DECENT WORK COUNTRY PROGRAMME FOR LAO PDR · Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2017–2021 The...
Transcript of DECENT WORK COUNTRY PROGRAMME FOR LAO PDR · Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2017–2021 The...
Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP)
2017–2021
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)
May 2017
Memorandum of understandingWhereas the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the undersigned workers’ and employers’ organizations, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), represented by the International Labor Office (referred collectively as Parties), wish to collaborate in order to promote and advance decent work in Lao PDR.
Now therefore, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1The Parties affirm their commitment to collaborate in the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP).
The following are agreed as priorities of the DWCP:Priority 1: Promote employment and technical/vocational skills development in line with market demand;Priority 2: Promote ratification and implementation of international labour standards; Priority 3: Strengthen and expand social protection; Priority 4: Strengthen tripartite cooperation and social dialogue.
2The ILO agrees to assist in mobilization of resources and to provide technical cooperation in the implementation of the DWCP, subject to its rules, regulations, directives and procedures, the availability of funds and conditions to be agreed upon in writing.
3In relation to the DWCP and to any related activities of the ILO in the country, the Government will apply, to the Organization, its personnel and any person designated by the ILO to participate in the ILO activities, the provisions of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies and its Annex I relating to the ILO, to which Lao PDR has acceded on 9 August 1960.
4This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) may be modified by agreement between the Parties.
5Nothing in or relating to this MOU shall be construed as a constituting a waiver of privileges and immunities enjoyed by the ILO.
For and on behalf of the Government
For and on behalf of Workers’ organization
H.E. Mme. Baykham KATTIYAVice Minister Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare30th May 2017
H.E. Dr. Kikeo CHANTHABOURYVice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment30th May 2017
H.E. Mr. Symoun OUNLASYVice President of Lao Federation of Trade Unions30th May 2017
Mr. Maurizio BUSSIDirector of Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR30th May 2017
Mr. Daovone PHACHANTHAVONGVice President Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry30th May 2017
For and on behalf of the International Labour Office
For and on behalf of Employers’ organization
6The DWCP is attached to this MOU. In the event that the terms contained in the DWCP document are incompatible with the terms of this MOU, including the provisions referenced in article 3, then the latter shall govern and prevail.
7 The original of the MOU has been written and signed in English. If this MOU is translated into another language, the English version shall govern and prevail.
This MOU, superseding all communications on this matter between the Parties, shall enter into force with effect from its signature by the authorized representatives of the Parties.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–2021IV
Table of contentsEndorsement of the DWCP VI
Executive summary VI
Lao PDR DWCP at a glance X
Acronyms and abbreviations XII
1. Status of Lao PDR ratification of international labour Conventions 1
2. National development framework 2
2.1. 8th National Social and Economic Development Plan 2016–2020 (NSEDP) 2
2.2. Key laws, strategies and national plans relevant to the DWCP 3
2.3. Development partnerships complement national efforts 4
2.4. Comparative ILO advantages 4
3. Advancing the Decent Work Agenda: Challenges and opportunities 5
3.1. Population dynamics provide basis for “democratic dividend” 5
3.2. Foundations for transition from least developed country status 6
3.3. Addressing poverty and inequality 7
3.4. Workforce profile shows majority are unpaid family or own-account workers 7
3.5. ASEAN integration brings challenges and opportunities 9
3.6. Workforce vulnerability levels high 9
3.7. International labour migrants face decent work challenges 10
3.8. Vocational skills development a cornerstone of socio-economic development 10
3.9. Progress with gender equality and empowering women and girls, but challenges remain 12
3.10. Social protection expansion and strengthening key to addressing poverty 13
3.11. Strengthening social dialogue mechanisms and capacities an underlying priority 13
4. Overall programme goal and strategy 16
5. Programme priorities, strategies, outcomes, indicators and targets 19
6. Cross-cutting programme drivers 41
7. Tripartite architecture in Lao PDR 42
8. Cross-DWCP synergies and linkages 43
9. Knowledge sharing 43
V
10. Resourcing DWCP implementation 44
11. Key DWCP partnerships 45
12. DWCP management and implementation framework 46
12.1. Collaboration between ILO and national constituents 46
12.2. Government-social partner coordination 46
12.3. Internal ILO oversight and coordination 46
13. Advocacy and communications 47
14. Monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting 48
15. Risk analysis and management 49
References 51
Annexes: Key documents for implementation of the DWCP 2017–2021 53
Annex I: DWCP assumptions and risks framework 53
Annex II: Terms of reference 60
Annex III: Lessons learned from previous DWCP experience 63
Annex IV: DWCP results framework 65
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–2021VI
Endorsement of the DWCPThe 2017–21 DWCP for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) provides a five-year framework for cooperation between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the national constituents (the Lao PDR Government and employers’ and workers’ organizations). The document represents the outcome of consultations that culminated in a final tripartite endorsement in Vientiane on 3 March 2017. It reflects the priorities of the national constituents as well as findings of a review of the DWCP 2011–15 and an analysis of decent work trends, opportunities and challenges in Lao PDR.
Executive summaryLao PDR’s strategic development directions are set out in the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2016–20 (NSEDP), the overarching policy framework within which the ILO DWCP 2017–21 will be implemented. In turn, the NSEDP aligns to the Lao PDR Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2016–25, the Lao PDR Vision 2030 and the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs).
A majority of the 8th NSEDP targets are closely linked to the SDGs.These reflect the Decent Work Agenda, in particular through SDG Goal 8 regarding the promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
The Lao PDR-United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPF) 2017–2021 reflects these strategic directions and sets out the priorities for the UN system in Lao PDR as a whole, including with respect to implementation of the Decent Work Agenda within which the ILO plays a key role.
Underpinning the ILO engagement are relevant outcomes set out in its Programme and Budget 2018–191 as well as international labour Conventions, resolutions and recommendations adopted jointly by governments, employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations through the International Labour Conference (ILC) and other international forums. Prominent among these is the landmark ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008). This affirms ILO values and the ILO’s key role in helping to achieve progress and social justice in the context of globalization. The Declaration promotes decent work through a coordinated approach to achieving four strategic objectives: employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work. As reaffirmed in the 2016 resolution on Advancing Social Justice through Decent Work, gender equality and non-discrimination
1. International Labour Organization, The Director-General’s Programme and Budget Proposals for 2018-19 (GB.329/PFA/1), Geneva, as presented to the 329th Session of the ILO Governing Body, Geneva, 9-24 March, 2017
VII
are crosscutting components of the ILO’s strategic objectives. These principles are also key to ensuring that no one is left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
At the regional level, key policy frameworks supporting the ILO’s partnership with national constituents to promote decent work priorities in Lao PDR include the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN (2016) and the Bali Declaration adopted by the 16th ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, Bali, Indonesia, 6–9 December 2016.
Lao PDR has in recent years seen strong economic growth, which has contributed, albeit from a low base, to reduced poverty levels and improved living standards. This growth has been accompanied by an ongoing but still fragile development of labour market institutions. At the same time, significant decent work challenges remain, particularly those related to high levels of vulnerability and informality, as well as to low skill levels in an economy still dominated by the agricultural sector, despite recent (slow) expansion of the industrial and service sectors.
By implementing the current NSEDP, the Lao PDR Government aims to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status by 2020 and to consolidate regional and international integration in the context of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Progress has been made in meeting the three criteria for LDC graduation, particularly with respect to income levels, but major areas remain to be addressed, particularly with respect to economic vulnerability, where expanding and strengthening social protection will be a key priority.
In the medium-term, a “demographic dividend” presents the country with a major opportunity in terms of a rapidly expanding, youthful working population. In 2015, the total dependency ratio was 57 persons for every 100 persons of working age, down from 77 in 20052. This long-term population dynamic offers the potential for savings from a reduced social services burden to pave the way for more investment in inclusive socio-economic development. However, the full benefits of the demographic dividend will only be realized if new jobs keep pace with the growth of the working age population and if young women and men are better equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge.
Building on progress and lessons from the previous DWCP period, this DWCP targets strategic areas that will support Lao PDR in addressing its decent work challenges, while taking advantage of opportunities available through developments such as ASEAN integration and the demographic dividend. The major strategic deliverables of the programme between 2017 and 2021 will include the development and initial implementation of national strategies for rural employment and social protection.
Although the ILO is a non-resident agency in Lao PDR, since the late 1980s it has been engaged in supporting national development in a range of key areas related to the Decent Work Agenda. During the 2011–15 period, the ILO supported its tripartite constituents in achieving significant progress in the development of national policies, laws and decrees, strategies, action plans, institutional mechanisms and capacities for implementation of decent work commitments.
The DWCP 2017-2021 was developed through intensive consultations between the ILO and its national constituents during 2016 and early 2017. It represents the joint commitments of the
2 Lao Bureau of Statistics (2016). Lao PDR 4th national population and housing census, 2015, http://lsb.gov.la/en/index.php [accessed 4 May, 2017].
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–2021VIII
ILO and the tripartite partners to support the implementation of targeted components of the above-listed international and national development frameworks. Among other things, the DWCP has benefited from the “My World of Work” survey (2015) involving ILO and national constituent identification of perceptions and aspirations related to the Decent Work Agenda among the Lao PDR population.
Implementation of the DWCP will be supported by a mix of financial and human resources from the national constituents, the ILO and development cooperation projects supported by international development partners. National constituents will continue to work together to strengthen local ownership of DWCP initiatives and outcomes and to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. The DWCP will be conducted and regularly updated in line with the Bali Declaration, constituent needs and progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–2021X
Lao
PDR
DW
CP a
t a g
lanc
e
Cros
s-cu
tting
them
es
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ratifi
catio
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of in
tern
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bour
st
anda
rds.
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gue
and
trip
artit
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ation
, w
ith a
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par
ticip
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mm
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all
natio
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tuen
ts.
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qual
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clud
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thro
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deve
lopm
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licy
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.
Non
-disc
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ation
in
clud
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on th
e ba
sis o
n et
hnic
ity a
nd d
isabi
lity.
Prom
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of
envi
ronm
enta
lly
sust
aina
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wor
ld o
f wor
k.
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nsio
n of
nati
onal
la
ws,
pol
icie
s, st
rate
gies
an
d se
rvic
es to
loca
l lev
els
and
info
rmal
sect
or.
Tech
nica
l and
insti
tutio
nal
capa
city
dev
elop
men
t.
Effec
tive
part
ners
hips
for
resu
lts.
Deve
lopm
ent
coop
erati
on p
roje
cts
(Con
firm
ed a
s of 1
May
20
17)
Nati
onal
Rur
al
Empl
oym
ent S
trat
egy
in L
ao P
DR to
war
ds
incr
easin
g op
port
uniti
es
for d
ecen
t and
pr
oduc
tive
empl
oym
ent
in ru
ral a
reas
. Fun
ding
co
ntrib
uted
by
Swiss
Ag
ency
for D
evel
opm
ent
and
Coop
erati
on (S
DC),
2017
-202
0
Trip
artit
e Ac
tion
to
Enha
nce
the
Cont
ributi
on
of L
abou
r Mig
ratio
n to
Gr
owth
and
Dev
elop
men
t in
ASE
AN P
roje
ct
(TRI
ANGL
E II)
: Fun
ded
by
Gove
rnm
ent o
f Aus
tral
ia
2015
-202
5
Impr
ovin
g th
e Ga
rmen
t Se
ctor
in th
e La
o PD
R:
Com
plia
nce
thro
ugh
Insp
ectio
n an
d Di
alog
ue
Proj
ect:
Fund
ed b
y W
orld
Ban
k Tr
ust F
und
(con
clud
es 2
017)
Lao
PDR
natio
nal d
evel
opm
ent f
ram
ewor
ks
• La
o PD
R Vi
sion
2030
/Sus
tain
able
Dev
elop
men
t Goa
ls•
Lao
PDR
Soci
o-Ec
onom
ic D
evel
opm
ent S
trat
egy
2016
-202
5•
Actio
n Pl
an fo
r Vie
ntian
e De
clar
ation
on
Tran
sition
from
Info
rmal
Em
ploy
men
t to
Form
al E
mpl
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owar
ds D
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k Pr
omoti
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ASE
AN•
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DPs 8
, 9 a
nd 1
0 (in
clud
ing
elig
ibili
ty fo
r LDC
gra
duati
on in
202
0)•
Lao
PDR-
UN
Par
tner
ship
Fra
mew
ork
(UN
PF) 2
017-
2021
DWCP
Goa
l: In
crea
sed
dece
nt w
ork
for i
nclu
sive
and
sust
aina
ble
deve
lopm
ent i
n La
o PD
R th
roug
h em
ploy
men
t cr
eatio
n, te
chni
cal/
voca
tiona
l ski
lls d
evel
opm
ent,
labo
ur st
anda
rds,
soci
al p
rote
ction
and
soci
al d
ialo
gue.
Prio
rity
1: P
rom
ote
empl
oym
ent a
nd te
chni
cal/
vo
catio
nal s
kills
dev
elop
men
t in
line
with
mar
ket
dem
and
Prio
rity
2: P
rom
ote
ratifi
catio
n an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of
inte
rnati
onal
labo
ur st
anda
rds
Prio
rity
3 St
reng
then
and
exp
and
soci
al p
rote
ction
Out
com
e 1.
1In
crea
sed
num
ber o
f rel
evan
t pol
icy
fram
ewor
ks,
stra
tegi
es a
nd re
gula
tions
for c
reati
ng d
ecen
t job
s in
rura
l are
as
Out
com
e 2.
1In
crea
sed
qual
ity o
f lab
our
stan
dard
s and
pro
tecti
on
thro
ugh
Labo
ur L
aw
impl
emen
tatio
n.
Out
com
e 3.
1N
ation
al S
ocia
l Pro
tecti
on S
trat
egy
and
new
soci
al tr
ansf
er ta
x- fu
nded
pr
ogra
mm
es d
evel
oped
, ado
pted
an
d im
plem
ente
d.
Out
com
e 1.
2In
crea
sed
dece
nt a
nd p
rodu
ctive
em
ploy
men
t thr
ough
(i)
impr
oved
mat
chin
g of
jobs
eeke
rs a
nd la
bour
mar
ket
requ
irem
ents
; (ii)
ent
repr
eneu
rshi
p de
velo
pmen
t for
w
omen
, men
and
you
th; a
nd (i
ii) d
evel
opm
ent o
f pol
icy
and
lega
l ins
trum
ents
to su
ppor
t saf
e la
bour
mig
ratio
n.
Out
com
e 1.
3In
crea
sed
polic
y ca
paci
ty, c
ompe
tenc
y st
anda
rds,
and
ce
rtific
ation
and
acc
redi
tatio
n ar
rang
emen
ts to
supp
ort
prom
otion
of t
echn
ical
/voc
ation
al sk
ills f
or w
omen
, m
en a
nd y
outh
.
Out
com
e 2.
2In
crea
sed
ratifi
catio
n an
d ap
plic
ation
of i
nter
natio
nal
labo
ur c
onve
ntion
s.
Out
com
e 3.
2In
crea
sed
acce
ss fo
r wor
kers
an
d fa
mili
es to
soci
al p
rote
ction
be
nefit
s, in
clud
ing
soci
al h
ealth
pr
otec
tion
Cros
s-cu
tting
prio
rity
4: S
tren
gthe
n tr
ipar
tite
coop
erati
on a
nd so
cial
dia
logu
e
Out
com
e 4.
1In
crea
sed
qual
ity o
f trip
artit
e co
oper
ation
and
soci
al
dial
ogue
thro
ugh
impr
oved
mec
hani
sms.
Out
com
e 4.
2In
crea
sed
empl
oyer
’s ca
paci
ty
to a
dvan
ce D
ecen
t Wor
k ag
enda
and
soci
al d
ialo
gue
Out
com
e 4.
3In
crea
sed
wor
kers
’ cap
acity
to
adva
nce
Dece
nt W
ork
agen
da a
nd
soci
al d
ialo
gue
XI
Dece
nt w
ork
chal
leng
es
Mor
e an
d be
tter j
obs –
form
alizi
ng
empl
oym
ent &
max
imisi
ng d
emog
raph
ic
divi
dend
Addr
essin
g vu
lner
abili
ty, s
tren
gthe
ning
&
expa
ndin
g so
cial
pro
tecti
on (i
nclu
ding
as p
art
of L
DC g
radu
ation
pro
cess
)
Addr
essin
g in
equa
lities
– g
ende
r, et
hnic
ity,
disa
bilit
y, u
rban
/rur
alSt
reng
then
ing
soci
al d
ialo
gue
via
impr
oved
m
echa
nism
s & n
ation
al c
onsti
tuen
t cap
aciti
es
Alig
nmen
t of t
he D
WCP
to k
ey n
ation
al a
nd in
tern
ation
al d
evel
opm
ent f
ram
ewor
ks (s
ee R
esul
ts F
ram
ewor
k fo
r fur
ther
ela
bora
tion)
8th
NSE
DP o
utco
mes
Sust
aina
ble
Deve
lopm
ent G
oals
Lao
PDR-
UN
PF 2
017–
21
ILO
pro
gram
me
and
budg
et
outc
omes
(201
8- 1
9)Ba
li De
clar
ation
(201
6): I
LO
Actio
ns
Out
com
e 1
(eco
nom
ic):
Stro
ng e
cono
mic
foun
datio
n an
d re
duci
ng e
cono
mic
vul
nera
bilit
y.
Out
com
e 2
(soc
ial):
Hu
man
reso
urce
dev
elop
men
t, po
vert
y re
ducti
on, a
cces
s to
qual
ity
educ
ation
and
hea
lth se
rvic
es,
prot
ectio
n an
d de
velo
pmen
t of t
he
uniq
ue n
ation
al c
ultu
re.
Out
com
e 3
(env
ironm
enta
l):Eff
ectiv
ely
prot
ect t
he n
atur
al
envi
ronm
ent w
hile
usin
g its
re
sour
ces i
n lin
e w
ith g
reen
and
su
stai
nabl
e di
recti
ons;
pre
pare
to
cop
e eff
ectiv
ely
with
nat
ural
di
sast
ers a
nd c
limat
e ch
ange
.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity,
par
ticul
arly
Tar
get 1
.3
on n
ation
ally
app
ropr
iate
soci
al
prot
ectio
n sy
stem
s and
mea
sure
s fo
r all.
Goa
l 4: Q
ualit
y ed
ucati
on/li
felo
ng
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: G
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er
wom
en a
nd g
irls.
Goa
l 8: F
ull a
nd p
rodu
ctive
em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for
all,
parti
cula
rly th
e fo
llow
ing:
Targ
et 8
.3: D
ecen
t job
s en
trep
rene
ursh
ip, f
orm
aliza
tion
and
MSM
Es.
Targ
et 8
.5: F
ull p
rodu
ctive
and
de
cent
wor
k fo
r all,
incl
udin
g yo
uth
and
pers
ons w
ith d
isabi
lities
, and
eq
ual p
ay fo
r wor
k of
equ
al v
alue
.
Targ
et 8
.7: E
limin
ation
of t
he w
orst
fo
rms o
f chi
ld la
bour
.
Targ
et 8
: Pro
tecti
on o
f lab
our
right
s and
OSH
, inc
ludi
ng m
igra
nt
wor
kers
.
Out
com
e 1:
By
202
1, a
ll w
omen
and
men
hav
e in
crea
sed
oppo
rtun
ities
for d
ecen
t liv
elih
oods
and
jobs
.
Out
com
e 2:
M
ore
peop
le h
ave
acce
ss to
soci
al
prot
ectio
n be
nefit
s, in
par
ticul
ar
vuln
erab
le g
roup
s and
the
poor
.
