Mekong Institute has launched the learning program on Labour Migration Management in the Greater Mekong Sub-region” to develop the capacity of the middle-level officials from the six GMS countries. The course provides an overview of different migration patterns, current responses globally and regionally, labour and social issues and the components and approaches of labour migration management. 

In his welcome speech, Dr. Suchat Katima, Director of Mekong Institute, noted that regional cooperation and integration cannot happen if movements of peoples in this region cannot be done freely, safely, and legally. He further stated that this intraregional movements of people is vital to the economic growth and integration in our region. Ms. Reiko Harima, Mekong Migration Network, gave the opening remarks. She recognized increasing efforts in this subregion to manage the migration of workers. According to Ms. Harima, the sub-region face such challenges in labor migration management as creating safe migration channels and multi sectoral responses, long term planning by the relevant authorities, capacity of the various government departments, and increased cooperation and coordination among countries. 

The program is sponsored by New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). This course with 18 participants from six GMS countries is jointly organized by the Mekong Institute and the Mekong Migration Network (MMN) at the MI Residential Training Center in Khon Kaen from 1 to 18 Dec 2009.