Laos asked to facilitate the registration of its illegal migrant workers

BANGKOK, Dec 15 (TNA) --Labour Minister Adul Saengsingkeo proposes Laos set up a nationality verification centre in Thailand so that its illegal migrant workers do not have to return to their homeland for the process. The minister discussed his proposal and obstacles to bilateral cooperation on labour affairs with Lao ambassador Seng Soukhathivong. He said 71,521 Lao migrant workers registered for pink identity cards. Of them, 17,024 had their nationality verified but 54,497 others have not. Besides, 87,792 Lao workers who earlier entered Thailand illegally have yet to return to their homeland to undergo legal labour import. Pol Gen Adul proposed the Lao government set up its centre in Thailand to serve the registered illegal migrant workers so that they do not have to return to Laos for the process. The centre would be similar to such facilities of Myanmar and Cambodia in Thailand. “The Thai government is determined to solve problems concerning migrant workers but the matter also depends on the countries of origin of the people,” the labour minister said. The Lao ambassador accepted the proposal and asked the Thai government to write an official proposal and its action plan to the Lao government. (TNA)