Out
com
e 4:
Ch
ildre
n an
d yo
uth
enjo
y be
tter
acce
ss to
incl
usiv
e an
d eq
uita
ble
qual
ity b
asic
edu
catio
n an
d vo
catio
nal s
kills
.
Out
com
e 8:
Pe
ople
enj
oy im
prov
ed a
cces
s to
justi
ce a
nd fu
lfilm
ent o
f the
ir hu
man
righ
ts.
Out
com
e 1:
M
ore
and
bette
r job
s for
incl
usiv
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Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–2021XII
Acronyms and abbreviationsABND Assessment-Based National Dialogue
ADB Asian Development Bank
AEC Asian Economic Community
AQRF ASEAN Qualifications Regional Framework
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
CBED Community-Based Enterprise Development
CEACR Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations
CO-BKK Country Office – Bangkok (ILO)
DTC DWCP Tripartite Committee
DWCP Decent Work Country Programme
DWCP MEWG DWCP M&E Working Group
DWT Decent Work Team
ESC employment services centre
ESJC employment services job centre
EVI economic vulnerability index
GDP gross domestic product
GMS Greater Mekong Subregion
GNI gross national income
HAI human assets index
HIV/AIDS human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ICT information and communications technology
ILC International Labour Conference
ILO International Labour Organization
IT information technology
KAB Know About Business
LAK Laotian currency (Lao kip)
LDC least developed country
LFS Labour Force Survey
LFTU Lao Federation of Trade Unions
XIII
LMI labour market information
LNCCI Lao Chamber of Commerce and Industry
LSCO Standard Classification of Occupations
LWU Lao Women’s Union
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
M&E monitoring and evaluation
MfDR Results-based Management
MoES Ministry of Education and Sports
MoLSW Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
MOU memorandum of understanding
MPI Ministry of Planning and Investment
MoLSW Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
MRC Migrant Resource Centre
MRS mutual recognition of skills
MSMEs micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
NCAW National Commission for Advancement of Women
NGO non-governmental organization
NHIB National Health Insurance Bureau
NPA National Plan of Action
NRES National Rural Employment Strategy
NSEDP National Socio-Economic Development Plan
NSPS National Social Protection Strategy
NSSF National Social Security Fund
NTC National Training Council
NTC National Tripartite Committee
PES public employment services
PPP purchasing power parity
OSH occupational safety and health
RBM Managing for Development Results
RBSA Regular Budget Supplementary Account
RBTC Regular Budget Technical Cooperation
ROAP Regional Office Asia-Pacific
SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–2021XIV
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
SMEs small and medium-sized enterprises
SSC South-South cooperation
SSO social security organization
TC technical cooperation
TRIANGLE Tripartite Action to Protect Migrants within and from the Greater Mekong Subregion from Labour Exploitation
TTC (IR) Technical Tripartite Committee on Industrial Relations
TVET technical and vocational education and training
UN-OHRLLS UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
UNPD United Nations Partnership Framework
UXO Unexploded ordnance
VZF Vision Zero Fund
WTO World Trade Organization
XB extra-budgetary (resources)
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–20211
1. Status of Lao PDR ratification of international labour Conventions
Lao PDR has ratified the following international labour Conventions:
• Forced Labour, 1930 (No. 029), C029; ratified 23 January, 1964.• Night Work of Young Persons, 1919 (No. 6), C006; ratified 23 January, 1964.• White Lead (Painting), 1921 (No. 13), C013; ratified 26 January, 1964.• Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182), C182; ratified 13 June, 2005.• Equal Remuneration, 1951 (No. 100), C100; ratified 13 June, 2008.• Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958 (No. 111); C111; ratified 13
June, 2008.• Minimum Age, 1973 (No. 138), C138; ratified 13 June, 2008.• Tripartite Consultation, 1976 (No. 144), C144; ratified 29 October, 2010.• Night Work (Women): Denounced 2014, C004; ratified 23 January, 1964. Denounced
4 June, 2014.• Night Work, 1990 (No. 171), C171; ratified 4 June, 2014.
Sources: International Labour Organization, NORMLEX Information System on International Labour Standards, Available at http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:1:0::NO:RP:: [accessed 15 May. 2017].
2
2. National development framework
The DWCP represents the joint commitment of ILO and the national constituents of Lao PDR to implement the decent work-related elements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Lao PDR’s national development framework. There follow the core elements of the national development framework to which DWCP priorities and outcomes are directly linked.
2.1 8th National Social and Economic Development Plan 2016–2020 (NSEDP)
The 8th NSEDP provides the overarching policy framework within which the ILO DWCP 2017–21 will be implemented. In turn, the NSEDP aligns to the Lao PDR Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2016–25, the Lao PDR Vision 2030 and the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). Most 8th NSEDP targets are closely linked to the SDGs.
Central to the plan is a commitment to “facilitate eligibility for graduation from least developed country (LDC) status by 2020 and to consolidate regional and international integration in the context of launching of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.”
The NSEDP aims to achieve the following three core outcomes:
Economic. Establish a strong economic foundation and reduce economic vulnerability.
Social. Develop human resources; reduce poverty; improve access to quality education and health services; protect and develop the unique culture of the nation .
Environmental. Effectively protect the natural environment while using it in line with green and sustainable directions; prepare to cope effectively with natural disasters and climate change.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–20213
Outputs of direct relevance to the DWCP 2017–21 include the following:
• Outcome 1, Output 1. Ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth,• Outcome 1, Output 5. Improve public/private labour force capacity,• Outcome 1, Output 6. Local entrepreneurs are competitive in domestic and
international markets.3 • Outcome 2, Output 1. Improved living standards through poverty reduction
using Sam Sang-oriented directions (including the following Target: ‘To formulate a national rural employment strategy that concentrates on designing strategies, methods and programmes which create jobs and income in rural areas’).4
• Outcome 2, Output 5. Extended access to social protection.• Cross-cutting Output 8.21.2. Promote and develop gender equality, juveniles and
youth.
2.2 Key laws, strategies and national plans relevant to the DWCP
A number of Lao PDR laws, decrees, strategies and plans provide further key reference points for DWCP planning and implementation. These include the following:
• Labour Law (2014)• Law on Social Security (2013)• Women and Child Protection Law (2004)• Amended education law (with compulsory education until lower secondary education),
2016• Draft Prime Ministerial Decree on Occupational Safety and Health (2017)• Draft Prime Ministerial Decree on Labour Dispute Resolution (2017)• Prime Ministerial Decree on National Action Plan for Prevention and Elimination of Child
Labour (2015)• Ministerial Decision on Labour Inspection (2016)• Ministerial Decision on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and skills
development (2011) • TVET Law (2013)• 2020 Vision for Women’s Advancement• Strategic Plan for Gender Equality 2016–25 and Gender Equality Development Plan
2016–20• Agricultural Development Strategy 2025• 3rd SME Development Plan 2016–20• TVET Development Plan 2016–2020• 2nd National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Programme, 2011–2015
3 Includes technical and vocational education and training (TVET)4 “The Sam Sang (“Three Builds”) directive proposes villages as the development unit, districts as the integration
unit, and provinces as the strategic unit. Subsequent guidance from the National Assembly, Prime Minister and the Guiding Committee for Sam Sang Pilot Projects suggest that Sam Sang is three things: (1) a political manifesto; (2) an approach to decentralized administration; and (3) a national targeted development program.” See http://ladlf.org/images/publications/141215_ladlf_samsang_study.pdf [accessed 29 Apr. 2017].
4
In addition, the Government of Lao PDR has adopted a number of laws and policies (including several of those above) which contain provisions pertaining to people with disabilities, including their right to decent and productive work and access to basic services.
2.3 Development partnerships complement national efforts
International development cooperation will make important contributions to Lao PDR’s socio-economic development investments during the period 2017–21. Key frameworks for development cooperation include the following:
• Vientiane Declaration on Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, 2016–25; • Lao PDR – UN Partnership Framework, 2017–21; and• Lao PDR/Development Partners Round Table Process, including ten thematically-focused
Sector Working Groups.5
2.4 Comparative ILO advantages
The ILO brings the following comparative advantages as the core partner for the national constituents under the DWCP 2017–21:
• international norm setting and monitoring roles based on the international labour conventions and other resolutions and recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference (ILC);
• policy support and technical expertise; • ability to draw on the relevant experience of diverse countries within the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and worldwide; and• a tripartite membership base of governments, employers’ representatives and workers’
representatives.
Drawing on these comparative advantages in the context of DWCP design and implementation, the ILO is uniquely placed to provide support and advice in areas including policy/strategy support; legislative/decree drafting; research; institutional and technical capacity development; technical advice; development cooperation projects; and knowledge sharing, including access to other-country experience.
5 The priority focus for ILO engagement in the Round Table Process will be the Macroeconomic Sector Working Group.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–20215
3. Advancing the Decent Work Agenda: Challenges and opportunities
3.1 Population dynamics provide basis for “democratic dividend”
Lao PDR is a land-locked and mountainous country bordering on the Kingdom of Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The country is an active member of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program, ASEAN, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Lao PDR’s 2015 census indicated a total population of about 6.5 million, with an annual population growth rate of 1.45 per cent (2005–15), reduced from 2.08 per cent (1995–2005). The proportion of urban population increased by approximately 6 per cent during the same period, from 27 per cent in 2005 to 33 per cent in 2015. The rural population accounted for 67 per cent of the national total, of which 59 per cent lived in rural areas with road access and 8 per cent without road access.6
The nation’s population was the youngest in ASEAN, with 32 per cent of the population aged 14 years or younger. The working population aged 15–64 years accounted for 64 per cent of the total, with another 4 per cent of the total population aged 65 years and older. In 2015, the total dependency ratio for every 100 people of working age was 57 people, down from 77 in 2005. 7 At the same time, the population was projected to increase by 38 per cent from 6.4 million in 2010 to 7.8 million in 2030, with an estimated 96,000 young people joining the workforce annually in the following decade.8
As a result, Lao PDR is set to benefit in the medium-term from a “demographic dividend” to the economy as savings resulting from a reduced social services burden pave the way for more investment in economic development. However, the full benefits of the demographic dividend will be realized only if new jobs are able to keep pace with the growth of the working age population and young women and men are better equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge. This issue will become all the more critical with the move towards regional integration.
6 Lao Statistics Bureau: Lao PDR 4th population and housing census, 2015 (Vientiane, 2016), http://lsb.gov.la/en/index.php [accessed 4 May, 2017].
7 Ibid.8 Lao Statistics Bureau; Labour force survey (Vientiane, 2010),
6
Lao PDR is an ethnically diverse country, with 49 officially recognized groups and hundreds of sub-groupings. Different socio-cultural traditions, higher poverty levels and low literacy levels characterize the groups living in remote mountainous areas.9
Among the population aged five years and older, according to the census, the overall prevalence of disability was 2.8 per cent,10 a statistic often linked to Lao PDR’s ongoing legacy of being one of the most heavily bombed nations in the world. More than 40 years after the end of the Second Indochina War, unexploded ordnance (UXO) still affected 15 of Lao PDR’s 18 provinces.11
3.2 Foundations for transition from least developed country status
Lao PDR aims to graduate beyond least developed country (LDC) status by 2020. The country has cleared the income threshold for LDC graduation, with gross national income (GNI) per capita reported as US$1,600 in 2014 according to the World Bank’s Atlas method.12 Analysis in the Lao PDR Human Development Report 201613 shows that, in 2015, the value of Lao PDR’s human assets index (HAI) was about 92 per cent of the LDC graduation threshold. The economic vulnerability index (EVI) required sustained attention, however, with progress towards universal social protection a key priority to protect human development gains from shocks and misfortunes.14
Strong economic growth in recent years has enabled Lao PDR to move from low-income to lower middle-income status. This development links back to reforms introduced in the late 1980s to a centrally planned economy, leading to the privatization of some productive assets and the introduction of free-market principles. The economy grew at an average rate of about 8 per cent in the period 2010–15, and is predicted to continue growing at a similar rate during the current DWCP period.15 From 2005 to 2013, the hydropower and mining sectors together generated about one-third of the country’s economic growth. The natural resources area was characterized by a high ratio of capital to labour, however, and in 2013, with only 22,000 workers, it was able to produce about 18 per cent of Lao PDR’s gross domestic product (GDP).16 To date, high levels of economic growth have so far been unable to generate a significant and sustained rise in shared growth and employment.
The agriculture and fishery sectors remained key to the country’s overall development, accounting for about 63 per cent of employed persons in 2013.17 Although the share of agriculture in GDP declined from 41 per cent to 27 per cent, its share in employment has not declined commensurately, still accounting for over 60 per cent of the economy’s total working hours.18 However, productivity levels in agriculture were four to ten times lower than non-agricultural sectors in 2010 (less than half those of Thailand).
9 UN Country Team; Lao PDR: Country analysis report: Analysis to inform the Lao PDR-UN Partnership Framework (2017–2021), 2015. PDF available online [accessed 4 May 2017].
10 Lao Statistics Bureau (2016), op. cit.11 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.12 Ibid.13 UNDP/Ministry of Planning and Investment: Graduation from least developed country status Lao PDR, 2017. The 5th
National Human Development Report (2017), PDF available online [accessed 4 May 2017].14 Ibid.15 Vientiane Times, 24 March, 201616 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.17 World Bank: Lao development report: Expanding productive employment for broad-based growth (2014). http://www.
worldbank.org/en/country/lao/publication/lao-pdr-development-report-2014 [accessed 4 May 2017].18 UNDP/Ministry of Planning and Investment, op. cit.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–20217
The need to improve rural livelihoods by increasing productivity and skills levels in the agricultural sector presents a key long-term structural challenge in addressing Lao PDR’s employment gaps. These measures would release a large “reserve labour pool” for employment in the manufacturing and service sectors, where labour shortages present a major concern.19 The range of complementary measures required to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth include the following: improvement of working conditions in all employment areas; reducing employment vulnerability; enhancing the environment for private sector (including SME) development; raising wage levels to match living costs; and lifting literacy levels.
3.3 Addressing poverty and inequality
Lao PDR achieved the poverty-related Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by halving its national poverty rate by 2015. However, poverty reduction and consumption growth lagged behind national GDP growth. The progress in poverty reduction varied by location, education, ethnicity, prevailing agricultural prices and the occupation of household heads. Despite a fall in the rural poverty headcount ratio from 51.8 to 28.6 over two decades,20 one-third of the population in upland areas remained below the poverty line, with the poverty rate in rural areas 2.9 times that of urban areas. At the same time, the growth in consumption benefited the richer quintiles more than the poorer segments of the population, and the rural-urban gap remained significant.21
The Gini coefficient increased slightly from 35.0 to 36.2 in the period 2007/8 to 2012/13. Although inequality decreased in rural areas during this five-year period (due to a slowdown of growth in incomes of the rural non-poor population), this was more than offset by rising inequality in urban areas.22
3.4 Workforce profile shows majority are unpaid family or own-account workers
Of the total population aged 10 years and older, the 2015 census showed that 68 per cent were “usually employed” and 29 per cent were outside the labour force. The overall unemployment rate was 2.1 per cent, with a higher rate (3.7 per cent) in urban areas. Most employed people in Lao PDR were either unpaid family workers (43 per cent) or own-account workers (38 per cent). Paid employees constituted 19 per cent of the country’s workforce in 2015, of which more than half worked as government employees or in state cooperatives. Less than one per cent of the total workforce were employers.23
Among women in the labour force, 61 per cent worked as unpaid family workers, compared to only 26 per cent of men. Only one in four working women were reported to be own-account workers, while one in two men had a similar status, indicating that women had less autonomy and control in the way they earned a living. There were also proportionately more male than female employees in formal paid jobs, particularly in public sector employment. Nearly 15
19 World Bank: Lao development report: Expanding productive employment for broad-based growth (2014), http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lao/publication/lao-pdr-development-report-2014 [accessed 4 May 2017].
20 Ibid.21 Ibid.22 Ibid.23 Lao Statistics Bureau (2016), op. cit.
8
per cent of employed men worked in government jobs or in state cooperatives, compared with 7 per cent of employed women.24
Labour force participation was high for young people aged 15–19 years, at 48.9 per cent. Among 20- to 24-year-olds the rate was 83.7 per cent.25 Youth employment was dominated by low-skilled, low-paid, low-productivity and unremunerated work. Young people in rural areas in particular relied on subsistence farming, which did not allow them to escape the poverty cycle. This situation was compounded for young women from ethnic and poorer socio-economic backgrounds due to their lower secondary school completion levels.26
SMEs in Lao PDR were a major employer but their productivity was relatively low. In 2010, SMEs accounted for 81 per cent of the total employed by registered firms.27 However, they contributed only about 16 per cent to GDP, which was a relatively low share compared to several other ASEAN countries. It also reflected the low productivity of SMEs versus larger firms. Overall, in 2014, fewer than 20 per cent of SMEs had access to long-term credit, which made it difficult for them to grow and compete against other SMEs in ASEAN.28
A significant proportion of Lao children were working, with an estimated 15 per cent of all children aged 5–17 years classified as “working children.” Some 10 per cent of the same age group (or two-thirds of all working children) were further classified as “child labour”, meaning they worked under conditions hazardous to their health and well-being, even though this was illegal. Some 94 per cent of children in child labour had dropped out of school or college or had never attended school or college. Child labour was primarily a rural phenomenon. Some 89 per cent of all working children lived in rural areas and 90 per cent were employed in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors. Some 67 per cent were in unpaid family work.29
24 Ibid.25 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lao PDR: Lao PDR’s pathway to a demographic dividend (2015).26 Ibid.27 Department for Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Promotion, Government of Lao PDR, http://www.smepdo.
org/?lang=en [accessed 4 May 2017].28 WorldBank:“LaoPDR’ssmallandmedium-sizedenterprisestobenefitfromnewWorldBankfinancing”Mediarelease
(9 June, 2014), Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/06/09/lao-pdr-small-medium-enterprises-benefit-new-world-bank-financing[accessed4May2017].
29 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–20219
3.5 ASEAN integration brings challenges and opportunities
A key factor in the national context was the introduction of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at the end of 2015. Under a modelled scenario of improved trade measures, the AEC may generate an additional 130,000 jobs by 2025, representing an additional 2.7 per cent of the 4.8 million people forecast to be employed in 2015. However, women are expected to be employed in only 36.2 per cent of these additional jobs. and over half of these new jobs may be in vulnerable work.30
Without appropriate policies (e.g. in infrastructure, education, wages, social protection and skills recognition), job growth arising from regional integration will not lead to quality employment and may perpetuate gender disparities. Key issues for Lao PDR in this context include the following: low levels of education and skills among its young population; low productivity levels, particularly in agriculture; and weak institutional capacities at the national, provincial and district levels.31 Furthermore, agriculture will remain the country’s largest employer, requiring investment in-off farm employment opportunities such as agro-processing. 32
Lao PDR has undertaken several initiatives in preparation for AEC entry. In particular, the Government is emphasizing entrepreneurship development; examining the implications for its labour force, including skills development under ASEAN mutual recognition of skills (MRS) arrangements; and establishing measures to better manage and ensure quality investment.33 In 2016, while under Lao PDR’s leadership, ASEAN adopted the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN. This upholds the fundamental principles of decent work, encourages South-South cooperation and fosters intra-ASEAN learning on relevant issues regarding formalization, with special attention to rural employment.
3.6 Workforce vulnerability levels high
The share of vulnerable employment in Lao PDR remained high at 84 per cent of the workforce overall. Sectors with particularly high vulnerability levels included agriculture and fisheries (93 per cent) and sales workers (73 per cent). Vulnerable and informal employment was also widespread in other sectors, characterized by low pay, poor working conditions and no social protection.34 People outside the formal economy (such as own-account and unpaid family workers) were unable to contribute to the formal social security system, while many in the formal private sector (62 per cent) were not members.35 Movement out of agriculture rarely represented a pathway out of poverty, since it often led to equally low-paid informal economy jobs. Women in particular were moving out of agriculture at a faster rate than men, although given the large proportion of women working in the informal economy, this did not always equate to a transition out of vulnerable employment.
