Lao PDR: Institutional reinforcement

Tens of thousands of young people migrate from Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Thailand, typically on a seasonal basis. Many of them start as voluntary migrants but are tricked, cheated or forced into trafficking situations somewhere along the way. Other children are found working in the worst forms of child labour in Lao PDR. By the late 1990s, the Government recognized it needed new approaches to confront child labour within its borders and trafficking of its citizens abroad. The Government’s labour-based responses to these problems have been led by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW), making it a ministry crucial to the protection of children and women. However, as part of the process to sign the ILO Conventions most relevant to child labour and trafficking (No. 138 on minimum age for admission to employment and No. 182 on the worst forms child labour), the Government acknowledged that the capabilities of the MOLSW needed strengthening to cope with the issues under its mandate as well as the coordination and information sharing among all agencies and departments at the national and provincial levels.