More than 3,800 Vietnamese people migrate and marry without legal status in 3 provinces of Laos

(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, there are 198 Lao people migrating and getting married without legal marriage in the border area of ​​Nghe An province; 589 households/3,801 Vietnamese people migrating and getting married without legal marriage in the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay (Laos).

This information was given at the Conference on resolving spontaneous migration and unregistered marriages in the border areas of Vietnam and Laos, jointly organized by the joint expert team of Nghe An province (Vietnam) and the joint expert team of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay provinces (Laos) in Vinh City on April 19.

Delegates from Vietnam and Laos offer flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Monument at the Square named after him. Photo: Phuong Linh

According to unilateral statistics of the provinces, there are currently a total of 198 Lao people migrating and marrying without legal marriage in the border area of ​​Nghe An province; there are a total of 589 households/3,801 Vietnamese people migrating and marrying without legal marriage in the areas of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay provinces (Laos).

Of which, migration to Hua Phan province is 20 households/163 people, migration to Xieng Khouang province is 82 households/526 people, migration to Bolikhamxay province is 487 households/3,112 people.

However, the two sides have not yet conducted a bilateral review and comparison of these figures. The implementation process still faces some difficulties such as: extremely rugged terrain, sparse population, scattered in many areas; the situation of changing names and surnames when migrating to other countries has caused many difficulties for joint expert teams to conduct investigations, surveys, verifications, statistics, and classifications.

Representatives of the joint expert groups agreed to cooperate closely to resolve the issue of illegal immigrants and unregistered marriages on schedule. Photo: Phuong Linh

At the conference, the two sides agreed to set out the direction for the coming time: The joint expert team of the four provinces will continue to effectively implement the next steps in the investigation, verification, classification and listing of spontaneous migrants and unregistered marriages to submit to the competent authorities of the provincial pairs for consideration and request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit to the Governments of the two countries for consideration and decision.

Continue to complete the investigation, survey, classification and list of migrants and unregistered marriages in your province, then conduct bilateral investigations between the pairs of provinces. After completing the bilateral investigation, both sides agree to compile a list and report to the competent authorities of their provinces to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit to the Head of the border delegation of the two countries for approval.

Advise local authorities to step up propaganda and mobilization work among the people so that people (especially in border areas) understand the contents of the Agreement between the two governments of Vietnam and Laos on resolving the situation of spontaneous migrants and unregistered marriages, effectively implement the guidelines, policies and laws of the Party and State, and create all conditions to help returning migrants quickly integrate into the community and stabilize their lives.

Comrade Le Xuan Dai - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee presented a souvenir to Lao friends. Photo: Phuong Linh

Concluding the conference, comrade Le Xuan Dai - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee requested the Government Committees of the three Lao provinces and the joint expert team of the four provinces to actively and urgently carry out the work according to the set schedule, in order to effectively resolve the issue of migrants and unregistered marriages in the border areas between the two countries.

At the same time, during the implementation process, ensure the correct content of the agreement, continuously strengthen and consolidate the special solidarity and friendship between Nghe An province and the provinces of Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang and Bolikhamxay (Laos).

Phuong Linh

April 19, in Vinh City,