30 ILO and Asian Development Bank (ADB): ASEAN community 2015: Managing integration for better jobs and shared prosperity.Bangkok,ILOandADB,(2014),https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/42818/asean-community-2015-managing-integration.pdf [accessed 4 May 2017].
31 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.32 ILO-ADB: Will the AEC support Lao PDR’s goal to overcome least developed status? Lao PDR Country Brief (2015),
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_357415.pdf [accessed 3 May 2017]. See also op. cit. ILO-ADB (2014).
33 Ibid.34 ILO: National Rural Employment Strategy in Lao PDR towards increasing opportunities for decent and productive
employment in rural areas (2017–2019). Project document (2016).35 Lao Statistics Bureau. (2010). Labour force survey, op. cit.
10
Periodic increases in the minimum wage have had little impact on the position of the more than a third of working people who did not earn sufficient income to lift themselves out of poverty. Some 36 per cent of employed people belonged to the two poorest quintiles of the household population. They were less likely to have various amenities and services (such as clean water and toilets), and were more likely to be negatively affected by droughts, disasters and catastrophic health expenditure.36 Vulnerability was reinforced by the fact that two-thirds of the population of Lao PDR lived on less than $2 purchasing power parity (PPP) per day, compared with the poorest 10 per cent in Thailand and Viet Nam. The per capita consumption of 60 per cent of those who moved out of poverty between 2007/2008 and 2012/2013 was no more than 50 per cent above the poverty line.37
3.7 International labour migrants face decent work challenges
International labour migration was an important feature of the employment landscape and provided a key source of income for families in southern Lao PDR, in particular.
Migrant labour made up around 8 per cent of the working population, mostly in low-paid, labour-intensive work in neighbouring Thailand. Remittances sent back home by Lao migrants in 2013 accounted for between 1.9 per cent and 2.5 per cent of national GDP.38 In 2014, 11.5 per cent of the adult population received international remittances, varying from nearly 20 per cent in the South to 2.7 per cent in the North.39
Migrants were disproportionately exposed to a range of decent work issues, including occupational injury or illness, weak representation and threats and extortion by police and other authorities. Migrants were also at greater risk of trafficking.40 The Government has been taking steps to protect Lao migrants by establishing mechanisms in receiving countries to extend legal and other services, while the Lao Trade Union Federation (LFTU) is setting up formal cooperation arrangements with counterpart union bodies in destination countries.
3.8 Vocational skills development a cornerstone of socio-economic development
Lao PDR suffers a severe shortage of skilled workers – a significant issue for ASEAN integration as well as for long-term socio-economic development. The demand for medium-skilled and high-skilled workers generated by AEC entry and Lao PDR’s own development requirements cannot be met without addressing the current mismatch between labour market needs and young people’s education and skills. The challenge lies in both demand and quality issues. Despite increased enrolment in TVET, only one-third of enrolment quotas for TVET are filled due to a tendency to undervalue technical and vocational training compared with university education.41 The quality of education and training provided in TVET institutions is further affected by a shortage of appropriately qualified and trained teachers, weaknesses in curricula and teaching/learning materials, and lack of facilities. The poor quality of basic education and
36 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.37 UNDP/Ministry of Planning and Investment: Graduation, op. cit.38 Ibid.39 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.40 Ibid.41 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lao PDR : Situation of youth in Lao PDR (2013).
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202111
resultant low literacy levels are also key factors contributing to low technical and vocational skill levels.42
Critical to addressing these issues will be the strengthening of existing efforts to upgrade public employment services (PES) and labour market information (LMI) systems, as well as the development of demand-driven training programmes linked to skills standards and certification in strategic sectors. Lao PDR is part of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition of Skills (MRS) arrangements, which provide guidelines for recognizing eight occupations among ASEAN members and for facilitating labour mobility. As of February 2017, MRS arrangements were in place for Lao PDR in two occupational areas: bricklaying and plastering. As of this writing, however, the overall impact of MRS arrangements on current employment trends in Lao PDR is likely to be limited, since the overall number of persons working in occupations that these guidelines cover is around 38,000, about 1.3 per cent of total employment in the country.43 A recent survey of ASEAN employers found that only one-third of respondents agreed that the skills of secondary graduates in Lao PDR matched enterprise needs.44
A further challenge to upgrading vocational skills is the existence of two parallel qualification systems – one under the Labour Law (2014) applying to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW) programme, and the other under the TVET law. This is compounded by the lack of coordination between donor projects supporting the development of occupational and competency standards, curricula and training materials.
42 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.43 Ibid.44 Ibid.
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3.9 Progress with gender equality and empowering women and girls, but challenges remain
The 2016 Global gender gap report of the World Economic Forum45 ranked Lao PDR overall at 43 out of 144 countries, second in ASEAN after the Philippines. Lao PDR’s highest score was in economic participation and opportunity, where it ranked second overall. The lowest ranking was 115th for educational attainment. This was despite a narrowing of the gender gap in education, with gender equity nearly achieved for primary education. However, girls still encountered considerable challenges in continuing with secondary education and improving literacy. In 2015, literacy levels for the population over the age of 15 showed a large gender gap, with female literacy at 79 per cent, in contrast to 90 per cent for males.46 Early marriage was one of many factors leading to high female dropout rates from secondary school, with Lao PDR having by far the highest rate of early marriage in ASEAN.47
In employment, women generally occupied the lower rungs of the labour market and predominated in more vulnerable sectors. As noted, 61 per cent of working women were unpaid family workers, compared to only 26 per cent of men, while only 25 per cent of working women were reported as own-account workers, compared with 50 per cent of men. Male employments rates in government jobs or in state cooperatives were more than double those of women.48 While they played a critical role in agriculture and played a primary role in ensuring their families’ food security, women were often pushed into the informal economy and marginal livelihood activities as a result of gender inequalities in access to assets and resources for income generation and education.49
At the same time, women accounted for more than half of the owners of newly registered SMEs. Around 31 per cent of formal enterprises with more than five employees were owned by females in Lao PDR, which compared favourably with many countries and regions, but was still lower than the average for East Asia.50 While the legal framework for doing business did not include gender-discriminatory elements, in practice enterprises owned and operated by women faced a number of barriers, including the fact that Laotian women on average spent 2.4 hours per day on unpaid care work, compared with 0.5 hours per day for men.51 Female entrepreneurs in Lao PDR were also less likely to have a bank account or credit line.52 Further affecting participation by women in economic and social life was the fact that one in seven women had experienced physical or sexual violence from their partners at least once in their lifetime, with most experiencing such violence many times.53
45 World Economic Forum: Global gender gap report (2016). Available at: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2016/ [accessed 4 May 2017].
46 Lao Statistics Bureau. (2016), op. cit.47 UNFPA (2015), op. cit.48 Lao Statistics Bureau (2016), op. cit.49 ILO: National rural employment strategy, op. cit.50 UN Country Team, Lao PDR (2015), op. cit.51 UNDESA Time Use Data Portal (data as of May 2016), http://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/timeuse/ [accessed 30 Apr.
2017].52 UN Country Team, Lao PDR, op. cit.53 UNFPA: “Landmark report: Violence against women a ‘hidden scourge’ in Lao PDR”. Press release (10 March, 2016),
http://asiapacific.unfpa.org/news/landmark-report-violence-against-women-‘hidden-scourge’-lao-pdr [accessed 4 May2017].
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3.10 Social protection expansion and strengthening key to addressing poverty
A large part of Lao PDR’s population lacked access to adequate protection from a variety of social and economic risks. This was especially true of people outside the formal economy and in poverty who were unable to contribute to formal social security arrangements. Particularly affected were children, women, people with disability and older persons. At the same time, continued economic growth meant that the government’s fiscal capacity was expected to improve over the medium to long term, enabling gradual creation and expansion of social welfare programmes for most vulnerable groups.54
Existing social protection provisions in Lao PDR comprised a range of schemes including contributory social security insurance for formal workers; voluntary health insurance for the informal sector; free health care for the poor; maternity and under-five child support; and a variety of schemes targeting vulnerable groups in areas such as disaster relief, education and livelihoods.55
However, these various initiatives were implemented by diverse line ministries and agencies – they were not yet part of an integrated strategic approach to social protection. Steps have been taken under the auspices of the Social Security Law (2013) and regulations (2014) to improve coordination and coherence through (1) the merger of private and public sector social security schemes under the National Social Security Fund and (2) integration of existing health-related schemes under the newly created National Health Insurance Bureau (NHIB) at the Ministry of Health. Long-term social protection priorities are under consideration through the multi-stakeholder assessment-based national dialogue (ABND) on social protection which is expected to provide the conceptual and analytical basis for the development of a National Social Protection Strategy.56
3.11 Strengthening social dialogue mechanisms and capacities an underlying priority
The key social dialogue parties in Lao PDR, the ILO’s national constituents, are the Ministry of the Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW), the Lao National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU). The MoLSW is the ILO’s primary Lao PDR government focal point. The Ministry’s Master Plan 2007–20 provides a key foundation for cooperation, supplemented by various related strategic and other plans, decrees and regulations.
Established in 1989, the LNCCI is an independent body with more than 1000 members represented through chambers of commerce (CCIs) in 14 provinces as well as sector-based business associations and groups. As the primary nexus between the state and private enterprises, the LNCCI represents inter alia the concerns of its members to the Government and contributes to the formulation of policies and legislation relevant to the national business
54 Silas Theile and Michael Cichon: Definition and costing of a social protection floor in Lao PDR: Preliminary assessment report (unpublished, 2016).
55 Ibid.56 Ibid.
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environment.57 The LFTU is the sole national trade union centre in Lao PDR. Affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions, it is directly linked to the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and has staff and offices at provincial and district levels throughout the country. Migrant labour is a key LFTU priority, underpinned by a National Policy and Action Plan on Migration (2011–13) adopted at a joint LFTU-ILO workshop in 2011.58
While tripartite mechanisms, capacities and culture remain at a relatively early stage of development in Lao PDR, a number of formal tripartite mechanisms do exist and operate as vehicles for social dialogue with varying degrees of effectiveness at national, provincial, enterprise and specific project levels. At the time of this writing, discussion was underway in the latter stage of the previous DWCP on the establishment of a high-level National Tripartite Committee and associated sub-committees, drawing on the experience and approaches of other ASEAN countries. The primary focus of tripartite engagement in the meantime was the Technical Tripartite Committee on Industrial Relations, which was established in 2010. Inter alia it provides a mechanism for consideration of minimum wage adjustments, labour dispute settlements, industrial relations and Labour Law revisions. Fourteen tripartite committees function at the provincial level with varying degrees of regularity and effectiveness. This number was expected to increase as the LNCCI’s provincial representation expanded.59
A key element of the national social dialogue and tripartite architecture is the Labour Law, promulgated in 2014 to better comply with international labour Conventions. Among other things this covers labour protection, collective bargaining, occupational safety and health (OSH), labour inspection, skills development, disputes resolution, minimum wage setting, compliance with employment contracts, and equality and non-discrimination in the workplace. In this context, in 2015 Lao PDR drafted its first-ever labour dispute resolution measure through a Prime Ministerial Decree. The Labour Law now contains numerous important new provisions compared with its 2006 predecessor, for example in the areas of OSH, maternity benefits and protection, and protections with regard to discrimination and equal pay.60
A number of key issues remain to be addressed during the next DWCP period:61
• more effectively and consistently promotion and application of the Labour Law, including within Lao PDR’s informal economy and at provincial and district levels;
• addressing gaps in the Labour Law as it stands, including in areas such as a comprehensive definition of discrimination to cover both direct and indirect forms of discrimination and the need to strengthen provisions on sexual harassment in line with C111;
• improvement of social dialogue mechanisms, culture and related capacities of national constituents at the national, provincial, local and enterprise levels; and
• strengthening national constituent capacities and the workplace collective bargaining culture.
57 http://www.laocci.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=27&lang=en58 Clarke, Don,. Venevankham, Kolakot. (July 2016). Lao PDR Decent Work Country Programme (2011-2015): Review
Report59 Ibid.60 Ibid.61 Ibid.
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“My World of Work” survey highlights young worker’s challenges and aspirations
The My World of Work survey was conducted in Lao PDR in 2015 through a joint exercise involving the ILO, MoLSW, (LNCCI) and LFTU.62 The survey gathered data and personal perspectives in Vientiane and Vang Vieng as well as in Savannakhet and Sekong provinces. Focus groups were conducted in Sekong Province and a questionnaire was distributed to around 1,900 respondents overall. Four main sectors were selected for feedback: agriculture (paddy, oranges and coffee), construction, hospitality and SMEs. Most respondents ranged between 18 and 30 years of age. Key findings from the survey included the following:
• Status of current employment. Nearly three-quarters (73.1per cent ) were employees and about one-quarter (25.4 per cent ) were contributing family workers.
• Social protection and OSH at the workplace. If accidents occurred, in the workplace or elsewhere, a majority of the costs involved were covered by “out-of-pocket” funding. More than one-third of the respondents (34.3 per cent ) financed the costs from their own savings while families bore the cost in 31.3 per cent of cases.
• Goals for the next five years for the respondents and their family. These goals included better pay (24.1 per cent ); better jobs (23.9 per cent ); improved skills for career advancement (20.1 per cent ); better education for the children (16 per cent); and improved health care for the family (16 per cent ).
• Expectations of the Government over the following five years. Respondents reported better wages (29.3 per cent ); opportunities for skills development (17.8 per cent ); better infrastructure (17.5 per cent ); safer working conditions (13.6 per cent ); job creation (12.3 per cent ); and access to labour market information (9.6 per cent ).
In addition to the survey, field work in Sekong Province with respect to agricultural employment reported the following:
• Regardless of the reduction in absolute poverty, most people remained poor.• Most worked in the primary sector, mainly in agriculture, forestry and fishing. • Subsistence farming with slash-and-burn cultivation remained most common, with
comparably few people engaged in commercial farming and non-farm activities.• Vulnerable work and under-employment were big challenges in the province, with 90
per cent of working people aged 15 and older either self-employed or employed as unpaid family workers.
• In 2015, the market price for coffee dropped severely (from LAK3,000 (Lao kip) in 2014 to LAK1,000), increasing poverty levels.
• In Sekong’s coffee plantations, the yields, technology levels, farming techniques and external investment were significantly lower than in neighbouring provinces.
• Workplace safety was a significant issue in the agricultural sector, particularly with the rise in health problems due to pest infestations and animal-related diseases.
62 Priyanjali Mitra: ‘My World of Work’ survey 2015, Lao PDR. Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2016 (2015).
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4. Overall programme goal and strategy
Overall programme goal
Increased decent work for inclusive and sustainable development in Lao PDR through employment creation, technical/vocational skills development, labour standards, social protection and social dialogue.
Overall programme strategy
The DWCP has been developed in the course of extensive consultations during 2016 and early 2017 between the ILO and its national constituents. It also reflects the findings and recommendations that emerged from the final review of the previous programme.63 All strategic aspects of related 2017–21 Lao PDR-ILO cooperation build on the achievements and lessons of its 2011–15 counterpart. In particular, the joint development process of the 2017–21 DWCP was designed to ensure the following considerations are taken into account:
• consolidating and building on the achievements of the Government and the social partners during the period of the previous DWCP;
• successfully completing and implementing value-added initiatives that remain underway;• ensuring that DWCP design is grounded in local realities and capacities and is realistic; and• sharpening programme focus, including through (1) including an overarching DWCP Goal,
(2) strengthening in-depth attention to the agreed priority areas, and (3) improving cross-programme synergies and efficiencies.
As elaborated in the DWCP Results Framework, the DWCP directly supports implementation of the following national and international development frameworks:
• Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDGs 1, 4, 5 and 8); • Lao PDR’s 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) 2016–2020 (Outcomes
1, 2 and 3); • Lao PDR-UN Partnership Framework (UNPF) 2017–2021 (Outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 8);• Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment
towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN (2016);• Bali Declaration adopted by the 16th ILO Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, 2016.
63 Don Clarke and Kolakot Venevankham: Lao PDR Decent Work Country Programme (2011–2015): Review report (7 July 2016).
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DWCP annual reporting will be closely aligned to requirements under the these frameworks to ensure synergies and efficient use of resources.
The following interrelated and mutually reinforcing programme drivers underpin the DWCP and are reflected in the four DWCP priorities:
• promotion of decent employment (particularly in rural areas), through the development and implementation of a National Rural Employment Strategy; strengthening of employment services and labour market information; entrepreneurship promotion; improving labour migration policy frameworks; and technical/vocational skills development to meet the demands of a changing labour market;
• promotion of formalization of employment through implementation of the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN (2016), which in turn is closely linked to addressing vulnerability and increasing decent and productive employment opportunities, especially in rural areas;
• strengthening and expansion of social protection, including measures to ensure Lao PDR is able to meet the vulnerability criteria for Lao PDR to achieve eligibility for LDC graduation;
• strengthening of tripartite mechanisms as well as partner institutional and technical capacities to (1) work effectively with each other to achieve national development objectives and (2 ) promote and serve the interests of their respective constituencies; and
• ongoing ratification and implementation of international labour Conventions, which provide the cornerstones of all aspects of the programme, including implementation of the Labour Law (2014).
Each programme driver links to and mutually reinforces the others. For example, there are close linkages between improving the skills of the rural workforce, implementing the Labour Law at the local level and promoting small enterprise development – all of which are key aspects of the planned development and implementation of the national rural employment strategy. Likewise, the development and implementation of a National Social Protection Strategy is a critical element in addressing both high levels of employment vulnerability and meeting the economic vulnerability index (EVI) requirements of LDC graduation.
Several cross-cutting programme drivers apply across all aspects of the programme. These are elaborated in section 12. Local ownership and ensuring long-term sustainability and impact are further cornerstones of DWCP design and implementation.
By the end of the five-year DWCP period, the following overall results are expected to have been achieved:
• An increased number of relevant policy frameworks, strategies and regulations for creating decent jobs in rural areas of Lao PDR, particularly through the development, adoption and initial implementation of (1) a national rural employment strategy and (2) Lao PDR action plan for implementation of the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN, which inter alia prioritizes rural employment promotion.
• Increased numbers of Lao PDR citizens in decent and productive employment through (1) improved matching of jobseekers and labour market requirements; (2) entrepreneurship development for women, men and youth; (3) development of policy and legal instruments to support safe labour migration, increased; and (4) national policy capacity, as well as
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competency standards and certification and accreditation arrangements to support the promotion of technical/vocational skills for women, men and youth.
• Improved labour standards and protection through (1) more effective implementation of the Labour Law (2014), including in rural areas and the informal economy, and (2) more effective implementation of ratified international labour Conventions (with at least one additional ratification during the DWCP period).
• Expanded access to social protection through (1) the development, adoption and initial implementation of a National Social Protection Strategy; (2) the introduction of at least one new social transfer tax-funded programme; (3) revision and dissemination of the Social Security Law and (4) harmonization of social health insurance schemes and systems.
• Strengthened tripartite cooperation and social dialogue through (1) the development of a new National Tripartite Committee; (2) improvement of existing tripartite mechanisms and procedures, including with respect to minimum wage reviews; and (3) the further development of national constituent capacities for social dialogue.
Development cooperation projects funded by international development partners comprise a major component element of DWCP delivery, providing critical resources and skills to support activities that contribute to implementation of the overall programme goal and related outcomes. Whenever appropriate, national oversight of development cooperation projects under the DWCP will be exercised through a tripartite mechanism. Evaluation findings and learning from the implementation of such projects will be fed into wider DWCP review, evaluation and planning processes. Where development cooperation projects are already confirmed for the period 2017–21, or have a reasonable likelihood of eventuating, these are listed under the relevant outcome in the Result Framework.
