Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – According to data released by the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Lao workers remitted approximately US$366 million back to Laos in the first half of this year. The ministry also disclosed that from 2021 to 2025, the cumulative number of Lao citizens working overseas reached 350,600, showing a steady upward trend in labor mobility. Of the US$366 million remittances in the first half of the year, US$32.5 million was transferred through the banking system, with the Indochina Bank and the Lao Foreign Trade Bank alone handling US$8.3 million and US$24.2 million respectively.
These figures were officially released this week at a conference on safe and legal overseas employment held at the Khammouane Technical Vocational College. The conference was co-chaired by Provincial Party Committee Member Sinnason Senchanthavong and Deputy Director of the Employment Department of the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Vany Kovongxay.
At the meeting, Vani Kovongxay stated that overseas employment remains a crucial source of income for Lao citizens, and remittances from these workers are a key supplement to Lao family income and a vital pillar of national development. The Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will continue to deepen cooperation with partner countries and relevant domestic departments to ensure that Lao workers can achieve cross-border employment through safe, legal, and efficient channels.
The meeting organizers emphasized the importance of accurately disseminating information on immigration procedures to Lao citizens seeking work in countries such as Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. This can effectively help them avoid various risks associated with fraudulent recruitment and informal immigration channels.
Speakers pointed out that labor migration is a global phenomenon. The core driving force behind Lao workers choosing to work abroad is the pursuit of higher wages, better living conditions, and economic stability. Simultaneously, factors such as poverty, extreme weather, environmental degradation, political instability, and regional conflicts have also contributed to the increase in the number of Lao workers overseas. However, it is noteworthy that many Lao migrant workers still face risks such as unsafe working conditions, exploitation, violations of labor rights, and even human trafficking.
To address these challenges, the Lao government has taken several measures: firstly, improving the legal and regulatory framework related to employment services and immigration, and strengthening cooperation with major labor destinations such as Thailand, South Korea, and Japan; secondly, continuously increasing the number of employment service agencies, currently including 48 employment service enterprises, 18 provincial employment service centers, 41 district-level employment service points, 6 migrant worker information centers, and 1 migrant worker assistance center nationwide.
This conference is an important component of the "PROMISE II" project (poverty reduction through safe migration, skills development, and employment). Funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) through the International Organization for Migration (IOM), this project runs from 2021 to 2025, with core objectives of promoting safe migration, preventing human trafficking, and improving the efficiency of cross-border labor mobility.
During the conference, participants not only obtained information on safe and legal migration but also received professional guidance on legal procedures for working abroad. The event also included questionnaires, interactive discussions, Q&A sessions, and quizzes, with all participants actively engaged.
