Vientiane to issue temporary working permit for migrant workers

Vientiane (VNA) – The administration of Laos’ capital city of Vientiane will start the granting of temporary working permit to migrant foreign labourers in order to better manage illegal foreign workers here.

Under the plan, announced on July 7, migrant workers can register for a temporary working permit from July 17 to August 17 in nine districts of Vientiane, through which the government will collect information of the total illegal foreign labourers and classify them for efficient management.

The Vientiane administration also assigned ward and district authorised agencies to coordinate with the police as well as labour and social welfare bodies to implement the plan.

Accordingly, foreign workers will be divided into two groups. The first comprising merchants or those who are running business lines allowed by the country’s law, or working for a business or services facilities, investment projects and special economic zones, will be granted a six-month working permit.

Meanwhile, vendors, livestock breeders, or those who are managing beauty spas, coffee, karaoke or game shops, which are not eligible for foreigners in Laos, will get a permit with three-month validity.

Over the past years, Vientiane and other Lao localities have faced the increasing number of illegal migrant workers.

To deal with the problem, in December 2015, the Lao government asked localities nationwide to issue temporary working permit for illegal foreign workers as part of efforts to manage them.-VNA