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5. Programme priorities, strategies, outcomes, indicators and targets
Priority 1: Promote employment and technical/vocational skills development in line with market demand.
Three inter-linked outcomes support implementation of this priority. These address challenges and gaps in the following areas:
• Availability of decent work opportunities and employment options in rural areas – particularly the need for greater strategic direction, focus and national coordination in targeting resources and efforts to address this challenge (Outcome 1.1).
• Matching available technical/vocational skills with labour market demand through improved public- employment services and labour market information (Outcome 1.2).
• Micro and small business and entrepreneurship skills development, including in rural areas (Outcome 1.2).
• Ensuring safe labour migration that brings national development benefits to Lao PDR in terms of skills development and incoming overseas remittances (Outcome 1.2).
• Raising technical and vocational skill levels within the national workforce to meet the requirements of both Lao PDR’s national development priorities and ASEAN economic integration over the coming years as the balance shifts between the agricultural, industrial and service sectors of the economy (Outcome 1.3).
A national rural employment strategy will be one significant output in this context. This strategy will draw on the experience and lessons of integrated approaches to rural employment creation which will be piloted in selected communities of Sekong and Savannakhet provinces.
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Outcome 1.1: Increased number of relevant policy frameworks, strategies and regulations for creating decent jobs in rural areas.
Supported by development cooperation project: National Rural Employment Strategy in Lao PDR towards Increasing Opportunities for Decent and Productive Employment in Rural Areas. Funding contributed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), 2017–20.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 2 (Output 1) and Cross-cutting Output 8.21.2; Lao PDR-UNPF Outcome 1; SDGs 1, 4, 5 and 8; and ILO P&B Outcomes 4, 5 and 6.
The need to create decent and productive employment opportunities in rural areas is high on the agenda of the Lao PDR Government. The NSEDP accordingly prioritizes rural employment creation and identifies the development of a national rural employment strategy as a key means to achieve this (Outcome 2, Output 1: To formulate a national rural employment strategy that concentrates on designing strategies, methods and programmes which create jobs and income in rural areas). Such a strategy will provide a national framework to focus and coordinate government, international development partner, and civil society organization efforts to create decent jobs in rural areas.
The Government of Lao PDR has requested the ILO’s support to develop the strategy, building on the ILO’s previous engagement in piloting integrated approaches to rural employment generation in selected communities of Sekong province (2015-16). Drawing on lessons and progress in the previous work, ongoing ILO technical and capacity development support under the DWCP will pursue the following measures: (i) continued piloting of integrated rural employment creation approaches in Sekong, expanded to Savannakhet province in 2017; (ii) drawing upon the lessons of this pilot activity to provide an evidence base for development of the national strategy; (iii) conducting additional strategic research to inform drafting of the strategy; (iv) supporting the facilitation of inclusive national consultations to inform the strategy development process; (v) supporting the costing of implementation; and (vi) supporting the initial phase of implementation (Indicator 1.1.1).
Complementing and contributing to the development of the national strategy under this outcome, ILO technical and capacity development support will further target:
• The development, improvement and extension of relevant rural employment policies and services in the two selected provinces (Indicator 1.1.2). As well as contributing to decent work promotion in the provinces concerned, the lessons learned in this respect will also inform the development of the national strategy.
• The formulation and selective implementation of a five-year action plan to implement the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN, which inter alia prioritizes rural employment promotion. Priority in this context will be placed on the delivery of outputs which will provide opportunities for Lao PDR national constituents to learn from and apply lessons and experience from other ASEAN countries with respect to the promotion of decent rural employment (Indicator 1.1.3).
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Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 1.1.1Availability of gender, ethnicity, disability and environmentally sensitive national rural employment strategy (NRES), action plan and associated costings.
Target 1.1.1NRES and action plan developed, adopted and costed through an inclusive national process, drawing on lessons from pilot activities in two provinces, with (i) initial implementation underway by 2021 and (ii) reflection of gender, ethnicity, disability and environmental sustainability considerations.
Indicator 1.1.2Number of new or improved policies and services related to rural employment introduced and implemented as extension of existing laws and strategies in Sekong and Savannakhet provinces.
Target 1.1.2At least one gender-responsive measure taken to address identified policy or service gaps in each province by 2019.
Indicator 1.1.3Number of South-South cooperation (SSC) initiatives conducted as part of implementation of Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN.
Target 1.1.3 (a)Five-year action plan adopted to implement Vientiane Declaration by 2018; includes focus on rural jobs and taking account of gender, ethnic community and disability considerations.
Target 1.1.3 (b)At least three SSC activities related to rural employment elements of the Vientiane Declaration implemented by Lao PDR and ASEAN counterparts by 2019.
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Outcome 1.2: Increased decent and productive employment through (i) improved matching of jobseekers and labour market requirements; (ii) entrepreneurship development for women, men and youth; and (iii) development of policy and legal instruments to support safe labour migration.
Supported by development cooperation project(s): Development of phase 2 of ILO/China South-South Cooperation Project on employment services and labour market information in Cambodia and Lao PDR (timeframe and arrangements to be indicated in 2017).
Tripartite Action to Enhance the Contribution of Labour Migration to Growth and Development in ASEAN Project (TRIANGLE II): funded by Government of Australia 2015–25.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 1 (Output 1); Lao PDR-UNPF Outcome 1; SDGs 1, 4, 5 and 8; and ILO P&B Outcomes 1, 4 and 9.
Drawing on lessons and progress under the previous DWCP, key priorities identified by the national constituents to increase opportunities for decent work in Lao PDR over the next five-year period include the following:
• improve matching of available technical/vocational skills with labour market demand through improved Public Employment Services (PES) and Labour Market Information (LMI);
• MSME development and growth, including the improvement of entrepreneurship skills; and
• ensure safe labour migration and enhance its national development benefits to Lao PDR, including in terms of skill development and remittances.
In line with these identified priorities, the ILO will provide technical and capacity development support in the following selected areas:
• Strengthening PES and LMI via the development of an integrated national strategy led by the MoLSW. This will include, inter alia, measures for (i) the establishment of a legal basis for PES in line with C88; (ii) an enhanced MoLSW role in regulating and monitoring standards for employment services (public and private) in line with C181; and (iii) greater integration between services provided by employment service job centres (ESJCs) and Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) (Indicator 1.2.1).
• Related to the above, increasing the availability of LMI through more regular Labour Force Surveys in order to inform national policy and service development (Indicator 1.2.2).
• Increasing the number of jobseeker registrations and placements (Indicator 1.2.3).• Enhancing the policy and legal frameworks governing safe labour migration. This will be
achieved through technical support by the TRIANGLE Project for the adoption or revision of at least one piece of legislation, policy and/or MOU to better reflect international standards (Indicator 1.2.4).
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• Increasing the number of provinces in which public employment and labour migration services are operating collaboratively (Indicator 1.2.5).
• Promoting entrepreneurship skills and leadership development for women, men and youth, including through building the capacity of LNCCI, business development services (BDS) providers and LFTU to sustainably deliver training in this regard, with a focus on outreach to women and the informal economy (Indicator 1.2.6).
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 1.2.1Availability of national strategy and action plan for development of public employment services (PES) and labour market information (LMI).64
Target 1.2.1 (a)National strategy and action plan for development of PES and LMI developed and adopted by 2018, including the following: (i) establishment of legal bases for public employment services in line with C88; (ii) enhanced MoLSW role in regulating and monitoring standards for employment services (public and private) within Lao PDR in line with C181; and (iii) greater integration of services provided by employment service job centres (ESJCs) and Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs).
Target 1.2.1 (b)MOUs developed between MoLSW and the LNCCI and the LFTU respectively for cooperation in implementing PES/LMI strategy by 2018.
Target 1.2.2 (c)Employer skills need surveys conducted annually from 2018 (with pilot project initiated by 2018 to gather such data on a sector and/or specific geographic basis).
Indicator 1.2.2More regular Labour Force Surveys conducted,
Target 1.2.2At least three Labour Force Surveys conducted by 2021.
Indicator 1.2.3Number of jobseeker registrations and job placements, disaggregated by sex, at central and provincial ESJCs.
Target 1.2.3By 2021, 60% of registered jobseekers per annum placed in formal employment, at least 50% of whom are women and 2.8% are people with disabilities in line with national disability statistics.
64 All engagement in employment services and LMI is conducted in coordination and synergy with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Capacity Development Technical Assistance Project: Lao PDR. ADB: Strengthening capacity to develop the employment service system: Technical assistance report, https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/lao-capacity-dev-employment-service-system-tar [accessed 30 Apr. 2016]. This project includes a focus on (1) the establishment and improvement of PES ICT and communication systems at national and provincial levels and (2) improving outreach to jobseekers at district and local levels.
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Indicator 1.2.4Legislation, policies and MOUs linked to labour migration adopted or amended in line with international standards and good practices.
Target 1.2.4 At least one piece of legislation, policy and/or MOU adopted or revised to better reflect international standards by 2021.
Indicator 1.2.5Number of provinces in which migrant labour services are available through MRCs working in liaison with ESJCs.
Target 1.2.5MRCs operational and working in liaison with ESJCs in at least five provinces by 2021, including at least two MRCs managed by the LFTU.
Indicator 1.2.6Number of employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations and business service providers with increased technical capacity to provide entrepreneurship training to women, men and youth.
Target 1.2.6By 2021, at least two employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations or business service providers have received training and other support to increase their technical capacity to deliver entrepreneurship leadership and skills training to women, men and youth, including in the informal economy.
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Outcome 1.3: Increased policy capacity, competency standards, and certification and accreditation arrangements to support promotion of technical/vocational skills for women, men and youth.
A core priority under the NSEDP is raising technical and vocational skill levels within the national workforce to meet the requirements of both Lao PDR’s national development priorities and ASEAN economic integration, especially as the balance between the agricultural, industrial and service sectors of the economy shifts over coming years.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 1 (Output 5), Outcome 1 (Output 6), and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2; Lao PDR-UNPF Outcome 4; SDGs 1, 4, 5 and 8; and ILO P&B Outcome 1.
Building on progress under the previous DWCP, and alongside other initiatives supported by international development partners, the ILO will provide technical and capacity development support to these measures:
• Strengthening the capacity of the National Training Council (NTC) and MoLSW to develop national policy and systems to promote technical/vocational skills, complementing wider efforts by the Lao PDR Government and international partners to develop a National Qualifications Framework (Indicator 1.3.1).
• Developing and promulgating technical/vocational skill/competency standards as well as certification and institutional accreditation arrangements in occupations prioritized by the NTC and MoLSW (Indicators 1.3.2 and 1.3.3).
• Developing at least three new technical/vocational skills areas under the ASEAN mutual recognition of skills (MRS), in line with the ASEAN Qualifications Regional Framework (AQRF) (Indicator 1.3.4).
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Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 1.3.1Number of initiatives to strengthen the capacity of national mechanisms for the development of technical/vocational skills policy and systems.
Target 1.3.1At least two initiatives to strengthen National Training Council and MoLSW technical capacity for national technical/vocational skills policy and systems development by 2021.
Indicator 1.3.2Number of technical/vocational skills/competency standards promulgated at national level.
Target 1.3.2 At least five new technical/vocational skills/competency standards promulgated at national level by 2021, with special attention to addressing skills/competency standards in non-traditional occupations for women.
Indicator 1.3.3Number of additional technical/vocational skill areas developed for standards, certification and accreditation.
Target 1.3.3 (a)At least two additional technical/vocational skills areas developed/completed for standards, certification and accreditation of institutions by 2021, with special attention to female-dominated occupational areas.
Target 1.3.3 (b)At least 50% of trainees in the additional technical/vocational skill areas are assessed and certified by 2021.
Indicator 1.3.4Number of new technical/vocational skill areas developed under the ASEAN mutual recognition of skills (MRS) in line with the ASEAN Qualifications Regional Framework (AQRF).
Target 1.3.4 At least three new technical/vocational skills areas developed under ASEAN MRS by 2021.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202127
Priority 2: Promote ratification and implementation of international labour standards.
The ratification and implementation of international labour Conventions is fundamental to achieving the DWCP goals for 2017–21. The Conventions are reflected in the Lao PDR Labour Law (2014) as well as in a range of government decrees and decisions. They underpin all aspects of DWCP design and implementation.
Two inter-linked outcomes support the implementation of this priority. They address existing challenges and gaps in the following areas:
• The need to strengthen awareness and national implementation of the Labour Law, which inter alia covers labour protection, collective bargaining, OSH, labour inspection, skills development, disputes resolution, minimum wage setting, compliance with employment contracts and equality/non-discrimination in the workplace (Outcome 2.1).
• The need to prioritize ratifications that remain under consideration and improve implementation, monitoring and reporting (Outcome 2.2).
Special priority will be given in the period 2017–21 to extending awareness and implementation of the Labour Law to district and local levels, as well as to Lao PDR’s extensive and diverse informal economy. Relevant technical and capacity development support for social partners will be prioritized under DWCP Priority 4.
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Outcome 2.1: Increased quality of labour standards and protection through Labour Law implementation.
Supported by development cooperation project: Completion of labour inspection project in the garment sector (LAO/13/01/IDA) and possible new project with MoLSW on labour inspection and OSH, submitted for funding by the Vision Zero Fund (VZF).65
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 1 (Output 2); Outcome 1 (Output 5), Outcome 2 (Output 5) and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2; Lao PDR-UNPF Outcome 8; SDGs 1, 4, 5 and 8; ILO P&B Outcomes 1 and 7; and the Bali Declaration.
The Labour Law was revised and promulgated in 2014 to improve, inter alia, compliance with international labour standards. The review of the 2011–15 DWCP highlighted issues in coverage by the law (particularly in the informal economy and rural areas), implementation and compliance. In this context, ILO technical and capacity development support provided in the period until 2021 will focus on addressing the identified gaps in the following ways:
• strengthening the regulatory environment underpinning enforcement of the law, with a particular focus on informal outreach and gender dimensions With respect to the latter, the comments of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) respecting gender equality—in particular the comments concerning Convention Nos. 100 and 111—will to addressed to the extent possible in the elaboration of regulations under the Labour Law (Indicator 2.1.1)
• developing an action plan for implementation of a recently adopted ministerial decision on labour inspection (covered under the Labour Law), Indicator 2.1.2;
• finalizing and implementing a prime ministerial decree on OSH, including specific action to establish a national mechanism and associated capacity for the sex-disaggregated reporting of workplace accidents (Indicator 2.1.3); and
• maintaining momentum with the implementation of the National Plan of Action (NPA) on the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour adopted under the previous DWCP by requiring annual reporting by national constituents on actions taken (Indicator 2.1.4).
This Outcome directly links those under DWCP Priority 4 on strengthening the capacity of the LNCCI and LFTU to (i) serve their respective memberships and (ii) improve tripartite cooperation and social dialogue.
65 The G7-initiated Vision Zero Fund initiative (VZF) aims to prevent work-related deaths, injuries and disease in global supply chains. http://www.ilo.org/safework/projects/WCMS_517539/lang--en/index.htm [accessed 22 May 2017]
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202129
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 2.1.1Number of gender-sensitive regulations prepared in consultation with the social partners and promulgated by 2019 to strengthen implementation of the 2014 Labour Code.
Target 2.1.1 At least two gender-sensitive regulations prepared in consultation with the social partners and promulgated by 2019 to strengthen implementation of the 2014 Labour Code, with the principles enshrined in C100 and C111, and the outstanding comments of the CEACR respecting those Conventions, taken into consideration as appropriate.
Indicator 2.1.2Number of actions taken to implement annual action plans for Ministerial Decision 4277 (2016) on labour inspection.
Target 2.1.2By 2018 annual action plans for labour inspection developed and implemented in line with international labour standards, e.g. C81, including OSH components and measures to increase number of female inspectors; at least two actions taken annually to implement action plans.
Indicator 2.1.3Number of actions taken annually to implement Prime Ministerial Decree (2017) on OSH.
Target 2.1.3Action plan for implementation of Prime Ministerial Decree on OSH by National Constituents developed by 2018, with at least two actions taken annually to implement the plan by 2021.
Indicator 2.1.4National baseline established by Lao PDR Government for monitoring of workplace accidents.
Target 2.1.4National mechanism established and related capacity developed for sex-disaggregated reporting of workplace accidents by 2018.
Indicator 2.1.5Number of reports by national constituents on actions taken annually to implement National Plan of Action (NPA) on the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour.
Target 2.1.5By 2018 annual reports by national constituents developed and disseminated on implementation of the NPA in their respective areas of responsibility.
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Outcome 2.2: Increased ratification and application of international labour Conventions.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcomes 1 and 2; Lao PDR-UNPF Outcomes 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8; SDGs 1, 4, 5 and 8; P&B Outcome 2; and the Bali Declaration .
The review of the 2011-15 DWCP identified these key gaps with respect to the ongoing ratification and identification of international labour Conventions:
• the need for prioritization of ratifications that remain under consideration • improvement of implementation, monitoring and reporting, including through strengthening
the necessary institutional and technical capacities. In this regard, the CEACR has noted Lao PDR’s failure to respect its standards-related reporting obligations, in particular the obligation to provide reports on ratified Conventions and reports on the submission, to the competent authorities, of instruments adopted by the ILC. Indicator 2.2.3 is intended to address this gap in standards-related reporting.
Accordingly, ILO technical and capacity development support in the period 2017–21 will prioritize these measures:
• further ratifications in line with national priorities and capacities (Indicator 2.2.1);• a more systematic approach to planning and monitoring implementation of each ratified
Convention, with particular attention to C100 and C111 (Indicator 2.2.2) • improving the timeliness and quality of reporting (Indicator 2.2.3).
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 2.2.1Number of international labour Conventions ratified by Lao PDR.
Target 2.2.1Lao PDR has ratified at least one additional international labour Convention by 2021.
Indicator 2.2.2Number of actions taken annually to implement international labour Conventions.
Target 2.2.2 (a)By 2021, at least five actions taken to implement international labour Conventions, with particular attention to C100 and C111.
Target 2.2.2 (b)At least one initiative by 2019 to strengthen national constituent capacity to implement, monitor and report on ratified Conventions.
Indicator 2.2.3Lao PDR’s constitutional obligations to submit reports on ratified Conventions and other standards-related matters satisfied in a timely manner.
Target 2.2.3All reports requested by the ILO supervisory bodies, pursuant to Articles 19 and 22 of the ILO Constitution, are submitted by 2021.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202131
Priority 3: Strengthen and expand social protection.
The strengthening and expansion of social protection is critical to Lao PDR’s ability to meet the economic vulnerability index (EVI) requirements for graduation from LDC status as well as to reducing the country’s high levels of vulnerable employment.
Two inter-linked outcomes support the implementation of this priority. The outcomes address identified needs in the following areas:
• need for strategic direction, focus and national coordination in targeting resources and effort for social protection (Outcome 3.1);
• sustainability of social protection schemes and coverage (Outcome 3.1);
• increased awareness of and access to social protection services, particularly for workers outside formal employment (Outcome 3.2);
• Social Security Law implementation (Outcome 3.2); and• coordinated implementation of the health insurance
reforms supported under the previous DWCP, building on progress to date (Outcome 3.2).
A significant output in this context will be a National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS). This will draw on recommendations of the assessment-based national dialogue (ABND) initiated under the previous DWCP.
Special priority will also be given to extending awareness and implementation of the Social Security Law, as well as social protection policies and services more generally, to district and local levels as well as to Lao PDR’s extensive and diverse informal economy.
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Outcome 3.1: National Social Protection Strategy and new social transfer tax-funded programme(s) developed, adopted and implemented.
