Illegal workers in Lao capital to be repatriated

VIENTIANE - Approximately 3,000 illegal workers in Lao capital Vientiane will soon be repatriated to their home countries, state-run daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday.

Foreigners working in the country without a permit are allowed to submit relevant documents to obtain legal recognition if their employer certifies them and facilitates the procedure to obtain the documents.

Foreigners who work in trades such as hawking goods or working in market stalls will not qualify for the documents and will be sent back to their countries of origin.

According to local media, some 7,500 workers have been reported to live in the capital. The majority of these workers have come from neighboring China and Vietnam.

Deputy Director of Vientiane Labor and Social Welfare Department Naenthong Leumaisone admitted that the mechanisms to return workers back to their countries of origin were difficult to implement as they remain undefined in the relevant legislation.

"Sending them back should be managed by the government or a central organization," he said.

According to Naenthong, local authorities should not be placed in the position to undertake the task of repatriating foreign workers.

According to local media, Vientiane authorities will seek guidance from the government regarding the ineligible workers.

Authorities are also working to enforce regulations which require foreigners operating businesses such as service-based shops or farms without a business license to register their businesses.

Regulation dictates that operators can register to legalize their businesses if their worth amounts to more than one billion kip ($125,000).

Businesses worth less than the figure of one billion kip but not less than 250 million kip will be given a two year period with which to grow their businesses to the required size for registration. Owners of businesses that fail to do so will be repatriated.

A senior government official recently announced the move to issue two-month validity documents to foreigners in the capital who are pursuing employment without the relevant work permits.

Approximately 1,074 illegal foreign workers living here in the capital have been granted documents in a move to legalize their status.

The move comes as part of a pilot scheme in the capital to regulate and document illegal foreign workers, small-scale traders and business operators.

Officials say that more work needs to be done in order to ensure that foreigners granted the two-month temporary documents obtain work permits and other relevant legal documents.