Government to assist workers returning from Covid-19 outbreak countries

People who have returned to Laos after leaving jobs in Thailand and other countries as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic will receive government assistance in finding new employment. 
Police departments and district police offices, as well as local authorities, have been ordered to stop collecting fines and other fees from Lao workers who return from Thailand and other countries.
But returning Lao nationals must submit the necessary travel documents to the Lao embassy or advisory centre in their host country.

An official from the Department of Labour Skill Development and Employment under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, who asked not to be named, said returnees must also contact the Labour and Social Welfare authorities in their district and province.
These authorities are compiling information from village officials about the number of people returning because of the pandemic, which will be used to help people enter Laos. 
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has asked departments of Labour and Social Welfare in each province and Vientiane to set up assistance centres in Thailand and other countries to help Lao workers.
Those leaving Thailand and Malaysia must register with authorities, the official said.
It is hoped that returning workers can find jobs with Lao businesses and receive appropriate training before taking up new employment.
At present, some 147,000 Lao labourers have returned from Thailand and other 456 Lao nationals returned from Malaysia.
The official said all parties involved should make sure that returning workers were registered and received the help they needed.
Departments will provide supporting programmes for people wanting to work on a freelance basis or be self-employed, as well as those who hope to find more work in other countries when the pandemic subsides.
Director of the Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department, Mrs Lamphoy Si Akkhachanh, said labour officials are compiling figures on the number of workers who returned to Laos from Thailand. 
The information collected will detail the number of people who are now unemployed. The figure is expected to be high because many businesses have closed temporarily during the threat posed by Covid-19.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update March 11, 2021)