Avoid hiring foreign workers from outbreak areas: labour ministry

Employers in Laos should avoid hiring new foreign nationals from areas or cities where the coronavirus has been reported, authorities have advised
The Ministry of Labour 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.
The ministry also told Labour and Social Welfare Departments in provinces and Vientiane to work with the relevant authorities before granting permission to hire foreign labourers.
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.
The items in question include soap, handrub and masks, and must be provided free of charge.    
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.
For further information contact the Labour Management Department at Telephone No: 021 213007 or Fax: 021 213247.
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 here.   As of yesterday, there were no confirmed cases of the virus in Laos.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
(Latest Update March 13, 2020)