Lao PDR Advances Skills Recognition with ILO Workshop on Bricklaying and Plastering

The workshop is part of the Mutual Recognition of Skills (MRS) initiative, which aims to promote the freer movement of skilled migrant workers within ASEAN.

The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is advancing its efforts to improve national competency standards and facilitate regional labor mobility through a recent workshop focused on bricklaying and plastering skills. Held in Vientiane on July 26-27, 2024, the second "Mutual Recognition of Skills Capacity Building Workshop" was a crucial step in aligning Lao PDR's assessment procedures with international standards.

Workshop Overview

Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under its Improved Mechanisms for Skills Recognition and TVET Digitisation in ASEAN project, the workshop aimed to build capacity in Lao PDR by reviewing and enhancing its assessment procedures. A gap analysis exercise was conducted to identify areas for improvement, with the goal of meeting international standards.

Regional Cooperation

The workshop is part of the Mutual Recognition of Skills (MRS) initiative, which aims to promote the freer movement of skilled migrant workers within ASEAN. Once the identified gaps are addressed, Lao PDR will be able to implement the MRS process with Thailand, focusing on bricklaying and plastering. This initiative, supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme, seeks to improve access to decent work and equal opportunities for skilled workers across the region.

Participant Insights

Technical experts from Lao PDR's Skills Development Institute (SDI) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW) and Thailand's Department of Skill Development (DSD) under the Ministry of Labour (MOL) participated in the workshop. They, along with ILO experts, provided valuable observations and recommendations on the theoretical and practical aspects of skills testing, including venue preparation and assessment criteria.

Akiko Sakamoto, Senior Specialist in Skills and Employability at the ILO, highlighted the importance of these efforts: "During this second capacity building workshop, we witnessed the dedication of the experts from both the Skills Development Institute and the Department of Skill Development. As we approach the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration for Skills Mobility, Recognition, and Development for Migrant Workers at the 44th ASEAN Summit in October, these efforts become even more significant."

The workshop underscores Lao PDR's commitment to enhancing its skills recognition processes and its readiness for regional integration in the ASEAN labor market.