First-ever private employment agency association launched to improve recruitment practices in Lao PDR

VIENTIANE, Lao People's Democratic Republic (ILO News) – The Lao Employment Business Association was officially launched in Vientiane on 28 June 2024. As the nation’s first-ever industry body representing private employment agencies, the association aims to raise the business standards for its members to ensure fair recruitment, particularly for migrant workers.

Her Excellency Madame Baykam Khattiya, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, said: “Until today, there has never been a business association to represent private employment agencies in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, which has made it more difficult to develop migration governance policies. With the enactment of the Regulations of the Lao Employment Business Association, there will now be an opportunity for employment agencies to be directly involved in social dialogue on the recruitment of migrant workers.”

The Australian Government, European Union and ILO have supported the establishment of the Lao Employment Business Association through the TRIANGLE in ASEAN and Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia programmes, which facilitated consultations between workers, employers, and the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, as well as providing technical inputs to the Regulation of the Lao Employment Business Association. The Regulation of the Lao Employment Service Association, which provides the legal basis for the new association, was adopted in January 2024.

"Having an industry body to represent private employment agencies is vital to improving recruitment practices towards migrant workers in Laos. Drawing on the lessons learned from TRIANGLE in ASEAN, the Australian Government encourages the Lao Employment Business Association to consider developing a code of conduct to strengthen self-regulation among its member agencies," said Her Excellency Megan Jones, Australian Ambassador to Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

"The European Union is very pleased to fund the Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia Programme, implemented by the ILO. This enables our political commitment to be translated into practical actions in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, such as the launch of the new Lao Employment Business Association. Today’s event is an achievement that has required many years of hard work and commitment. We look forward to cooperating further with all stakeholders to establish an effective employment agency association that supports genuine progress towards fair recruitment practices for Lao migrant workers," said Her Excellency Ina Marčiulionytė, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The new Lao Employment Business Association has been tasked with playing several key roles in improving recruitment practices, including: (1) To represent employment agencies in government policy meetings; (2) To promote labour force development; (3) To educate its members to operate in accordance with the Association’s regulations and relevant national laws; (4) To collect and share data on labour market needs domestically and abroad; and (5) To strengthen the capacity of its members through collaboration. It will play a significant role in the future development of labour migration governance policies in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

"The creation of the Lao Employment Business Association is a very positive development. By working together with government and worker representatives, private employment agencies can contribute significantly to a well-managed labour migration process. We have seen in other countries in the region, such as Viet Nam, that private sector self-regulation through codes of conduct can improve recruitment practices for migrant workers," said Xiaoyan Qian, ILO Country Director for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
 

About TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme 

The TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme is part of the International Labour Organization’s efforts to increase the benefits and minimize the risks of labour migration for all migrant workers. TRIANGLE delivers technical assistance with the overall goal of maximizing the contribution of labour migration to an equitable, inclusive and stable growth in ASEAN. The programme is funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Global Affairs Canada.

About Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia programme

The Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia programme is an initiative of the EU and the UN, implemented by the ILO in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the overall objective of promoting regular and safe labour migration and decent work for all migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors. The programme addresses the characteristics of working in the fishing and seafood processing sectors as well as the barriers and risks present during migration, which can lead to unsafe migration, decent work deficits, abuse and forced labour.

For more information, please contact: 

Andreas Schmidt
Technical Officer, TRIANGLE in ASEAN Programme
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: schmidtan@ilo.org

Benjamin Harkins
Technical Officer, Ship to Shore Rights South East Asia Programme
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: harkins@ilo.org