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Article

31 Oct 2019

Author:
Long Kimmarita, The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia: Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar discuss ways to strengthen the protection of migrant workers

"Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar tackle migrant worker safety", 30 October 2019

 Minister of Interior Sar Kheng met his Lao and Myanmar counterparts … to discuss ways to strengthen the protection of migrant workers from each country.

…, Sar Kheng said after this second round of discussions to exchange ideas and experiences, that the three countries will raise the issue with Thailand, which receives the most migrant workers in the region.

“The three countries [Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar] are neighbours who have similar cultures and share borders with Thailand…

Sar Kheng said citizens from each country have the right to find a job overseas, and each government has an obligation to protect them through cooperation with migrant worker-receiving countries.

… “After reaching a consensus at this meeting, we will hold a technical-level discussion with Thailand first, and after an agreement has been reached, [leaders of] the four sides can officially meet,” he said.

Phengsavanh Thipphavongxay, head of the Secretariat of the National Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons under Laos’ Ministry of Public Security, said his government had also been facing the issue of cross-border migration.

He particularly noted the exploitation of Lao workers in Thailand…

In November 2017, Asean member states also signed a unanimous agreement and approved the Law on Protection and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers to boost the effectiveness of migration job governance.

Kristin Parco, the head of mission at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Cambodia, said the trilateral meeting was vital for the three migrant-worker-sending countries to address numerous issues.

These include human and sex trafficking and challenges faced by workers in the fishing industry, among others…