VIENTIANE, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Employers in Laos should avoid hiring new foreign nationals from areas or cities where the coronavirus has been reported, authorities have advised.
Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare on Wednesday issued an announcement asking employers to follow the new rules imposed to regulate workers, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Before entering Laos, overseas workers must have their temperature checked at ports of entry and undergo any other checks imposed by the authorities, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Friday.
The ministry also told Labor and Social Welfare Departments in provinces and Vientiane capital to work with the relevant authorities before granting permission to hire foreign laborers.
The departments were also told to work in collaboration with the relevant bodies and exercise caution when sending Lao workers abroad as well as receiving them from foreign countries.
Regulating Lao and foreign workers in this regard should strictly follow guidance issued by the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the ministry said.
The ministry told employers to provide essential equipment to both local and international employees to protect them against the virus.
Employers are required to monitor their staff closely on a daily basis, and those found with flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing, sore throat, sneezing and breathing difficulties must be sent to a hospital for observation.
Lao authorities have previously warned Lao nationals not to travel to cities or areas where virus outbreaks have occurred.
The Task Force Committee told State departments to consider suspending or postponing overseas work trips by their civil servants to outbreak countries.
Lao authorities also told foreign airlines to check the temperature of their pilots, flight attendants and passengers before flying to Laos in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Laos.
As of Thursday, there were no confirmed cases of the virus in Laos, according to the report.
