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 and International Organization for Migration 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”.
