Day: February 27, 2023

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IOM Regional Director visit affirms solidarity with Laos ahead of ASEAN 2024 Chairmanship

Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola, Regional Director for International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Asia and the Pacific paid her first official visit to the Lao PDR with the objectives of further strengthening ongoing cooperation between IOM and the Government and affirm the ongoing provision of technical assistance on migration management and related issues as the country prepares to take on the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024. During her visit, RD Arriola met Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Phonevanh Outhavong, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Baykham Khattiya, Deputy Minister of Public Security, Pol. Maj. Gen. Khamking Phuilamanyvong to express her gratitude for the generous and continued support in coordinating the implementation of IOM programmes in Laos.

Key cooperation highlights have included the signing of the Cooperation Agreement and contributing to the development of IOM Country Strategy 2022-2026 that provides a clear strategic pathway to work within the country and enhances current and future collaborations with the Government of the Lao PDR, donours, UN agencies, and development partners in the country and the region.

Ministers Baykham Khattiya and Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune expressed their great gratitude for the strong and continuous support of the IOM to the Government of the Lao PDR in improving migration management and mainstreaming migration to the policy level with the aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

They also commended IOM’s ongoing commitment to leave no one behind and to bolster advancing the migration governance in the country through the whole-of-government and society approach.

RD Arriola also held bilateral meetings with UN Resident Coordinator Sara Sekkenes, and donors, U.S. Ambassador to Laos Peter Haymond, and Australia’s Ambassador to Laos Paul Kelly.

The meetings focussed on mutually improving migration governance in the country, contributions to the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration at the national, regional and international levels as well as the challenges the Lao PDR is facing as a landlocked county bordering five countries with regards to migration.

During her meetings, RD Arriola also reiterated IOM’s commitment to continue its close collaboration with the Government, UN agencies, and developments partners to ensure that IOM’s works are aligned with the Lao PDR’s 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) 2021-2025, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

She emphasized that IOM’s work would continue to reflect the IOM Global Strategic Results Framework and IOM’s commitments under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

“IOM stands ready to strengthen collaboration with the wider Government partners including the existing and new partners as well as relevant stakeholders to address the challenge of migration issues in the country, and in strengthening development cooperation to ensure synergies, maximize development returns, and support the Government during the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024,” said RD Arriola.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Vietnam striving to become developed, high-income country by 2050

Vietnam targets becoming a developed, high-income country with an equal, democratic, and civilised society by 2050 under the national master plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050.

The country will strive for annual GDP growth of 6.5-7.5% between 2031 and 2050, along with per capita GDP of 27,000-32,000 USD and an urbanisation rate of 70-75% by 2050.

Source: Lao News Agency

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DNFE, DVV International continue their cooperation in support of adult education in Laos

The German Adult Education Association, DVV International, supports the sustainable establishment of structures for adult education and lifelong learning in cooperation with the Ministry for Education and Sports (MOES) since the establishment of its Regional Office in Vientiane in 2009.

In its annual handover ceremony on Feb 27 with its partner department, the Department for Non-Formal Education (DNFE), the two sides affirmed their continuing commitment to their mutual objectives and signed a new partnership agreement for 2023.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Education and Sports, Dr. Phout Simmalavong, the German Ambassador Annette Knobloch and relevant officials.

At the ceremony, the DVV International handed over 1,300 diaries, 1,000 calendars and 300 DVN newsletters were handed over to DNFE. The handing over certificate was signed by Deputy Director of the Department, Ms Philany Phissamay and Regional Director for Southeast Asia of DVV International, Dr. Johann Heilmann.

The two sides further signed an agreement on the activities that will be carried out with financial support from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development in 2023.

These activities will focus on the implementation of the Decree for Lifelong Learning, further strengthening of the structures of the non-formal education system and the piloting of adult education approaches benefitting especially women in rural and remote areas.

Dr. Phout Simmalavong congratulated the two partners and expressed his wish that the comprehensive concept of lifelong learning will further take root in the Lao PDR.

German Ambassador, Mrs Annette Knobloch, stressed the importance of adult and non-formal education as well as the contribution of DVW International to German development cooperation.

She also pointed to the fact that in the beginning of this year 65 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Laos will be celebrated. In his statement, Dr. Johann Heilmann highlighted the need to really focus on the most urgent priorities in order to really meet the needs of the most disadvantaged target groups.

