However, Lao labour authorities expect the registration of Lao workers in Thailand to speed up under the employment cooperation agreement between the two countries. Assistance centres in Thailand were expected to register and upgrade the status of 300-400 Lao workers each day by confirming their nationality, but in reality, have only been able to process 50-100 workers daily, according to a leading Lao official. Unfortunately, many Lao workers have still not participated at numerous assistance centres in Thailand because they don’t understand the process, he said. For several years, Lao workers in Thailand have not received protection under Thai law because they have not upgraded their status. Lao workers account for about 10 percent of the 1.5 million casual labourers from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar who are employed in Thailand.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 22, 2018 07:42 UTC