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Skills Training Provides Renewed Hope for Migrant Returnees in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Coming from a remote village in Sekong, situated in southern region of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 29-year-old Noi [Name has been changed to protect the identity] had one simple wish – to support her family and improve their living conditions.
When still in high school, despite her voracious appetite for learning, she was forced to drop out of school due to family’s financial constraints, shattering her dreams of going to college.
With not many options left but a strong determination to pursue a better life, Noi left her home and moved to Thailand. She started working in a garment factory in Bangkok, where she earned a small income of THB 3,500.
“During my time working at the factory, I was not allowed to go out. My employer restricted the number of hours we could spend outside. Although the salary was low, I was grateful that the employer at least provided us with free meals and accommodation and access to water and electricity.” she said.
After only a year of working in Thailand, a shocking news reached Noi, informing that her parents were suffering from severe health issues. Noi again had to make a hard decision, entering another turning point in her life to return to Sekong and take care of her parents.
Life after returning home wasn’t easy for Noi.
“My first year back was one of the toughest times in my life. I had to look after my family and find a new job in parallel,” Noi recounts.
“Since I didn’t get a chance to complete my high school education, I enrolled into a technical vocational college to earn a certification in agriculture. However, after not being able to find a job and remaining unemployed for a year, my savings ran out and I could not afford to complete the course.”
It was when she had lost all hope that she came across an advertisement on social media about a free skills training program being offered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“I am so thankful that I applied for this training. Not only do I have a certification in agriculture and farming techniques, but I also have a better understanding on safe and regular migration pathways and my labour rights as a migrant worker,” said Noi. “If I ever choose to work abroad in the near future, I will know how to migrate with the right documents.”
Since 2001, IOM Lao People’s Democratic Republic has been working with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to provide skills training and support job placements for migrant returnees like Noi in Lao People’s Democratic Republic – leading to smoother reintegration and enhanced opportunities.
Upon completing her agriculture course, with support from IOM, she was able to quickly secure a job at Adam Company that specialized in agriculture farming.
“Skills training and certification has given me the confidence to plan for my and my family’s future. One day, I hope to start my own farm business using the skills gained and pass this knowledge on to my family members, so that we all can work together towards achieving this dream.” Noi shared.
Noi is one of 50 migrant workers (as of December 2023) in Lao People’s Democratic Republic who have benefitted from skills development and job placement through IOM’s Poverty Reduction through Safe Migration, Skills Development and Enhanced Job Placement (PROMISE) programme, a regional initiative aimed at increasing migrant workers access to gainful employment and enhanced protection.