Supported by development cooperation projects: Development of regional social protection facility involving Lao PDR, Cambodia and Myanmar. The facility will make technical expertise and third-country experience available to the development of Lao PDR’s social protection policy and system.
Potential Phase 2 of ILO/China South-South Cooperation Project, expanded to include social protection as a priority focus.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome2 (Output 5) and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2; Lao PDR-UNPF Outcome 2; SDGs 1 (Outcome 1.3), 5 and 8; and P&B Outcome 3.
Building on previous engagement to improve and harmonize social protection policy, institutional arrangements and delivery, the ILO will provide strategically targeted technical and capacity development support to Lao PDR partners in the following areas:
• development of a National Social Protection Strategy, as recommended by the ABND process. This will provide an essential framework for the prioritization, coherence and coordination of national efforts and resources to ensure that (i) social protection is available over time to all Lao PDR citizens; (ii) is resourced on a sustainable basis; and (iii) is of high quality (Indicator 3.1.1); and
• introduction of at least one new social transfer tax-funded programme based on ABND recommendations (Indicator 3.1.2).
This will include close cooperation with other international development partners in the context of the UNCT joint working group on employment creation and social protection.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202133
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 3.1.1 Availability of gender, disability and ethnicity-sensitive National Social Protection Strategy, action plan and associated costings.
Target 3.1.1 (a)ABND on social protection completed by 2017 as basis for formulation of NSPS and prioritizing government social protection initiatives, with active engagement by national constituents and including gender, ethnicity and disability considerations.
Target 3.1.1 (b)NSPS including gender, ethnicity and disability considerations developed, adopted and costed by 2020 through an inclusive national process involving national constituents that (i) draws on outcomes of ABND process and (ii) uses costings from the rapid assessment basic protocol developed under the ABND.
Indicator 3.1.2Number of new social transfer tax-funded programmes established as result of ABND recommendations.
Target 3.1.2At least one new social transfer tax-funded programme designed based on the ABND recommendations and (i) implemented by 2021 and (ii) at least 50% funded by domestic resources.
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Outcome 3.2: Increased access for workers and families to social protection benefits, including social health protection.
In order to reinforce coordinated UNCT action on social protection, this outcome directly relates to Outcome 2 and related Targets of the Lao PDR-UN Partnership Framework 2017–2021: More people have access to social protection benefits, including social health protection.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 2 (Output 5) and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2; Lao PDR-UNPF Outcome 2; SDGs 1 (Outcome 1.3), 5 and 8; and P&B Outcome 3.
Along with the need for a more strategic and coherent national approach to the long-term development of social protection in Lao PDR, pressing immediate gaps in coverage require urgent attention, particularly for workers and families outside the public sector and formal economy.
To this end, ILO technical and capacity development support in the period 2017–21 will strengthen and expand the following efforts:
• social protection coverage in line with ABND recommendations (Indicators 3.2.1 and 3.2.2);
• harmonized social health arrangements, building on progress under the previous DWCP (Indicator 3.2.3); and
• dissemination and implementation of the revised law in active cooperation with national constituents (Indicator 3.2.4).
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202135
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 3.2.1Number of formally employed women and men enrolled in National Social Security Fund (NSSF), excluding armed forces and police officials.
Target 3.2.1At least 300,000 formally employed women and men workers (excluding armed forces and police officials) enrolled in NSSF by 2021.65
Indicator 3.2.2Percentage of poor women and men covered by social protection schemes.
Target 3.2.2 At least 95% of poor women and men covered by social protection schemes by 2021,66 with people with disabilities comprising at least 2.8% of social protection beneficiaries.67
Indicator 3.2.3Number of initiatives to harmonize social health arrangements and institutional systems.
Target 3.2.3At least two initiatives to complete harmonization of social health insurance benefits and information technology (IT) systems by 2020.
Indicator 3.2.4Existence of revised Social Security Law and regulations in alignment with international standards, with focus on informal economy access.
Target 3.2.4Social Security Law revised, approved and disseminated by end of 2018, with active engagement of national constituents and input of ILO-produced actuarial valuations.
66 Linked to Lao PDR-UNPF Target 2.1.67 Linked to Lao PDR UNPF Target 2.2.68 Thistargetreflectsthenationwideprevalenceofdisability(LaoPDR4thPopulationandHousingCensus,2015).
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Cross-cutting priority 4: Strengthen tripartite cooperation and social dialogue.
Effective tripartite cooperation and social dialogue between national constituents is the foundation upon which implementation of the DWCP ultimately rests across all outcomes.
Given the early stage of development of the necessary mechanisms, capacities and approaches in Lao PDR, this additional cross-cutting priority has been included in the DWCP 2017–21 to continue and build on relevant activities initiated in the period 2011–15. Outcomes under this cross-cutting priority are designed to strengthen tripartite cooperation and social dialogue by targeting the following priority areas for development identified in the review of the previous DWCP:
• appropriate and effective institutional mechanisms and procedures for cooperation and dialogue at national, provincial, district and enterprise levels (Outcome 4.1); and
• strengthening of relevant institutional and technical capacities of the social partners (Outcomes 4.2 and 4.3).
The review of the 2011–15 DWCP further identified a need to bring a stronger strategic focus and clear longer-term priorities to ILO partnerships with both the LNCCI and the LFTU. Accordingly, implementation of this priority will be underpinned by the development of multi-year cooperation frameworks with each organization, backed up by an annual review and planning process.
The cooperation frameworks will be explicitly linked to implementation of the DWCP as a whole and will include joint commitments to practical steps in areas including these: (i) promoting social dialogue and tripartite cooperation; (ii) gender mainstreaming and strengthening women’s role in leadership and decision-making; (iii) implementation of the NPA on child labour; (iv) strengthening employment services and LMI; (v) ensuring safe labour migration; (vi) technical/vocational skills development; (vii) strengthening collective bargaining; (viii) promotion of the Labour Law, Social Security Law and Trade Union Law; and (ix) ratification and implementation of international labour Conventions.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202137
Outcome 4.1: Increased quality of mechanisms and procedures for tripartite cooperation and social dialogue.
This outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 1 (Output 1), Outcome 1 (Output 5) and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2; SDGs 5 and 8; ILO P&B Outcome 10; and the Bali Declaration.
The development of Lao PDR’s tripartite cooperation and social dialogue architecture remains at a relatively early stage. In line with national constituent priorities, ILO technical and capacity development support under the DWCP focus on the following inter-linked areas:
• establishment of a high-level National Tripartite Committee (currently under discussion among tripartite partners, arising out of the previous DWCP), helping to raise the profile, visibility and level of engagement in tripartite cooperation and dialogue (Indicator 4.1.1);
• increasing the regularity and evidence-base of tripartite minimum wage processes (Indicator 4.1.2);
• strengthening collective bargaining culture and capacities at enterprise and sector levels (Indicator 4.1.3); and
• more rigorous oversight and monitoring of the resolution of industrial disputes, beginning at a modest level during the coming five-year period (Indicator 4.1.4).
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 4.1.1Establishment of National Tripartite Committee and associated sub-committees.68
Target 4.1.1 National Tripartite Committee and at least two associated sub-committees established by end of 2018; subcommittees include one on gender equality and non-discrimination at work, with at least 30% female members.
Indicator 4.1.2Number of evidence-based and gender-sensitive tripartite minimum wage reviews.
Target 4.1.2 National constituents (i) agree on procedures and criteria for more regular minimum wage reviews; (ii) agree on measures to ensure that gender considerations are addressed in this context and (iii) hold at least two reviews under revised approach by 2021.
Indicator 4.1.3 Increase in number of collective bargaining agreements at enterprise or sectoral level.
Target 4.1.3 Ten per cent increase in number of collective bargaining agreements negotiated between employers and workers by 2021.
Indicator 4.1.4Percentage of recorded industrial disputes which are resolved before reaching the courts
Target 4.1.4 Thirty per cent of recorded industrial disputes resolved though social dialogue or statutory procedures by 2021.
69 Potential establishment of national tripartite committees and sub-committees under consideration by the national constituents in 2016–17, including the study of other country examples within ASEAN.
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Outcome 4.2: Increased capacity of employers to advance Decent Work Agenda and social dialogue.
The outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 1 (Output 1), Outcome 1 (Output 5) and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2, SDGs 5 and 8; ILO P&B Outcome 10; and the Bali Declaration.
Lao PDR employers have a critical role to play in implementing the NSEDP and in Lao PDR’s longer-term development agenda, including the provision of decent and productive work and the mobilization of resources. Key to the success of long-term employer engagement is the role and effectiveness of the LNCCI, particularly its ability to: (i) promote and serve member interests; (ii) represent the diversity of the country’s employers in national policy, programmatic and budgetary decision-making processes; and (iii) cooperate successfully with both government counterparts and workers, represented by the LFTU.
To this end, priority ILO technical and capacity development support during the 2017–21 period will enhance the following LNCCI capacities:
• contributions to national legislative, policy, strategy and planning processes (Indicator 4.2.1);
• promoting member interests and engaging in tripartite cooperation and social dialogue (Indicator 4.2.2);
• expanding membership, with a focus on MSME membership (Indicator 4.2.3); and• addressing internal gender disparities and providing a role model by increasing the number
of women in leadership and senior decision-making roles (Indicator 4.2.4).
Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 4.2.1Number of LNCCI initiatives annually to influence national laws, policies, strategies and plans.
Target 4.2.1 At least two LNCCI initiatives annually to influence national laws, policies, laws, strategies and plans.
Indicator 4.2.2Number of LNCCI capacity development initiatives annually aiming to (i) engage in tripartite cooperation and/or (ii) serve member interests.
Target 4.2.2 At least two initiatives annually (averaged over five years) to strengthen member capacity to (i) engage in tripartite cooperation and/or (ii) serve member interests in line with the LNCCI National Strategic Policy Framework.
Indicator 4.2.3 Percentage increase in MSME membership of LNCCI.
Target 4.2.3Twenty per cent increase in MSME membership of LNCCI by 2021.
Indicator 4.2.4Percentage increase in number of women in LNCCI leadership and management positions.
Target 4.2.4At least 30% of leadership and management positions held by women by 2021.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202139
Outcome 4.3: Increased capacity of workers to advance Decent Work Agenda and social dialogue.
The outcome links to NSEDP Outcome 1 (Output 1), Outcome 1 (Output 5) and Cross-cutting output 8.21.2, SDGs 5 and 8; ILO P&B Outcome 10; and the Bali Declaration.
Alongside Lao PDR employers, the country’s workers have a critical role to play in implementing the NSEDP and Lao PDR’s longer-term development agenda, among other things ensuring the protection and advancement of worker rights and access to decent and productive work. Key to the long-term impact of workers’ engagement is the role and effectiveness of the LFTU, particularly its ability to (i) promote and serve member interests; (ii) represent the interests of women and men workers in national policy, programmatic and budgetary decision-making processes; and (iii) cooperate successfully around shared priorities with both government counterparts and, represented by the LNCCI, employers.
To this end, targeted ILO technical and capacity development support during the 2017–21 period aims to enhance the LFTU’s capacity to pursue the following measures:
• contribute to national legislative, policy, strategy and planning processes, including revision of the Trade Union Law (Indicator 4.3.1);
• serve member interests and engage in tripartite cooperation and social dialogue, including implementation of the LFTU action plan on protection of migrant workers (Indicator 4.3.2);
• expand membership, with a focus on expanding both formal private sector and informal sector membership (Indicator 4.3.3); and
• address internal gender disparities and provide a role model by increasing the number of women in leadership and senior decision-making roles (Indicator 4.3.4).
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Indicators of achievement Targets
Indicator 4.3.1Number of LFTU initiatives annually to influence national laws, policies, laws, strategies and plans.
Target 4.3.1At least two LFTU initiatives annually to influence national laws, policies, laws, strategies and plans, including revision of Trade Union Law in 2017.
Indicator 4.3.2Number of capacity development initiatives annually to strengthen capacity to (i) engage in tripartite cooperation and/or (ii) serve member interests.
Target 4.3.2 At least two initiatives annually (averaged over five years) to strengthen member capacity to (i) engage in tripartite cooperation and/or (ii) serve member interests in line with LFTU priorities, including in implementation of the Trade Union Law and LFTU action plan on protection of migrant workers.
Indicator 4.3.3Percentage increase in number, disaggregated by sex, of formal and informal workers covered by unions.
Target 4.3.3At least 50% increase in number of private sector formal workers and 100% increase in the number of informal workers (disaggregated by sex) covered by unions by 2021.
Indicator 4.3.4Percentage increase in number of women in LFTU leadership and management positions.
Target 4.3.4At least 30% of leadership and management positions held by women by 2021.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202141
6. Cross-cutting programme drivers
The following cross-cutting programme drivers will underpin DWCP programme and project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation:
• the ongoing ratification and implementation of international labour standards;• social dialogue and tripartite cooperation, with active participation and commitment by
all national constituents key to the achievement of programme outcomes;• mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment, including (i) at senior
leadership, decision-making and management levels within national constituent organizational structures and processes and (ii) through the promotion of women’s leadership, voice, representation and skills development in areas including policy development and entrepreneurship;
• non-discrimination in all respects, including on the bases of ethnicity or disability;• promotion of an environmentally sustainable world of work, particularly within the rural
employment component of the DWCP (linked to implementation within the Lao PDR DWCP context of the ILO Green Initiative);
• extension of national laws, policies, strategies and services to district and local levels, as well as to Lao PDR’s extensive and diverse informal economy;
• institutional and technical capacity development at all levels; and• development of effective partnerships between (i) the ILO and national constituents; (ii)
the constituents themselves; and (iii) the ILO and other international partners, including within the context of the Lao PDR-UN Partnership Framework (UNPF).
These key cross-cutting programme drivers will be reflected in meetings of the Tripartite DWCP Committee and Tripartite Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Working Group. They will require attention by all stakeholders, supported by ILO technical advice, to ensure that relevant data is disaggregated, to the extent possible, by sex, ethnicity and disability.
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7. Tripartite architecture in Lao PDR
The key social dialogue parties in Lao PDR are the MoLSW, the LNCCI and the LFTU. Along with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), each party is a signatory to the DWCP 2017–21.
A number of tripartite mechanisms exist at national, provincial, enterprise and specific project levels as vehicles for social dialogue and tripartite cooperation. These are outlined below. Discussion was underway at the outset of the current DWCP period regarding the potential establishment of a high-level National Tripartite Committee and associated sub-committees.
National Tripartite Committee (proposed)• National-level policy recommendations to Government • Wider overview encompassing other ministries, including MoES, MCI, MPI
and others • At Ministerial and Presidential level
Technical and project tripartite committees
Technical Tripartite Committee on Industrial Relations TTC (IR)
DWCP Tripartite Committee (DTC)
Provincial tripartite committees (14 in 2016)
Set up according to need at different levels (e.g. OSH national and local tripartite committees; oversight of specific ILO projects).
Chaired at DG level, rotated between MoLSW, LFTU and LNCCI.
Chaired at Vice-Ministerial/ Vice-President level.
Serviced by provincial DLSW.
Will extend to further provinces as LNCCI expands at provincial level.
Chairing and secretariat responsibilities vary.
Meets at least quarterly to consider industrial relations matters, including minimum wage adjustments.
Meets at least annually to oversee monitor and manage DWCP.
Serviced by DWCP M&E Working Group (DWCP MEWG) consisting of M&E focal points of MoLSW, MPI, LFTU, LNCCI and ILO.
Meets at least quarterly. Chairing role shared.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202143
8. Cross-DWCP synergies and linkages
A key finding of the review of the 2011–15 DWCP was that the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of DWCP implementation was multiplied by synergies and linkages between the various parts of the overall programme. A key focus of implementation for the period 2017–2021 will thus include strengthening of such synergies by way of the following:
• regular review of this factor by the DWCP Tripartite Committee and the DWCP Tripartite MEWG;
• inclusion of this factor in the terms of reference for DWCP reviews and project evaluations; and
• active interaction between the relevant staff in the ILO Regional and Country Offices.
9. Knowledge sharingThe generation and sharing of knowledge related to decent work in Lao PDR comprises a core DWCP component. This occurs in various ways, including these:
• in the course of interaction between (i) the national constituents and (ii) between ILO specialists and Lao PDR counterparts;
• in the context of research, studies, reviews, evaluations and production of knowledge products;
• as part of training processes, seminars and workshops;• among ILO staff engaged in supporting Lao PDR initiatives under the DWCP; and • drawing on other country knowledge.
Ensuring the quality and effectiveness of knowledge sharing will be a priority focus in DWCP planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation during 2017–21.
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10. Resourcing DWCP implementation
In line with its internationally mandated role and comparative advantages, the ILO is not a funding agency.
DWCP implementation will be resourced by a combination of national constituent, ILO regular budget and extra-budgetary sources. Extra-budgetary resources that have already been confirmed in the context of development cooperation projects are listed in the results framework. Where there are funding gaps, the ILO will work with national constituents to identify, prioritize and follow-up potential financing sources.
In this context, key resourcing priorities during implementation of the 2017–21 DWCP will include the following:
• Strengthened ILO collaboration with other international development partners active in DWCP priority areas to (i) enhance long-term joint planning based on shared priorities; (ii) maximize efficiencies in the use of available resources; (iii) deepen relations with potential donors; and (iv) enhance programme impact.
• Further development of South-South cooperation modalities as a key source of resources, knowledge and skills.
• Strengthened linkages between the various components of the DWCP to improve internal programme synergies and efficiencies.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202145
11. Key DWCP partnershipsThe core partnerships underpinning the DWCP are those between the ILO, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW), the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Lao National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU).
This core is supplemented by partnerships developed with these actors:
• other international development agencies, including under the auspices of the Lao PDR-UNPF;
• other government ministries and mass organizations; and • international and local civil society organizations and other actors active in DWCP priority
areas.
The ILO will further participate to the extent possible in UNCT joint mechanisms as part of its commitment to the “UN Delivering as One” and to benefit from access to the wider resources of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Lao PDR. This will include participation in the following:
• multi-agency working groups under relevant Lao PDR-UNPF outcomes, with priority on the joint UNCT working group on employment creation and social protection;
• UN Operations Management Team (under the auspices of the UN Business Operations Strategy), which will strengthen day-to-day working relations; and
• UN Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group, which will share good M&E practices and learning.
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12. DWCP management and implementation framework
12.1 Collaboration between ILO and national constituents
The Government of Lao PDR and the social partners will collaborate with the ILO in the implementation and regular review of the DWCP within the framework of tripartite architecture described in section 12. All partners will participate fully at all stages of the DWCP cycle, including an annual tripartite meeting to review implementation. The ILO will also cooperate with other key stakeholders in the country, including UN system programmes, funds, and agencies through the Lao PDR-UNPF. Such cooperation will be based on a shared commitment to support national development priorities and a mutual respect for the respective mandates, expertise and resources of each partner.
12.2 Government-social partner coordination
Effective development, implementation and review of the DWCP depends on close coordination among ministries and other government agencies, and between the Government and the social partners. The body that ensured this coordination during the 2011–15 DWCP, the DWCP Tripartite Committee (supported by the tripartite DWCP MEWG), will continue to ensure coordination and ownership throughout the period of the current DWCP. ILO commitments to, and alignment with, the Lao PDR-UNPF will be assessed under the annual UNCT review process and reporting obligations to the Lao PDR Government.
12.3 Internal ILO oversight and coordination
Within the ILO, DWCP implementation is led and coordinated by the Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR, with active support from the Decent Work Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific, the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and ILO Headquarters in Geneva. Within this framework, the ILO National Coordinator based in Vientiane provides the primary focal point for DWCP implementation and relations at country level.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202147
13. Advocacy and communications
Evidence-based advocacy for decent work is an important part of the ILO role at the country level. Such advocacy is conducted in the context of dialogue and cooperation with national constituents and other partners. It is informed by relevant research, other country experience and the findings of programme reviews and evaluations.
