"Lao fishermen return to Malaysia, despite risks", 15 July 2022

Thousands of Laotians are once again leaving their home country to work in the Malaysian fishing industry, where they are susceptible to abuse from employers...the fishermen told RFA.

The Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare estimated that about 2,000 Laotians had recently traveled to Malaysia for fishing jobs. [...].

[...] migrants are often exploited by their employers [...].

[...]

The Lao government is making efforts to protect the migrants.

Authorities are collecting information in hopes of entering into an agreement with Malaysia to allow Laos to send more workers, Anousone Khamsingsavath, the director of the Department of Labor Skill Development and Employment Service, said at an August 2021 meeting that discussed workers’ rights in Southeast Asia.

He acknowledged widespread exploitation in Malaysia’s fishing and seafood processing industries.

[...]