The ceremony was preceded by the launch of an adult education publication of DVV International in Lao language. It is an assembled work of publications on adult learning and education that have been translated into Lao to make them available for a large audience in the Lao PDR. It includes such important texts as the UNESCO Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education.

Using this publication as a powerful instrument to further disseminate the concept of adult education, DVV International and the DNFE will continue to work in the current three-year project phase from 2021 to 2023. Further partners contributing to the project are the Faculty of Education of the National University of Laos, the Non-Formal Education Development Centre and the Rural Development Agency, according to Regional Director for Southeast Asia of DVV International, Dr. Johann Heilmann.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Government’s monthly meeting considers key issues

The government’s monthly meeting for February discussed key issues including the addressing of issues related to exchange rates and inflation, goods price management, promotion of dry season production, and the launch of Visit Laos Year 2023-2024.

Held on Feb 24 under the presidency of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, the cabinet’s monthly meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers and ministers in face to face mode and provincial governors in virtual mode.

The meeting urged relevant authorities at central and provincial levels to continue to play an active role in addressing obstacles to the socio-economic development including the facilitation of trade, investment, transport, tourism, goods production, the repayment of investment projects through banking system, preparation for Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN Summit in 2024, Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Office and Government Spokesperson Thipphakone Chanthavongsa told the media on Feb 24.

The meeting approved in principles a draft decree on national parks and considered a draft law on administration. It asked the Prime Minister’s Office to circulate a letter to all cabinet members so that they can make comments on the draft.

Addressing drug issues will continue to be a priority for next month, along with stabilisation of economy and finance to avoid slipping into crisis as well as the implementation the socio-economic development plan, state budget plan, monetary plan and the two national agendas on addressing economic and financial and drug issues.

Relevant authorities were asked to attach attention to the modernization of revenue collection, improve fee collection mechanisms in the land sector.

The meeting also urged relevant authorities to continue to reform state enterprises, according to the reform plan of the government, restructure the debts of state enterprises, ensure regular supply of fuel and find the root cause of price fluctuation so that prompt measures can be taken.

Relevant authorities were asked to prepare for the 14th Lao Business Forum, continue to promote the export of agricultural produce and remove obstacles to export of agricultural products and monitor road and airport construction projects.

Relevant sectors were also asked to attach attention to devising legal instruments on the management of freight containers for international and cross-border transport and prepare for cross-border passenger transport between Laos and China to accommodate increasing number of tourists, and take into account measures for addressing labour shortage, especially in investment projects.

Relevant authorities were also asked to implement the results of the visits of high-ranking officials to China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and prepare for leaders’ participation in major meetings with respect to the Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN Summit in 2024.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Laos, R. Korea discuss Lao worker export to Korea

Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Phongsaisack Inthalath met with President of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) Uh Soo Bong to discuss the export of Lao workers to the Republic of Korea under Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) and labour skills training.

The export of workers under EPS is the cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of the Lao PDR and the Ministry of Employment and Labour of the Republic of Korea as the two countries signed an MoU on exporting Lao workers to Korea under EPS in September 2016.

Under EPS, foreign workers need to pass tests on Korean language and interviews and be selected by Korean employers.

Those passing the tests must learn Korean culture and Korean language for 45 hours, be trained, have health examinations and seek permission from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

EPS allows foreign workers to work in Korea for three years. The workers can renew the contract for another one year and ten months. Once returning to the Lao PDR, they can also reapply for employment opportunities in Korea.

Since 2018, more than 1,100 Lao workers including 79 females, have been exported to the Republic of Korea under its EPS mechanism.

Lao PDR faces several difficulties in term of exporting workers to Korea. Workers need to be tested for Korean language and key skills. Meanwhile, most workers in provinces are poor and find it difficult to access Korean language class. Data on workers who have completed, renewed contracts or who have had contracts revoked are yet to be properly kept.

Less female workers are chosen compared to their male counterparts.

Many employers cannot expect their workers to arrive in Korea in time as this time is a peak season for tourism. Most seats have been reserved for Korean visitors so few seats can be arranged for Lao workers.

Deputy Minister asked the Human Resources Development Service of Korea to strengthen cooperation on the exchange of information especially the information on those who have completed, renewed contracts and have their contracts revoked and to consider the provision of assistance to Lao workers, especially in case they have disputes with their employers or need to change jobs.

He also asked Korean employers to hire more female workers and increase EPS quota for Laos from 500 to 2,000 per year.

Source: Lao News Agency