Key messages in ILO advocacy and communications include:
• the role of International Labour Conventions and SDG 8 in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Lao PDR
• the importance of effective partnerships to address Lao PDR’s decent work challenges, implement the SDGs and achieve domestic development priorities
• success stories emerging from initiatives under the DWCP and their contribution to achieving Lao PDR’s development agenda
The ILO and the national constituents will draw upon the above messages to develop targeted materials and approaches for resource mobilization purposes, including through the website maintained by the ILO Country Office for Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand. To supplement these efforts, the ILO will participate in the Lao PDR UN Communications Group (under the auspices of the UNCT Communications Strategy), which will provide opportunities to increase the public profile of the DWCP.
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14. Monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting
Critical to the successful implementation of the DWCP are effective monitoring and evaluation, linked to continuous learning and reporting. To this end, the following measures will be taken:
• mid-term and end-of-term and DWCP reviews, linked to similar processes under the Lao PDR-UNPF;
• evaluation of development cooperation projects to be linked to their contribution to the achievement of overall DWCP outcomes; and
• development and regular updating (at least quarterly) of the DWCP Monitoring Plan.
The DWCP M&E Working Group will met at least quarterly to ensure oversight and coordination of the above measures. Its agenda will include the following:
• review of the updated DWCP Monitoring Plan;• review of findings of recent programme and project reviews and evaluations;• developing links with the UNCT Evaluation Working Group;• maintaining an overview of other relevant ILO thematic and multi-country evaluations; and• based on the above, recommendations to the annual review meeting of the DWCP Tripartite
Committee on adjustments required to ensure continued relevance, effectiveness and impact of DWCP implementation.
Adjustments made to the DWCP as part of the annual review process will particularly apply at Output, Indicator and Target levels.
The DWCP Tripartite Committee will prepare an annual report on DWCP implementation and develop a draft work plan for the following year, with support of the ILO Coordinator in Lao PDR. These documents will be considered at the annual DWCP Tripartite Committee review meeting, which includes the MPI.
The finalised report will feed into both the UNPF annual report to the Lao PDR Government and the Government’s annual NSEDP report. The ILO will report internally on implementation under its own requirements and procedures.
Strengthening the M&E capacities of Lao PDR National Constituents will be a priority of capacity development support provided under the DWCP.
The increase in regularity of the Labour Force Survey supported by the DWCP will be an important source of data against which DWCP implementation can be assessed and adjusted as necessary.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202149
15. Risk analysis and management
Achieving the DWCP outcomes will depend on the availability of the necessary financial and human resources from both Lao PDR and ILO sources. This includes delivery by the ILO of timely technical support and efficient fund transfers. Accordingly, the DWCP results framework takes account of both the availability of resources and the potential risks that may need to be addressed during programme implementation.
A detailed description of assumptions and risks is set out in annex I. The major issues identified concern the following: (i) availability of the necessary resources for implementation, and (ii) timely ILO provision of the necessary technical, capacity development and financial support.
The DWCP Tripartite Committee, supported by the tripartite DWCP MEWG provides the main mechanism for monitoring these and other risks, and for adjusting the DWCP as necessary.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202151
ReferencesAsian Development Bank (ADB). 2016. Strengthening capacity to develop the employment service system: Technical assistance report. Available at: https://www.adb.org/projects/documents/lao-capacity-dev-employment-service-system-tar [30 Apr. 2016].
Clarke, Don; Venevankham, Kolakot. 2016. Lao PDR Decent Work Country Programme (2011–2015). Review report (7 July).
Department for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion, Government of Lao PDR. Website at: http://www.smepdo.org/?lang=en [4 May 2017].
International Labour Organization (ILO). No date. NORMLEX Information System on International Labour Standards. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:1:0::NO:RP:: [29 Apr. 2017].
—. 2016. National Rural Employment Strategy in Lao PDR towards increasing opportunities for decent and productive employment in rural areas (2017–2019) Project document.
—; Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2015. Will the AEC support Lao PDR’s goal to overcome least developed status? Lao PDR Country Brief. Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_357415.pdf [4 May 2017].
—. 2014. ASEAN Community 2015: Managing integration for better jobs and shared prosperity (Bangkok, ILO and ADB). Available at: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/42818/asean-community-2015-managing-integration.pdf [4 May 2017].
Laos-Australia Development Learning Facility. 2015. Sam Sang in practice: Early lessons from pilot implementation. Available at http://ladlf.org/images/publications/141215_ladlf_samsang_study.pdf [29 Apr. 2017].
Lao Statistics Bureau. 2016. Lao PDR 4th population and housing census, 2015 (Vientiane). Available at http://lsb.gov.la/en/index.php [4 May, 2017].
—. 2010. Labour force survey (Vientiane). Available at: http://www.ilo.org/surveydata/index.php/catalog/1352 [4 May 2017].
Mitra, Priyanjali. 2015. “My World of Work” survey 2015: Lao PDR – Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2016.
Theile, Silas; Cichon, Dr Michael. 2016. Definition and costing of a social protection floor in Lao PDR: Preliminary assessment report. Unpublished.
UN Country Team, Lao PDR. 2015. Country analysis report: Analysis to inform the Lao PDR-UN Partnership Framework (2017–2021), Vientiane. PDF available online [4 May 2017].
UNDESA. 2016. Time Use Data Portal (data as of May 2016), Available at: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/timeuse/ [30 Apr. 2017].
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UNDP/Ministry of Planning and Investment. 2017. Graduation from least developed country status Lao PDR, 2017. The 5th National Human Development Report (Vientiane). PDF available online [4 May 2017].
UNFPA. 2016. “Landmark report: Violence against women a ‘hidden scourge’ in Lao PDR” (10 March). Press release. Available at: http://asiapacific.unfpa.org/news/landmark-report-violence-against-women-‘hidden-scourge’-lao-pdr [4 May 2017].
—. 2015. Lao PDR’s pathway to a demographic dividend.
—. 2013. Situation of youth in Lao PDR (2013).
World Bank. 2014. Lao development report: Expanding productive employment for broad-based growth. Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lao/publication/lao-pdr-development-report-2014 [4 May 2017].
—. 2014. “Lao PDR’s small and medium-sized enterprises to benefit from new World Bank financing”. Media release (9 June). Available at: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/06/09/lao-pdr-small-medium-enterprises-benefit-new-world-bank-financing [4 May 2017].
World Economic Forum. 2016. Global gender gap report. Available at: http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2016/ [4 May 2017].
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202153
Annexes: Key documents for implementation of the DWCP 2017–2021The following documents support DWCP implementation, monitoring, review, evaluation and learning:
I DWCP assumptions and risks frameworkII Terms of reference: National Decent Work Tripartite Committee, DWCP 2017–2021III Lessons learned from previous DWCP experienceIV DWCP results framework
Annex I: DWCP assumptions and risks framework
Priority 1: Promote employment and skills development in line with market demand.
Outcome 1.1
Increased number of relevant policy frameworks, strategies and regulations for creating decent jobs in rural areas
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
Adequate financial and human resources available to support strategy development, including for rural infrastructure and services.
Insufficient financial and human resources undermines development and implementation of NRES.
Rural employment plans and initiatives set back by factors related to climate change.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. Maintain regular dialogue between relevant parties on resourcing requirements.
Climate change risks and mitigating factors built into (i) the design of the rural employment development cooperation project and (ii) the formulation of the NRES.
ILO to involve IDPs actively in development of the NRES and planning for implementation.
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Outcome 1.2
Increased decent and productive employment through (i) improved matching of jobseekers and labour market requirements; (ii) entrepreneurship development for women, men and youth; and (iii) development of policy and legal instruments to support safe labour migration.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
Adequate financial and human resources available for (i) effective and expanded PES and LMI; (ii) implementation of the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN; (iii) implementation of the 3rd SME Development Plan 2016–2020; and (iv) closer integration of public employment and labour migration services.
Insufficient financial and human resources at national and provincial levels lead to sub-optimal implementation of the NSEDP commitments in these areas.
Lack of coordination between (i) key government ministries and (ii) between IDPs leads to inefficiencies in the use of existing human and financial resources.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. Maintain regular dialogue between relevant parties on resourcing requirements.
ILO to explore alternative funding sources, including South-South cooperation.
ILO to support improved coordination within Government and among IDPs. In case of PES and LMI, collaborate closely with ADB project in these areas.
Outcome 1.3
Increased policy capacity, competency standards, and certification and accreditation arrangements to support promotion of technical/vocational skills for women, men and youth
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
Stronger linkages developed between labour market requirements, improved LMI and TVET planning.
Improved use of available resources due to better coordination among relevant ministries, particularly MoLSW and MoES.
IDPs improve coordination of their efforts in support of TVET.
Current skill/market mismatches continue as result of insufficient improvement of PES and LMI, undermining NSEDP and AEC implementation.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. Maintain regular dialogue between relevant parties on resourcing requirements.
Explore alternative funding sources, including South-South cooperation.
ILO to support improved coordination within Government and among IDPs.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202155
Priority 2: Promote ratification and implementation of international labour standards.
Outcome 2.1
Increased quality of labour standards and protection through Labour Law implementation.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
National constituents committed to ensuring that the Labour Law is visible, widely understood and applied at all levels and in all sectors of Lao society.
In the context of a rapidly developing economy and expanding labour market, the need to address occupational safety and health concerns will increase.
Implementation of Labour Law (including OSH components) undermined by (i) lack of awareness of the law, particularly among informal workers and in rural areas and (ii) insufficient resources.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. Maintain regular dialogue between relevant parties on resourcing requirements.
ILO to pursue the proposed Development Cooperation Project (Outcome 2.1) to support implementation of the PM’s Decree and other measures on OSH.
Outcome 2.2
Increased ratification and application of international labour Conventions.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
Priorities agreed for future ratifications and the necessary technical and capacity support available from the ILO.
Future ratifications as well as implementation of currently ratified and unratified Conventions held back by (i) insufficient local capacity and (ii) insufficient ILO technical and capacity development support.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. Develop realistic priorities and plans for (i) future ratifications and (ii) implementation of current relevant Conventions (both ratified and unratified), with ILO technical and capacity development support.
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Priority 3: Strengthen and expand social protection.
Outcome 3.1
National Social Protection Strategy and new social transfer tax-funded programme(s) developed, adopted and implemented.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
ABDN process produces clear priorities, including with respect to development of a National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS).
The necessary financial and human resources available to support implementation of ABND recommendations which are accepted by the Lao PDR Government.
Coordination improved among (i) the various ministries and (ii) IDPs involved in social protection delivery and development.
Development of NSPS delayed by lack of resources.
Lack of fiscal space affects (i) sustainable implementation of tax payer-funded programmes under the NSPS and (ii) establishment of the national infrastructure and staffing arrangements required for nationwide delivery.
Effective and efficient development of integrated social protection approaches held back by lack of (i) cross-government and (ii) IDP coordination.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
High. Maintain regular dialogue between relevant parties on resourcing requirements.
ILO to provide technical and capacity development support for development, costing and implementation of NSPS.
ILO to explore transitional funding options, including South-South cooperation.
ILO to support/facilitate coordinated approaches among relevant government agencies and IDPs.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202157
Outcome 3.2
Increased access for workers and families to social protection benefits, including social health protection.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
Long-term financial implications of moving towards tax payer-funded options fully costed and a long-term financing plan developed.
Revised Social Welfare Law (i) in line with international standards, including with respect to gender and disability, and (ii) widely disseminated at all levels.
Coordination between the relevant ministries and agencies, particularly MoLSW and MOH, is strengthened.
Lack of fiscal space affects ability to move towards tax payer funded options.
Access by informal workers remains problematical due to lack of financial and financial resources.
Lack of coordination between government ministries/agencies affects progress towards full integration of social protection policy and services.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
High. Maintain regular dialogue between relevant parties on resourcing requirements.
ILO to explore transitional funding options, including South-South cooperation.
ILO to support/facilitate coordinated approaches among ( i) relevant government agencies and (ii) international development partners, including World Bank.
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Cross-cutting Priority 4: Strengthen tripartite cooperation and social dialogue.
Outcome 4.1
Increased quality of tripartite cooperation and social dialogue through improved mechanisms.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
National Tripartite Committee and sub-committees established.
Agreement among national constituents on moving to a more regular minimum wage review process.
Resources available to support improvements in tripartite cooperation and social dialogue, including collective bargaining.
Roles and benefits of tripartite bodies and processes not well understood, particularly at provincial and district levels, undermining their value in supporting NSEDP implementation.
Insufficient resources available to support tripartite processes, affecting their effectiveness and sustainability.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. ILO technical and capacity development assistance as necessary to (i) support the new Tripartite Committee; (ii) develop criteria and procedures for minimum wage setting; and (iii) improve LNCCI and LFTU capacity for tripartite cooperation and social dialogue, including collective bargaining.
ILO to facilitate joint resource mobilization efforts.
Outcome 4.2
Increased capacity of employers to advance Decent Work Agenda and social dialogue.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
In the context of its National Strategic Policy Framework, the LNCCI commits the necessary staff and financial resources to effective social dialogue; strengthening services to members; and expanding membership, including SMEs and provincial coverage.
A lack of (i) comprehensive coverage of employers nationally and (ii) active membership participation undermines LNCCI contribution to NSEDP implementation.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Low. ILO technical and capacity development support to improve LFTU ability to expand and serve membership.
ILO to facilitate joint resource mobilization efforts.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202159
Outcome 4.3
Increased capacity of workers to advance Decent Work Agenda and social dialogue.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
The LFTU commits the necessary staff and financial resources to effective social dialogue, strengthening its services to members and expanding membership, including among informal workers.
A lack of comprehensive coverage of workers across all sectors nationally affects (i) LFTU contribution to NSEDP implementation and (ii) ability to protect workers’ rights and conditions in context of rapid economic change.
Delays in the provision of agreed technical, financial and capacity development support.
Medium. ILO technical and capacity development support to improve LFTU ability to expand and serve membership.
ILO to facilitate joint resource mobilization efforts.
Cross-cutting theme
Effective application of laws for gender equality and strengthening of tripartite gender mainstreaming capacities.
Assumptions Risks Level of risk Mitigation measures
The key national gender equality institutions – National Commission for Advancement of Women, Mother and Child (NCAWMC) and Lao Women’s Union (LWU) can play active advocacy roles in areas relevant to DCWP priorities.
Gender considerations given the necessary attention in NSEDP implementation and monitoring.
LNCCI and LFTU gender equality commitments reflected in increased numbers of women in leadership and senior management.
Progress in implementing the NSEDP on an inclusive and equitable basis undermined by insufficient resourcing of gender equality aspects.
Medium. Engage the NCAWMC and the LWU in planning and implementation of DWCP activities where-ever possible.
ILO to include specific markers in all DWCP interventions and projects to keep focus on gender considerations in planning, implementation and review/evaluation.
ILO to seek specific resourcing for implementation of gender commitments within DWCP.
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Annex II: Terms of reference
National Tripartite Decent Work Committee Decent Work Country Programme for Lao PDR 2017–2021
I. Background
The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Lao PDR 2017–2021 was developed through a series of consultations with tripartite organizations in Lao PDR, namely the Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and contains the strategy for planned interventions.
Within the overarching theme of Decent Work for All, the DWCP will concentrate on the following four priorities for the period 2017–2021;
• Priority 1: Promote employment and technical/vocational skills development in line with market demand.
• Priority 2: Promote ratification of international labour standards and improve implementation of the Labour Law.
• Priority 3: Develop National Social Protection Strategy and improve social protection policy and mechanisms.
• Priority 4: Strengthen tripartite cooperation and social dialogue.
To realize the DWCP objectives, the Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations decided to set up a Steering Committee for the DWCP 2017–2021.
ILO development cooperation activities in Lao PDR, in particular the Decent Work Country Programme 2017–2021, are undertaken within the framework of the national development policies. The DWCP contributes to the UN Partnership Programme for Lao PDR 2017–2021 and supports the implementation of the 8th National Social and Economic Development (8th NSEDP) and the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ILO development cooperation programme in Lao PDR consists of programmes, projects, and other technical assistance activities funded by a mix of ILO funding as well as national contributions.
While the SDGs are universal and inter-related, each country will draw up its own strategy on how to achieve them and will report on results. It is therefore important for the tripartite constituents to increase their influence in this process. In addition, development cooperation must increasingly be driven by constituents’ needs and more from the bottom up. Eventually, the promotion of decent work is a cooperative effort that involves a range of national development partners as well as international development partners.
The tripartite organizations’ active participation in the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, as well as in the coordination and oversight of ILO development cooperation activities is important. The overall aim of the National Decent Work Tripartite Committee is to contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the ILO development cooperation through interaction with national and in-country partners. The Committee provides a space to promote the sustainability of ILO development cooperation interventions, seeking alignment with national policy frameworks and budgets.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202161
II. Composition and membership
The Committee shall be composed of a minimum of seven persons nominated as follows: the Government (two), LNCCI (two), LFTU (2) and ILO (one). The Committee is encouraged to invite the organizations (national or international) that play an active role in the ILO development cooperation and the promotion of decent work to meetings. In this way the Committee can build a multi stakeholder platform for decent work in support to the implementation of the national Sustainable Development Agenda.
III. Roles and responsibilities
Under the chair responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, in cooperation with Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) and Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), with the support of the M&E working group and the ILO National Coordinator in Lao PDR, the Committee will be responsible for the following tasks:
• Promote the DWCP and ILO development cooperation under the DWCP to all government ministers; members of the National Assembly; various government departments, agencies, and institutions; members of employers’ and workers’ organizations; other stakeholders and the public at large in order to create greater awareness, understanding and visibility of the programme, ensuring as effective and wide ranging an impact as possible, aiming to ground the most efficient, impactful and synergetic development cooperation activities possible.
• Provide policy guidance to the ILO office, national constituents, other national partners and development partners to ensure that both new and ongoing DWCP development cooperation initiatives remain aligned with national priorities.
• Ensure that DWCP priorities and outcomes, including those implemented through development cooperation programmes/projects, are integrated with other national efforts, including the implementation plan of the 8th NSEDP, the Labour and Social Welfare Strategy, and the UN Partnership Framework.
• Regularly monitor DWCP implementation as per the monitoring plan and accompanying results and monitoring framework, taking into account development cooperation interventions in support of the DWCP.
• Ensure the active participation of all key stakeholders in the promotion of decent work, including through social dialogue initiatives.
• Advise on new or adjusted areas of work in support to national decent work priorities, aiming to ensure continuing alignment with the evolving national development context.
• Participate in the periodic DWCP review and evaluation, regularly assessing their impacts on the country-level SDGs.
IV. Frequency of meetings
The committee shall meet on a regular basis – annually, at least – to review the progress of the implementation and discuss the annual work plan. The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare may also convene meetings of the Committee on an ad hoc basis to address issues of major concern at the request of the majority of the Committee members.
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V. Principles
• The Committee takes a Managing for Development Results (MfDR)/Results-based Management (RBM) approach, as per the 2016 Vientiane Declaration on Aid Effectiveness as well as the MfDR/RBM polices of UN/ILO.
• Also in light of the Vientiane Declaration, the work of the Committee shall be guided by the principles of national ownership, national capacity development, alignment with the national system, and mutual accountability.
• The work of the DWCP Committee shall therefore be treated as part of the core work of the constituents, and not as “additionality”.
• Committee decisions shall be consensual.
VI. Meetings
• The DWCP MEWG may meet as often as necessary, but a minimum of once every quarter, to carry out the aforementioned responsibilities.
