The Labour Minister welcomed Laotian Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Dr. Kampaeng Saisompang and Permanent Secretary Mr. Lipao Yang on attending the senior labour official meeting and Thai-Laos Labour Ministers Meeting at the Emerald Hotel, Bangkok. The two parties reviewed the results of operations for the past 2 years and together prepared a 3-year operation plan to strengthen relations and cooperate for the sustainable development and enhancement of quality of life for workers.
On February 21, 2019, Labour Minister H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo chaired the opening ceremony of the senior labor officials meeting and the Thai-Laos Labour Ministers Meeting following the Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation between the two governments. The meeting took place at the Emerald Hotel Bangkok, which was the first meeting after Thailand and Laos signed the Memorandum of Understanding on July 6, 2016, in Bangkok. Labour Minister, H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo and Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Jarin Chakkaphark led the delegation and co-chaired Thailand’s side, and Laotian Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Dr. Kampaeng Saisompang and Permanent Secretary Mr. Lipao Yang led the delegation and co-chaired Laos’ party at both the ministerial and senior labour officials meeting respectively.
The meeting reviewed the results of operations together over the past 2 years, with activities in various areas as follows: 1) On skill development, the Thai government supported training activities in 2018 for 662 Laotian civil servants in management., industrial technician jobs, tourism and services, including information technology at the Chiang Mai International Labour Skill Development Institute. In 2019, the goal is to train 500 civil servants from Laos. 2) On employment, the Thai government successfully organized the system for migrants of 3 nationalities (Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos), and established the center for employment and termination in Nong Khai and Mukdahan as a place to provide knowledge about work and living in Thailand to migrant workers and act as an assessment/screening center of migrant workers before permitting them to work in Thailand. It is also a breakpoint for migrant workers waiting to return home, and a point of coordination between employers and migrant workers. From data as of October 2018 – January 2019, 23,273 Laotian workers received training at the centers. 3) On labour protection during 2017 – 2018, the Thai government followed up on benefits with 154 Laotian workers in Thailand about wages, compensation and overtime pay, representing 504,588.25 Baht which was received. 4) On social security, the Thai Social Security Office and the Laos Social Security Administration discussed the preparation of the old age pension payment agreement.
The meeting also planned the next 3 years (2019 – 2022) which consists of organizing academic conferences, training, protection and monitoring of benefits for workers working in Thailand. It also discussed social security work, whereby Thailand suggested that Laos adjust the content of the MOU on short-term employment in the agricultural sector, to have an employment period under 2 years and to undergo a health and criminal check of Laotian workers in Laos before traveling to work in Thailand. Both parties jointly pushed for amendments on the problems of workers entering with border passes or any other similar cards, to work temporarily during the period or season and in the designated area.
The senior labour official meeting and the Thai-Laos Labour Minister’s was arranged following the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that requires “parties to conduct meetings to monitor compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding periodically as appropriate, by circulating the responsibility as host.” For the next meeting, Laos will host the conference in Laos.
Currently, 286,461 Laotian workers are working in Thailand (January 2019 data), 285,975 are general workers, 290 skilled workers and 196 minorities. The Thai-Laos labour meetings this was organized to strengthen the relationship between the neighboring countries for further development and improvement to the quality of life for workers.
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Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab/
Photos by Pariyaron Phromsakha Na Sakonnakhon/
Information by Bureau of International Cooperation/
21 February 2019/
