on 2 March 2022.

For a large number of Lao migrants, critical gaps in information about safe migration and access to services increase the risks they experience in going abroad to improve their livelihoods. Through the new MRC established with the Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare in Bolikhamxay province, migrant workers will be equipped with the knowledge and support they need to take greater control of their journeys and claim the labour rights to which they are entitled.

The inauguration of the MRC was presided over by the Vice Governor of Bolikhamxay province, Mr. Khamvenh Panyanouvong, Director General of the Skills Development Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ms Anousone Khamsinhsavath, Mr Francois Pravongviengkham, EU Political Officer of the EU Delegation to Lao PDR, the Head of the Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare of Bolikhamxay province, Mr Sengphet Mounlamay, and the ILO National Coordinator for Lao PDR, Ms Khemphone Phaokhamkeo.

The MRC will work to ensure that workers seeking jobs overseas can get up-to-date information and counselling before making a decision about migrating. Return migrants will be provided with information and training to help them find employment in their communities of origin or re-migrate through safe and regular channels. Through the MRC, women and men migrant workers will be able to lodge complaints when their rights have been violated, including in cases of labour exploitation or violence. MRC Bolikhamxay will also provide support and referrals for women migrant workers to service providers specialized in responding to cases of violence against women.

A considerable share of Lao migrant workers are employed in fisheries-related work, construction, domestic work and the service sector. Many continue to experience significant violations of their labour rights. In particular, seafood processing in Thailand is a meaningful sector of work for many Lao women. Therefore, ensuing access to accurate information about safe migration and labour rights will help prevent exploitation and violence against migrant workers, especially women. The MRC will provide migrant workers with sector-specific information about their rights during recruitment and employment in the fishing and seafood processing sectors, including other sectors, so that they are able to migrate safely and obtain decent work. A service directory will also be made available at the MRC, which will enable referrals of women migrant worker survivors of violence.

“Migration has become much more precarious during COVID-19 and better labour protection is needed to prevent exploitation of migrant workers. We recognize how important it is to provide job seekers and potential migrants with comprehensive and up-to-date information on career opportunities and safe migration to inform their decision if they decide to migrate for work outside the country. The MRC plays a critical role in this regard,” said Ms Khemphone Phaokhamkeo, National Coordinator for the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Lao PDR.

With funding from the European Union (EU), the MRC Bolikhamxay will be implemented in partnership between the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the ILO through its Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia and the joint ILO-UN Women Safe and Fair Programme under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative. This partnership will support the Lao Government in expanding and enhancing the accessibility and gender-responsiveness of its service provision to women and men migrant workers.

Responding to the launch of the MRC in Bolikhamxay, Mr Sengphet Mounlamay emphasized that, “Protecting the rights, interests and employment of Lao migrant workers, including women migrant workers, is core to the mandate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. We would like to thank the EU, ILO and UN Women for their technical and financial support in establishing the MRC Bolikhamxay to assist us in realizing this important goal.”

“The new MRC in Bolikhamxai is another token of the EU’s strong commitment to support the socio-economic development of the country. Amisdt the ongoing pandemic crisis, which has already negatively impacted Lao migrant workers, the EU will remain a staunch supporter of safe and regulation migration across the ASEAN region,” said Mr Francois Pravongviengkham, EU Political Officer of the EU Delegation to Lao PDR.

In shifting emphasis towards leveraging the development potential of migration, the joint ILO-UN Women Safe and Fair programme aims to address the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, including women migrant workers, to violence and trafficking, and ensure that they are better protected by gender-sensitive labour migration governance frameworks and benefit from coordinated and responsive high-quality services. Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia is an initiative of the EU and the UN, implemented by the ILO in collaboration with IOM and UNDP, with the overall objective of promoting regular and safe labour migration and decent work for all migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors. The programme addresses the characteristics of working in the fishing and seafood processing sectors as well as the barriers and risks present during migration, which can lead to unsafe migration, decent work deficits, abuse and forced labour.

For more information please contact:

Mr. Viengprasith Thiphasouda
National Programme Coordinator for Lao PDR, Safe and Fair Programme
Tel: +856 20 22 207 224
Email: thiphasouda@ilo.org

Mr. Benjamin Harkins
Technical Officer, Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia Programme
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: harkins@ilo.org

Mr. Pichit Phromkade
Communications Officer, Safe and Fair Programme
LO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Email: phromkade@ilo.org