The government is working to send workers to Laos, a landlocked country, under a MoU system, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population Thein Swe told the media at a ceremony to open the clinic jointly run by the OSC and the Social Security Board.

“We have not dispatched workers to Laos officially yet. Plan is under way to sign the MoU (government to government). According to the reports from Myanmar embassy and Laos, there are over 40,000 illegal migrant workers in Laos. The foreign affairs ministry is negotiating with Laos in order that workers can enjoy more benefits and protection when they go there officially,” he added.

The ministry has urged Myanmar workers to go abroad officially. Currently, Myanmar sends MoU workers to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Japan, UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Macao.