• The Lead Chair shall be responsible for convening a MEWG meeting, including sending out invitations, securing the venue, preparing a minutes, etc.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202163
Annex III: Lessons learned from previous DWCP experience
The final review of the 2011–15 DWCP highlighted the following key lessons to be taken into account in future DWCP planning and implementation:70
• need to carefully tailor the DWCP to the Lao PDR context, including national political processes and partner capacities;
• need to focus on ownership and sustainability through regular partner dialogue;• need to maintain focus on extending policies and programmes to (i) district and local levels
and (ii) the informal economy; • more focus needed in all gender equality and disability issue areas to ensure that (i) rights
are promoted and protected and (ii) programme results are maximized; • a joint focus on improving data is vital to strengthen policy and programme development; • effective implementation of DWCP requires greater coordination (i) with other
development partners and (ii) between government ministries;• capacity development is a long-term process that must be owned and driven by the
national partners; • the quality and balance of partnerships at all levels is vital to DWCP impact – hence these
need regular review; • effective coordination and synergies between different parts of the DWCP helps to
strengthen overall DWCP impact; • effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) at all levels is vital to DWCP success – and to
this end it is important to support partner capacity;• good practices identified by project evaluations need to be followed up with the application
of lessons learned;• joint development of DWCP indicators and targets is needed to reinforce national
ownership.
70 Clarke and Venevankham (2016), op. cit.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202165
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stra
tegy
that
con
cent
rate
s on
desig
ning
stra
tegi
es, m
etho
ds
and
prog
ram
mes
that
cre
ate
jobs
and
inco
me
in ru
ral
area
s).
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er
equa
lity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
Out
com
e 1:
By
202
1, a
ll w
omen
and
men
ha
ve in
crea
sed
oppo
rtun
ities
fo
r dec
ent l
ivel
ihoo
ds a
nd jo
bs.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n, p
rom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er
wom
en a
nd g
irls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for a
ll.
Out
com
e 4:
Pr
omoti
ng su
stai
nabl
e en
terp
rises
, spe
cific
ally
Indi
cato
r 4.
2
Out
com
e 5:
De
cent
wor
k in
the
rura
l eco
nom
y, sp
ecifi
cally
Indi
cato
rs
5.1,
5.2
and
5.3
.
Out
com
e 6:
Fo
rmal
izatio
n of
the
info
rmal
eco
nom
y, sp
ecifi
cally
In
dica
tors
6.1
, 6.2
and
6.3
.
Indi
cato
r 1.1
.1Av
aila
bilit
y of
gen
der,
ethn
icity
and
disa
bilit
y-se
nsiti
ve N
ation
al
Rura
l Em
ploy
men
t Str
ateg
y (N
RES)
, acti
on p
lan
and
asso
ciat
ed
costi
ngs.
Base
lines
No
natio
nal s
trat
egy
to p
rom
ote
rura
l em
ploy
men
t in
plac
e: p
rioriti
zed
in N
SEDP
.
Sixt
y-th
ree
per c
ent o
f em
ploy
ed p
erso
ns a
re
in a
gric
ultu
re a
nd fi
sher
ies,
with
a 9
3% le
vel o
f vu
lner
abili
ty.74
Prop
ortio
n of
ow
n-ac
coun
t and
con
trib
uting
fa
mily
wor
kers
in to
tal w
orkf
orce
: 81%
, with
hi
gh p
ropo
rtion
in ru
ral a
reas
.75
Nin
etee
n pe
r cen
t of w
orkf
orce
in fo
rmal
em
ploy
men
t.76
Targ
et 1
.1.1
NRE
S an
d ac
tion
plan
dev
elop
ed, a
dopt
ed a
nd c
oste
d th
roug
h an
incl
usiv
e na
tiona
l pro
cess
, dra
win
g on
less
ons
from
pilo
t acti
vitie
s in
two
prov
ince
s, w
ith (i
) ini
tial
impl
emen
tatio
n un
derw
ay b
y 20
21 a
nd (i
i) re
flecti
on o
f ge
nder
, eth
nici
ty a
nd d
isabi
lity
cons
ider
ation
s.
72
8th N
atio
nal S
ocia
l and
Eco
nom
ic D
evel
opm
ent P
lan
73
Lao
PD
R-U
N P
artn
ersh
ip F
ram
ewor
k 20
17–2
021
74
Pro
gram
me
and
Bud
get p
ropo
sals
for 2
018–
2019
: ILO
Gov
erni
ng B
ody
328t
h S
essi
on, 2
7 O
ctob
er –
10
Nov
embe
r 201
675
W
orld
Ban
k. (2
016)
. Lao
Eco
nom
ic M
onito
r 201
5–20
1676
Ib
id.
77
Lao
Sta
tistic
s B
urea
u (2
016)
. Lao
PD
R 4
th P
opul
atio
n an
d H
ousi
ng C
ensu
s, 2
015
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202167
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Indi
cato
r 1.1
.2N
umbe
r of n
ew o
r im
prov
ed p
olic
ies a
nd se
rvic
es re
late
d to
rura
l em
ploy
men
t int
rodu
ced
and
impl
emen
ted
as e
xten
sion
of e
xisti
ng
law
s and
stra
tegi
es in
Sek
ong
and
Sava
nnak
het p
rovi
nces
.
Base
line
Impl
emen
tatio
n of
exi
sting
pol
icie
s and
se
rvic
es re
late
d to
rura
l em
ploy
men
t at
prov
inci
al a
nd d
istric
t lev
els i
s ham
pere
d by
la
ck o
f hum
an a
nd fi
nanc
ial c
apac
ity.
Targ
et 1
.1.2
At le
ast o
ne g
ende
r-res
pons
ive
mea
sure
take
n to
add
ress
id
entifi
ed p
olic
y or
serv
ice
gaps
in e
ach
prov
ince
by
2019
.
Indi
cato
r 1.1
.3N
umbe
r of S
outh
-Sou
th c
oope
ratio
n (S
SC) i
nitia
tives
con
duct
ed a
s pa
rt o
f im
plem
enta
tion
of V
ienti
ane
Decl
arati
on o
n Tr
ansiti
on fr
om
Info
rmal
Em
ploy
men
t to
Form
al E
mpl
oym
ent t
owar
ds D
ecen
t Wor
k Pr
omoti
on in
ASE
AN.
Base
line
The
Vien
tiane
Dec
lara
tion
was
ado
pted
in
Sept
embe
r 201
6.
Targ
et 1
.1.3
(a)
Five
-yea
r acti
on p
lan
adop
ted
to im
plem
ent V
ienti
ane
Decl
arati
on b
y 20
18; i
nclu
des f
ocus
on
rura
l job
s and
in
clus
ion
of g
ende
r, et
hnic
com
mun
ity a
nd d
isabi
lity
aspe
cts.
Targ
et 1
.1.3
(b)
At le
ast t
hree
SSC
acti
vitie
s rel
ated
to ru
ral e
mpl
oym
ent
elem
ents
of V
ienti
ane
Decl
arati
on im
plem
ente
d w
ith
ASEA
N c
ount
erpa
rts b
y 20
19.
68
DWCP
Out
com
e 1.
2 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d de
cent
and
pr
oduc
tive
empl
oym
ent
thro
ugh
(i) im
prov
ed m
atch
ing
of jo
bsee
kers
and
labo
ur
mar
ket r
equi
rem
ents
; (ii)
en
trep
rene
ursh
ip d
evel
opm
ent
for w
omen
, men
and
you
th;
and
(iii)
deve
lopm
ent o
f pol
icy
and
lega
l ins
trum
ents
to
supp
ort s
afe
labo
ur m
igra
tion.
Supp
orte
d by
dev
elop
men
t co
oper
ation
pro
ject
(s):
Deve
lopm
ent o
f pha
se 2
of
ILO
/Chi
na S
outh
-Sou
th
Coop
erati
on P
roje
ct o
n em
ploy
men
t ser
vice
s and
la
bour
mar
ket i
nfor
mati
on
in C
ambo
dia
and
Lao
PDR
(tim
efra
me
and
arra
ngem
ents
to
be
indi
cate
d in
201
7).
Trip
artit
e Ac
tion
to E
nhan
ce
the
Cont
ributi
on o
f Lab
our
Mig
ratio
n to
Gro
wth
and
De
velo
pmen
t in
ASEA
N
Proj
ect (
TRIA
NGL
E II)
: fun
ded
by G
over
nmen
t of A
ustr
alia
20
15–2
5.
Third
Lao
PDR
Lab
our F
orce
Su
rvey
.
Fifth
Lao
PDR
Pop
ulati
on a
nd
Hous
ing
Cens
us.
Annu
al M
oLSW
repo
rts o
n pu
blic
em
ploy
men
t ser
vice
s.
Annu
al re
port
s of L
NCC
I and
LF
TU o
n en
trep
rene
ursh
ip
trai
ning
for m
embe
rs.
Annu
al p
rogr
ess r
epor
ts o
n im
plem
enta
tion
of 8
th N
SEDP
.
Annu
al M
oLSW
dat
a on
labo
ur
mig
ratio
n.
TRIA
NGL
E pr
ojec
t ann
ual
repo
rting
and
mid
-ter
m
eval
uatio
n fin
ding
s.
• M
oLSW
• La
o Bu
reau
of S
tatis
tics
• M
CI S
ME
Deve
lopm
ent D
epar
tmen
t •
UN
CT•
LNCC
I•
LFTU
• As
ian
Deve
lopm
ent B
ank
$700
,000
for s
afe
labo
ur
mig
ratio
n pr
ojec
t (es
timat
ed)
$30,
000
for e
mpl
oym
ent
serv
ice
in 2
017
$500
,000
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202169
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 1
: En
surin
g su
stai
ned
and
incl
usiv
e ec
onom
ic g
row
th.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 6
: Lo
cal e
ntre
pren
eurs
co
mpe
titive
in d
omes
tic a
nd
inte
rnati
onal
mar
kets
(inc
lude
s sk
ills u
pgra
ding
and
TVE
T).
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:Pr
omot
e an
d de
velo
p ge
nder
eq
ualit
y, ju
veni
les a
nd y
outh
.
Out
com
e 1:
Al
l wom
en a
nd m
en h
ave
incr
ease
d op
port
uniti
es fo
r de
cent
live
lihoo
ds a
nd jo
bs.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n,
prom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er w
omen
and
girl
s.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for a
ll.
Out
com
e 1:
M
ore
and
bette
r job
s for
incl
usiv
e gr
owth
and
impr
oved
you
th
empl
oym
ent p
rosp
ects
, par
ticul
arly
Indi
cato
r 1.6
.
Out
com
e 4:
Pr
omoti
ng su
stai
nabl
e en
terp
rises
, spe
cific
ally
Indi
cato
r 4.2
.
Out
com
e 9:
Pr
omoti
ng fa
ir an
d eff
ectiv
e la
bour
mig
ratio
n po
licie
s, p
artic
ular
ly
Indi
cato
r 9.1
.
Indi
cato
r 1.2
.1Av
aila
bilit
y of
nati
onal
stra
tegy
and
acti
on p
lan
for d
evel
opm
ent
of p
ublic
em
ploy
men
t ser
vice
s (PE
S) a
nd la
bour
mar
ket
info
rmati
on (L
MI).
77
Base
lines
N
ine
prov
inci
al e
mpl
oym
ent s
ervi
ces
job
cent
res (
ESJC
s) a
nd o
ne n
ation
al
empl
oym
ent s
ervi
ce c
entr
e (E
SC)
exist
ed a
s of F
ebru
ary
2017
.
Firs
t sur
vey
of e
mpl
oyer
skill
s nee
ds
cond
ucte
d by
LN
CCI i
n 20
15–1
6.
Lao
Stan
dard
Cla
ssifi
catio
n of
O
ccup
ation
s (LS
CO) t
o six
-dig
it le
vel
final
ized
in 2
016.
Targ
et 1
.2.1
Nati
onal
stra
tegy
and
acti
on p
lan
for d
evel
opm
ent o
f PES
and
LM
I dev
elop
ed a
nd a
dopt
ed b
y 20
18, i
nclu
ding
the
follo
win
g: (i
) es
tabl
ishm
ent o
f leg
al b
asis
for p
ublic
em
ploy
men
t ser
vice
s in
line
with
C88
; (ii)
enh
ance
d M
oLSW
role
in re
gula
ting
and
mon
itorin
g st
anda
rds f
or e
mpl
oym
ent s
ervi
ces (
publ
ic a
nd p
rivat
e) in
line
with
C1
81; a
nd (i
ii) g
reat
er in
tegr
ation
of s
ervi
ces p
rovi
ded
by E
SJCs
) and
M
RCs.
Targ
et 1
.2.1
(b)
MO
Us d
evel
oped
bet
wee
n M
oLSW
and
the
LNCC
I and
the
LFTU
re
spec
tivel
y fo
r coo
pera
tion
in im
plem
entin
g PE
S/LM
I str
ateg
y by
20
18.
Targ
et 1
.1.2
(c)
Empl
oyer
skill
s nee
ds su
rvey
s con
duct
ed a
nnua
lly fr
om 2
018
(with
pi
lot p
roje
ct in
itiat
ed b
y 20
18 to
gat
her s
uch
data
on
a se
ctor
al a
nd/
or sp
ecifi
c ge
ogra
phic
bas
is).
78
In c
olla
bora
tion
with
the
Asi
an D
evel
opm
ent B
ank
(AD
B) C
apac
ity D
evel
opm
ent T
echn
ical
Ass
ista
nce
Pro
ject
: Lao
PD
R-S
treng
then
ing
Cap
acity
to D
evel
op th
e E
mpl
oym
ent S
ervi
ce S
yste
m
70
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Indi
cato
r 1.2
.2M
ore
regu
lar L
abou
r For
ce S
urve
ys c
ondu
cted
.Ba
selin
esLa
bour
forc
e su
rvey
s con
duct
ed to
dat
e in
201
0 an
d 20
16.
Targ
et 1
.2.2
At le
ast t
hree
Lab
our F
orce
Sur
veys
con
duct
ed b
y 20
21.
Indi
cato
r 1.2
.3N
umbe
r of j
obse
eker
regi
stra
tions
and
job
plac
emen
ts, d
isagg
rega
ted
by se
x, a
t cen
tral
and
pr
ovin
cial
ESJ
Cs.78
Base
lines
13,0
00 v
acan
cies
reco
rded
and
2,3
00 jo
b pl
acem
ents
m
ade
by th
e ES
JCs i
n th
e pe
riod
2014
–15.
Num
ber o
f new
ly e
mpl
oyed
per
sons
nati
onw
ide
in 2
015:
74
,824
.79
Eigh
th N
SEDP
targ
et fo
r new
ly e
mpl
oyed
eac
h ye
ar:
716,
193.
Targ
et 1
.2.3
By 2
021,
60%
of r
egist
ered
jobs
eeke
rs p
er a
nnum
pla
ced
in
empl
oym
ent,
at le
ast 5
0% o
f who
m a
re w
omen
and
2.8
%
are
peop
le w
ith d
isabi
lities
in li
ne w
ith n
ation
al p
reva
lenc
e st
atisti
cs.
Indi
cato
r 1.2
.4Le
gisla
tion,
pol
icie
s and
MO
Us l
inke
d to
labo
ur
mig
ratio
n ad
opte
d or
am
ende
d in
line
with
in
tern
ation
al st
anda
rds a
nd g
ood
prac
tices
.
Base
lines
Mai
n le
gisla
tive
cove
r for
inte
rnati
onal
labo
ur m
igra
tion
is pr
ovid
ed b
y th
e La
bour
Law
(201
4).
Labo
ur m
igra
tion
MO
Us i
n pl
ace
with
the
Repu
blic
of
Kore
a, T
haila
nd a
nd S
inga
pore
.
Appr
oxim
atel
y 60
0,00
0 La
o m
igra
nts w
ork
abro
ad, 5
0% o
f th
em in
Tha
iland
.80
Targ
et 1
.2.4
At le
ast o
ne p
iece
of l
egisl
ation
, pol
icy
and/
or M
OU
has
bee
n ad
opte
d or
revi
sed
to b
etter
refle
ct in
tern
ation
al st
anda
rds
by 2
021.
Indi
cato
r 1.2
.5N
umbe
r of p
rovi
nces
in w
hich
mig
rant
labo
ur
serv
ices
ava
ilabl
e th
roug
h M
RCs w
orki
ng in
liai
son
with
ESJ
Cs.
Base
lines
Thre
e M
RCs u
nder
ILO
TRI
ANGL
E pr
ojec
t ope
ratio
nal
at p
rovi
ncia
l lev
el a
s of F
ebru
ary
2017
, one
of w
hich
op
erat
ed b
y th
e LF
TU.
Targ
et 1
.2.5
MRC
s ope
ratio
nal a
nd w
orki
ng in
liai
son
with
ESJ
Cs in
at l
east
fiv
e pr
ovin
ces b
y 20
21, i
nclu
ding
at l
east
two
MRC
s man
aged
by
the
LFTU
.
Indi
cato
r 1.2
.6N
umbe
r of e
mpl
oyer
s’ o
rgan
izatio
ns, w
orke
rs’
orga
niza
tions
and
bus
ines
s ser
vice
pro
vide
rs
with
incr
ease
d te
chni
cal c
apac
ity to
pro
vide
en
trep
rene
ursh
ip tr
aini
ng to
wom
en, m
en a
nd y
outh
Base
lines
Nati
onal
roll-
out o
f KAB
into
seco
ndar
y sc
hool
cur
ricul
um
unde
rway
in 2
016–
17.
Lim
ited
capa
city
ava
ilabl
e in
LN
CCI,
LFTU
and
bus
ines
s se
rvic
e pr
ovid
ers f
or e
ntre
pren
eurs
hip
trai
ning
Targ
et 1
.2.6
By 2
021,
at l
east
two
empl
oyer
s’ o
rgan
izatio
ns, w
orke
rs’
orga
niza
tions
or b
usin
ess s
ervi
ce p
rovi
ders
hav
e re
ceiv
ed
trai
ning
and
oth
er su
ppor
t to
incr
ease
thei
r tec
hnic
al c
apac
ity
to d
eliv
er e
ntre
pren
eurs
hip
lead
ersh
ip a
nd sk
ills t
rain
ing
to
wom
en, m
en a
nd y
outh
, inc
ludi
ng in
the
info
rmal
eco
nom
y.
79
MoL
SW
adm
inis
trativ
e da
ta, 2
016
80
MoL
SW
adm
inis
trativ
e da
ta, 2
015–
2016
81
Sou
thic
hack
, Man
a. (2
014)
. Lao
Lab
our M
igra
tion
and
Rem
ittan
ces:
Tre
nds
and
Live
lihoo
d Im
plic
atio
ns
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202171
DWCP
Out
com
e 1.
3 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d po
licy
capa
city
, com
pete
ncy
stan
dard
s, a
nd c
ertifi
catio
n an
d ac
cred
itatio
n ar
rang
emen
ts to
supp
ort
prom
otion
of t
echn
ical
/voc
ation
al sk
ills f
or
wom
en, m
en a
nd y
outh
.
Annu
al d
ata
of M
oES
Educ
ation
Man
agem
ent
Syst
em.
Annu
al p
rogr
ess r
epor
ts
on im
plem
enta
tion
of 8
th
NSE
DP.
Annu
al M
oLSW
repo
rts.
LNCC
I em
ploy
er sk
ills n
eeds
su
rvey
s.
• M
oLSW
• N
ation
al S
kills
Cou
ncil
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU•
UN
CT•
Lao-
Kore
a Sk
ills D
evel
opm
ent
Insti
tute
$40,
000
for 2
017–
18 fr
om IL
O-
Repu
blic
of K
orea
par
tner
ship
pr
ogra
mm
e.
$500
,000
.
