VIENTIANE, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has endorsed a National Action Plan for 2026-2030 aimed at strengthening migration management, protecting migrant workers' rights and promoting safe, orderly and legal migration.
The plan was officially endorsed at a ceremony in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday, co-chaired by Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anoupharb Vongnorkeo and Tanja Pacifico, chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Laos and Thailand. More than 70 representatives from government agencies, United Nations organizations, international organizations, and other relevant sectors attended the event.
As a country of origin, transit and destination for international migrants, Laos faces growing challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border migration, particularly as people seek employment and better livelihoods abroad.
The new action plan aims to ensure that migration takes place through safe, orderly and legal channels while safeguarding migrant workers' rights, according to a report from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
Developed with support from IOM, the plan outlines nine strategic areas covering cross-cutting and sector-specific priorities. Its overarching vision is to make migration a choice rather than a necessity, while ensuring that all workers have access to decent work and social protection.
Speaking at the ceremony, Anoupharb highlighted the long-standing contribution of migration to Laos' socio-economic development. He emphasized that effective migration management is essential to strengthening human resource development and supporting sustainable economic growth. ■