Officials check 13 fish farms run by Chinese
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Crackdown on foreigners working without proper permits in capital
Vientiane authorities will take steps to regulate the nine illegal fish farms run by Chinese in Xaythany following a visit to the district by the committee overseeing foreigners in the capital.
Chinese reportedly operate 13 fish farms in the district, but only four farm operators could produce legal documents, deputy director of the Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department Naenthong Leumaisone said yesterday.
Nine other farms have been reported as being run by Chinese citizens, who are using licences that carry the names of Lao people.
Naenthong said many of these Chinese did not attend the meeting with the committee last week as asked to show their documents.
Deputy mayor of Vientiane Saithong Keoduangdy, who chaired the meeting, asked district officials to persuade the Chinese fish farmers to present their documents by Feb 28.
“Those who refuse to show us the documents relating to their operations will have their businesses seized beginning on March 1,” Naenthong said, citing the instruction.
The Chinese fish farmers are required to have proper documents in their own names in order to carry out their business.
Those failing to fulfil the formal legal requirements would not be allowed to remain in Laos.
Some of those operating fish farms in Xaythany initially entered Laos for other purposes, such as working at Sang Chieng Chinese shopping centre or on development projects.
Saithong asked district officials to ensure that they return to their original places of work.
The deputy mayor suggested district officials should recheck reports some Lao people had bought large plots of land to be used as fish farms, after being paid by the Chinese. If they found this to be true, he asked the authorities to pursue the matter.
Officials warned Lao people it is illegal to give fish farm licences to foreigners. District officials were told to look into the matter and resolve it.
Vientiane is launching a scheme to regulate illegal foreign workers. More than 6,400 foreigners – mostly from Vietnam and China – are reported to live in the capital. But only 1,624 have work permits, while the rest work and run businesses illegally.
Foreigners working in Laos without a work permit and other documents will be allowed to obtain such if their workplace or employer can certify them and facilitate the procedures required.
Foreigners presently working as hawkers, nail cutters, beauticians, scrap metal collectors or vegetable and seafood vendors in markets or doing other informal work will be sent back to their country of origin.
