VIENTIANE, Lao People's Democratic Republic (ILO News) – To mark the occasion of International Migrants Day in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, International Labour Organization (ILO) Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia Programme and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) jointly organized a celebration on 15 December 2022.

Broadcast on Lao Youth Radio, the event brought together migrant workers and key stakeholder organizations to share their experiences in relation to return and reintegration in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the livelihoods of the Lao migrants and the celebration provided an opportunity to recognize their resilience in the face of adversity and build stakeholder commitment to deliver continuing support.

The celebration was made possible with the generous support of the European Union, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the United States Department of State. In her opening remarks at the event, Ms Ina Marčiulionytė, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Lao People's Democratic Republic said: “On International Migrants Day, we recognize the need to further strengthen labour migration policies in Lao People's Democratic Republic to ensure alignment with the relevant international labour standards. COVID-19 has shown us all how essential Lao women and men migrant workers are to the growth and development of the country. We should use this recognition to build a “better normal” for Lao migrant workers through developing labour migration governance frameworks that ensure that their rights are fully protected”.

On 18 December 1990, the United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Since this landmark treaty was passed, 18 December has become a day to celebrate migrant workers, highlighting their contributions in countries of origin and destination and providing an opportunity to make their voices heard.

According to United Nations data, there may be as many as 1.3 million Lao nationals living abroad, among whom 56 per cent are women. The economic and social remittances provided by these women and men make a major contribution to the advancement of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, representing an estimated 1.2 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. However, the importance of their role in supporting development at national, local and household levels is not always sufficiently acknowledged and the protection of their rights as workers remains limited.

The Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia Programme is a multi-country, multi-annual initiative of the European Union and the United Nations, implemented by the ILO in collaboration with IOM and the United Nations Development Programme. Ship to Shore Rights delivers technical assistance and support with the overall objective of promoting safe migration for decent work among South East Asian countries. The programme addresses the specific characteristics of work in the fishing and seafood processing sectors as well as the barriers and risks present in the migration system, which can lead to unsafe migration, decent work deficits, abuse and trafficking for forced labour.

IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an inter-governmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

For further information please contact:

Mr Viengprasith Thiphasouda
National Coordinator
ILO Lao People's Democratic Republic
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

Ms Shareen Tuladhar
Chief of Mission
IOM Lao People's Democratic Republic
Email: shtuladhar@iom.int