Labour and Social Welfare
In compliance with Labour Laws, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has made efforts to gradually organise and regulate the labour force. Workers at production units are protected by the party in coordination with the State and employers in order to prevent and counter illegal activities, such as the use of child and bonded labour. In order to promote employment for Lao people of all ethnic groups, which is suitable to people’s abilities and needs, the Ministry has set up artisan skills development centres to train people in key vocations. At present there are 103 centres around the country that have trained 500,000 people. Moreover, some labourers have been sent to train and gain work experience abroad.
Even though social welfare is new to the Lao PDR, it has achieved important successes, particularly in the areas of pensions, death allowances, hospitalisation allowances, help for the handicapped, maternity leave with pay, supply of artificial body parts and others. The Government has promoted the social security system to those who work for enterprises. To date, there are 228 business units that have joined the social security system and 23,397 labourers are covered.
The Government has also been working on helping victims of national disasters and resettlement. On average, five billion kip has been allocated to victims each year.
Attention has also been paid to the aging, isolated, unprivileged, disabled and orphans. Many associations have been established to see to the needs of such people, including the National Disabled People’s Association, the Aging People’s Association, the National Committee for Orphans, the National Committee for Disabled People and Lao SOS. Currently, there are five SOS centres in the country. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Security and the Personnel Board of the Party Central Committee, established the Federation of Veterans, a mass organisation at the central level that plays a large role in looking after veterans. Those who contribute to the country have been guaranteed their material and spiritual needs, based on their real conditions. On average, the Government injects at least one billion kip into this sector each year.