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	In the fiscal year 2012-2013 that ended on March 31, Lao and Thai officials provided passports and work documents for some 9,700 Lao nationals employed in Thailand - leaving another 56,000 with illegal status, the Vientiane Times reported.</div>
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	Thailand&#39;s Labour Ministry has asked officials in Laos to speed up the granting of passports to its nationals by the August deadline, and to consider extending the period granted from one to two years, said Phouvanh Chanthavong, director-general of the Lao employment department.</div>
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	//DPA</div>

Thailand asks Laos to help legalise 56,000 overseas workers

Vientiane - Thai authorities have sought Laos' help in speeding up the documentation of an estimated 56,000 Lao nationals now working in Thailand illegally, media reports said Friday.