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 5
: Im
prov
ed p
ublic
/priv
ate
labo
ur fo
rce
capa
city
(inc
ludi
ng th
e fo
llow
ing
Targ
et):
Test
and
issu
e st
anda
rd sk
ill c
ertifi
cate
s fo
r ten
con
stru
ction
-rel
ated
pro
fess
ions
, se
ven
car m
echa
nic-
rela
ted
prof
essio
ns,
six in
form
ation
and
com
mun
icati
ons
tech
nolo
gy (I
CT)-r
elat
ed p
rofe
ssio
ns a
nd
four
pro
fess
ions
in to
urism
.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 6
: Lo
cal e
ntre
pren
eurs
com
petiti
ve in
do
mes
tic a
nd in
tern
ation
al m
arke
ts
(incl
udes
TVE
T).
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er e
qual
ity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
Out
com
e 4:
Ch
ildre
n an
d yo
uth
enjo
y be
tter a
cces
s to
incl
usiv
e an
d eq
uita
ble
qual
ity b
asic
ed
ucati
on a
nd v
ocati
onal
sk
ills.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n,
prom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er w
omen
and
girl
s.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for
all.
Out
com
e 1:
M
ore
and
bette
r job
s for
incl
usiv
e gr
owth
and
impr
oved
yo
uth
empl
oym
ent p
rosp
ects
, par
ticul
arly
Indi
cato
r 1.3
(o
n sk
ills d
evel
opm
ent)
.
72
DWCP
Out
com
e 1.
3 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d po
licy
capa
city
, com
pete
ncy
stan
dard
s, a
nd c
ertifi
catio
n an
d ac
cred
itatio
n ar
rang
emen
ts to
supp
ort
prom
otion
of t
echn
ical
/voc
ation
al sk
ills f
or
wom
en, m
en a
nd y
outh
.
Annu
al d
ata
of M
oES
Educ
ation
Man
agem
ent
Syst
em.
Annu
al p
rogr
ess r
epor
ts
on im
plem
enta
tion
of 8
th
NSE
DP.
Annu
al M
oLSW
repo
rts.
LNCC
I em
ploy
er sk
ills n
eeds
su
rvey
s.
• M
oLSW
• N
ation
al S
kills
Cou
ncil
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU•
UN
CT•
Lao-
Kore
a Sk
ills D
evel
opm
ent
Insti
tute
$40,
000
for 2
017–
18 fr
om IL
O-
Repu
blic
of K
orea
par
tner
ship
pr
ogra
mm
e.
$500
,000
.
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 5
: Im
prov
ed p
ublic
/priv
ate
labo
ur fo
rce
capa
city
(inc
ludi
ng th
e fo
llow
ing
Targ
et):
Test
and
issu
e st
anda
rd sk
ill c
ertifi
cate
s fo
r ten
con
stru
ction
-rel
ated
pro
fess
ions
, se
ven
car m
echa
nic-
rela
ted
prof
essio
ns,
six in
form
ation
and
com
mun
icati
ons
tech
nolo
gy (I
CT)-r
elat
ed p
rofe
ssio
ns a
nd
four
pro
fess
ions
in to
urism
.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 6
: Lo
cal e
ntre
pren
eurs
com
petiti
ve in
do
mes
tic a
nd in
tern
ation
al m
arke
ts
(incl
udes
TVE
T).
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er e
qual
ity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
Out
com
e 4:
Ch
ildre
n an
d yo
uth
enjo
y be
tter a
cces
s to
incl
usiv
e an
d eq
uita
ble
qual
ity b
asic
ed
ucati
on a
nd v
ocati
onal
sk
ills.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n,
prom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er w
omen
and
girl
s.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for
all.
Out
com
e 1:
M
ore
and
bette
r job
s for
incl
usiv
e gr
owth
and
impr
oved
yo
uth
empl
oym
ent p
rosp
ects
, par
ticul
arly
Indi
cato
r 1.3
(o
n sk
ills d
evel
opm
ent)
.
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Indi
cato
r 1.3
.1N
umbe
r of i
nitia
tives
to st
reng
then
cap
acity
of
nati
onal
mec
hani
sms f
or d
evel
opm
ent o
f te
chni
cal/v
ocati
onal
skill
s pol
icy
and
syst
ems.
Base
lines
Adop
tion
of T
VET
Law
(201
3) a
nd T
VET
Deve
lopm
ent P
lan
2016
–20.
Nati
onal
Qua
lifica
tions
Fra
mew
ork
not y
et in
pla
ce.
New
MoL
SW sk
ills d
evel
opm
ent d
epar
tmen
t to
be se
t up.
Thirt
y pe
r cen
t of y
outh
(fem
ale/
mal
e) e
mpl
oyed
thro
ugh
TVET
20
15).81
Num
ber o
f stu
dent
s enr
olle
d in
TVE
T in
201
5: 6
5,00
0.82
NSE
DP
targ
et: 1
05,0
00.
Targ
et 1
.3.1
At le
ast t
wo
initi
ative
s to
stre
ngth
en N
ation
al
Trai
ning
Cou
ncil
and
MoL
SW te
chni
cal c
apac
ity fo
r na
tiona
l tec
hnic
al/v
ocati
onal
skill
s pol
icy
and
syst
ems
deve
lopm
ent b
y 20
21.
Indi
cato
r 1.3
.2
Num
ber o
f new
tech
nica
l/voc
ation
al sk
ills a
nd
com
pete
ncy
stan
dard
s pro
mul
gate
d at
nati
onal
le
vel.
Base
lines
Nati
onal
skill
s sta
ndar
ds e
stab
lishe
d in
ICT,
tour
ism, a
utom
otive
an
d co
nstr
uctio
n fo
r cer
tifica
tion
and
accr
edita
tion.
In 2
014,
50
wor
kers
wer
e ce
rtifie
d by
the
Lao-
Kore
an S
kills
De
velo
pmen
t Cen
tre
usin
g th
e na
tiona
l ski
lls st
anda
rd d
evel
oped
fo
r the
aut
omoti
ve se
ctor
.
Targ
et 1
.3.2
At
leas
t five
new
tech
nica
l/voc
ation
al sk
ills a
nd
com
pete
ncy
stan
dard
s pro
mul
gate
d at
nati
onal
le
vel b
y 20
21,
with
atte
ntion
to a
ddre
ssin
g sk
ills/
com
pete
ncy
stan
dard
s in
non-
trad
ition
al o
ccup
ation
s fo
r wom
en.
Indi
cato
r 1.3
.3
Num
ber o
f add
ition
al te
chni
cal/v
ocati
onal
skill
and
co
mpe
tenc
y st
anda
rds d
evel
oped
for c
ertifi
catio
n an
d ac
cred
itatio
n.
Base
lines
Nati
onal
skill
s sta
ndar
ds e
stab
lishe
d in
ICT,
tour
ism, a
utom
otive
an
d co
nstr
uctio
n fo
r cer
tifica
tion
and
accr
edita
tion.
In 2
014,
50
wor
kers
wer
e ce
rtifie
d by
the
Lao-
Kore
an S
kills
De
velo
pmen
t Cen
tre
usin
g th
e na
tiona
l ski
lls st
anda
rd d
evel
oped
fo
r the
aut
omoti
ve se
ctor
.
Targ
et 1
.3.3
(a)
At le
ast t
wo
addi
tiona
l tec
hnic
al/v
ocati
onal
skill
are
as
deve
lope
d/co
mpl
eted
for s
tand
ards
, cer
tifica
tion
and
accr
edita
tion
of in
stitu
tions
by
2021
, with
atte
ntion
to
fem
ale-
dom
inat
ed o
ccup
ation
al a
reas
.
Targ
et 1
.3.3
(b)
At le
ast 5
0% o
f tra
inee
s in
the
addi
tiona
l tec
hnic
al/
voca
tiona
l ski
ll ar
eas a
sses
sed
and
certi
fied
by 2
021.
82
Lao
PD
R-U
N P
artn
ersh
ip F
ram
ewor
k, 2
017–
2021
83
Gov
ernm
ent a
dmin
istra
tive
data
(201
5)
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202173
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Indi
cato
r 1.3
.4N
umbe
r of n
ew te
chni
cal/v
ocati
onal
skill
are
as
deve
lope
d un
der t
he A
SEAN
Mut
ual R
ecog
nitio
n of
Sk
ills (
MRS
)83 in
line
with
the
ASEA
N Q
ualifi
catio
ns
Regi
onal
Fra
mew
ork
(AQ
RF).
Base
line
ASEA
N M
RS a
rran
gem
ents
in p
lace
for t
wo
skill
s (br
ickl
ayin
g an
d pl
aste
ring)
. Firs
t ski
lls a
sses
smen
t con
duct
ed a
t Lao
-Kor
ea S
kills
De
velo
pmen
t Ins
titut
e in
201
6.
Targ
et 1
.3.4
At le
ast t
hree
new
tech
nica
l/voc
ation
al sk
ills a
reas
de
velo
ped
unde
r ASE
AN M
RS b
y 20
21.
DW
CP P
rior
ity
2
Prom
ote
rati
ficat
ion
and
impl
emen
tati
on o
f int
erna
tion
al la
bour
sta
ndar
ds
DWCP
Out
com
e 2.
1 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d qu
ality
of l
abou
r st
anda
rds a
nd p
rote
ction
th
roug
h La
bour
Law
im
plem
enta
tion.
84
Supp
orte
d by
dev
elop
men
t co
oper
ation
pro
ject
: Co
mpl
etion
of l
abou
r in
spec
tion
proj
ect i
n th
e ga
rmen
t sec
tor (
LAO
/13/
01/
IDA)
and
pos
sible
new
pro
ject
w
ith M
oLSW
on
labo
ur
insp
ectio
n an
d O
SH, s
ubm
itted
fo
r fun
ding
by
the
Visio
n Ze
ro
Fund
(VZF
).
Third
Lao
PDR
Lab
our F
orce
Su
rvey
(OSH
dat
a).
Repo
rts o
f Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e La
bour
Sta
ndar
ds C
omm
ittee
.
LNCC
I and
LFT
U re
port
s.
• M
oLSW
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU•
Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e La
bour
Sta
ndar
ds
Com
mitt
ee
$352
,145
(Jan
.– A
ug 2
017)
$1
,000
,000
84
Prio
rity
skill
s/oc
cupa
tions
dec
ided
by
AS
EA
N M
embe
rs S
tate
s85
N
ote:
The
Lab
our L
aw 2
014
inte
r alia
cov
ers:
labo
ur p
rote
ctio
n, c
olle
ctiv
e ba
rgai
ning
, OS
H, l
abou
r ins
pect
ion,
ski
lls d
evel
opm
ent,
disp
utes
reso
lutio
n, m
inim
um w
age
setti
ng,
com
plia
nce
with
em
ploy
men
t con
tract
s &
equ
ality
& n
on-d
iscr
imin
atio
n in
the
wor
kpla
ce
74
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 1
: En
surin
g su
stai
ned
and
incl
usiv
e ec
onom
ic g
row
th.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 5
:Im
prov
ed p
ublic
/priv
ate
labo
ur
forc
e ca
paci
ty.
Out
com
e 2,
Out
put 5
: Ex
tend
ed a
cces
s to
soci
al
prot
ectio
n.
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er
equa
lity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
Out
com
e 8:
Pe
ople
enj
oy im
prov
ed a
cces
s to
justi
ce a
nd fu
lfilm
ent o
f the
ir hu
man
righ
ts.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n, p
rom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er
wom
en a
nd g
irls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for a
ll.
Out
com
e 1:
M
ore
and
bette
r job
s fo
r inc
lusiv
e gr
owth
and
im
prov
ed y
outh
em
ploy
men
t pr
ospe
cts,
par
ticul
arly
In
dica
tor 1
.5.
Out
com
e 7:
Pr
omoti
ng sa
fe w
ork
and
wor
kpla
ce c
ompl
ianc
e in
glo
bal s
uppl
y ch
ains
, pa
rticu
larly
Indi
cato
rs 7
.1 a
nd
7.2.
A ca
mpa
ign
to p
rom
ote
the
ratifi
catio
n an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of
fund
amen
tal l
abou
r st
anda
rds.
Indi
cato
r 2.1
.1N
umbe
r of g
ende
r-sen
sitive
regu
latio
ns p
repa
red
in c
onsu
ltatio
n w
ith th
e so
cial
par
tner
s and
pro
mul
gate
d by
201
9 to
stre
ngth
en
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
2014
Lab
our C
ode.
Base
line
Rele
vant
exi
sting
regu
latio
ns a
s of F
ebru
ary
2017
set o
ut in
PM
dec
rees
on
labo
ur
disp
ute
reso
lutio
n (d
raft)
; OSH
(dra
ft); a
nd
min
ister
ial d
ecisi
on o
n la
bour
insp
ectio
n (2
016)
.
Labo
ur L
aw g
uide
line
publ
ished
for
empl
oyer
s (20
16).
Labo
ur in
spec
tion
chec
klist
dev
elop
ed
(201
4).
Targ
et 2
.1.1
At le
ast t
wo
gend
er-s
ensiti
ve re
gula
tions
pre
pare
d in
co
nsul
tatio
n w
ith th
e so
cial
par
tner
s and
pro
mul
gate
d by
20
19 to
stre
ngth
en im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e 20
14 L
abou
r Co
de, w
ith th
e pr
inci
ples
ens
hrin
ed in
C10
0 an
d C1
11, a
nd
the
outs
tand
ing
com
men
ts o
f the
CEA
CR re
spec
ting
thos
e Co
nven
tions
, tak
en in
to c
onsid
erati
on a
s app
ropr
iate
.
Indi
cato
r 2.1
.2N
umbe
r of a
ction
s tak
en to
impl
emen
t acti
on p
lans
for M
inist
eria
l De
cisio
n 42
77 o
n la
bour
insp
ectio
n.
Base
line
Min
ister
ial D
ecisi
on 4
277
adop
ted
in 2
016.
Targ
et 2
.1.2
By 2
018,
ann
ual a
ction
pla
ns fo
r lab
our i
nspe
ction
de
velo
ped
and
impl
emen
ted
in li
ne w
ith in
tern
ation
al
stan
dard
s, e
.g. C
181,
incl
udin
g O
SH c
ompo
nent
s and
m
easu
res t
o in
crea
se n
umbe
r of f
emal
e in
spec
tors
: at l
east
tw
o ac
tions
take
n an
nual
ly to
impl
emen
t acti
on p
lans
.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202175
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Indi
cato
r 2.1
.3N
umbe
r of a
ction
s tak
en to
impl
emen
t Prim
e M
inist
eria
l Dec
ree
(201
7) o
n O
SH.
Base
line
Draft
Prim
e M
inist
eria
l Dec
ree
on O
SH.
Targ
et 2
.1.3
Actio
n pl
an fo
r im
plem
enta
tion
of P
rime
Min
ister
ial D
ecre
e on
OSH
by
natio
nal c
onsti
tuen
ts d
evel
oped
by
2018
, with
at
leas
t tw
o ac
tions
take
n an
nual
ly to
impl
emen
t the
pla
n by
20
21.
Indi
cato
r 2.1
.4Ba
selin
e es
tabl
ished
for m
onito
ring
of w
orkp
lace
acc
iden
ts.
Base
line
No
com
preh
ensiv
e, u
p-to
-dat
e da
ta a
vaila
ble
on w
orkp
lace
acc
iden
ts.
Targ
et 2
.1.4
Nati
onal
mec
hani
sm e
stab
lishe
d an
d re
late
d ca
paci
ty
deve
lope
d fo
r sex
-disa
ggre
gate
d re
porti
ng o
f wor
kpla
ce
acci
dent
s by
2018
.
Indi
cato
r 2.1
.5N
umbe
r of r
epor
ts b
y na
tiona
l con
stitu
ents
on
actio
ns ta
ken
to
impl
emen
t Nati
onal
Pla
n of
Acti
on (N
PA) o
n th
e Pr
even
tion
and
Elim
inati
on o
f Chi
ld L
abou
r.
Base
line
Child
labo
ur su
rvey
repo
rt (2
010)
.Ta
rget
2.1
.5By
201
8, a
nnua
l rep
orts
by
natio
nal c
onsti
tuen
ts d
evel
oped
an
d di
ssem
inat
ed o
n im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e N
PA in
thei
r re
spec
tive
area
s of w
ork.
DWCP
Out
com
e 2.
2 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d ra
tifica
tion
and
appl
icati
on o
f int
erna
tiona
l la
bour
Con
venti
ons.
NO
RMLE
X. IL
O In
form
ation
Sy
stem
on
Inte
rnati
onal
Lab
our
Stan
dard
s.
Repo
rts o
f Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e La
bour
Sta
ndar
ds C
omm
ittee
.
• M
oLSW
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU
$350
,000
76
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Curr
ently
ratifi
ed C
onve
ntion
s,
as w
ell a
s tho
se u
nder
re
view
, are
dire
ctly
rele
vant
to
ach
ieve
men
t of N
SEDP
O
utco
mes
1 a
nd 2
as a
who
le:
Out
com
e 1:
Ec
onom
ic -
stro
ng e
cono
mic
fo
unda
tion
and
redu
ced
econ
omic
vul
nera
bilit
y
Out
com
e 2:
So
cial
-hum
an re
sour
ce
deve
lopm
ent,
pove
rty
redu
ction
, acc
ess t
o qu
ality
ed
ucati
on a
nd h
ealth
serv
ices
, pr
otec
tion
and
deve
lopm
ent o
f th
e un
ique
nati
onal
cul
ture
.
Curr
ently
ratifi
ed C
onve
ntion
s,
as w
ell a
s tho
se u
nder
revi
ew,
are
dire
ctly
rele
vant
to
achi
evem
ent o
f the
follo
win
g La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Out
com
es:
(1) d
ecen
t liv
elih
oods
and
jobs
; (2
) soc
ial p
rote
ction
ben
efits
, pa
rticu
larly
for v
ulne
rabl
e gr
oups
and
the
poor
; (4)
in
clus
ive
and
equi
tabl
e qu
ality
ed
ucati
on a
nd v
ocati
onal
skill
s;
(7) d
eliv
ery
of q
ualit
y se
rvic
es;
and
(8) a
cces
s to
justi
ce a
nd
fulfi
lmen
t of h
uman
righ
ts.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n, p
rom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er
wom
en a
nd g
irls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for a
ll.
Out
com
e 2:
Ratifi
catio
n an
d ap
plic
ation
of
inte
rnati
onal
labo
ur
stan
dard
s, p
artic
ular
ly
Indi
cato
rs 2
.1, 2
.2 a
nd 2
.3.
A ca
mpa
ign
to p
rom
ote
the
ratifi
catio
n an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of
fund
amen
tal l
abou
r st
anda
rds
Indi
cato
r 2.2
.1N
umbe
r of i
nter
natio
nal l
abou
r Con
venti
ons r
atifie
d an
d ap
plie
d by
La
o PD
R.
Base
lines
Lao
PDR
had
ratifi
ed th
e fo
llow
ing
inte
rnati
onal
labo
ur C
onve
ntion
s as o
f Fe
brua
ry 2
017:
C00
6 (N
ight
Wor
k of
You
ng
Pers
ons)
; C01
3 (W
hite
Lea
d [P
ainti
ng];
C029
(For
ced
Labo
ur);
C100
(Equ
al
Rem
uner
ation
); C1
11 (D
iscrim
inati
on);
C138
(Min
imum
Age
); C1
44 (T
ripar
tite
Cons
ulta
tion)
; C17
1 (N
ight
Wor
k); C
182
(Wor
st F
orm
s of C
hild
Lab
our)
.
Targ
et 2
.2.1
Lao
PDR
has r
atifie
d an
d is
appl
ying
at l
east
one
add
ition
al
inte
rnati
onal
labo
ur C
onve
ntion
by
2021
.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202177
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Indi
cato
r 2.2
.2
Num
ber o
f acti
ons t
aken
to im
plem
ent r
atifie
d Co
nven
tions
.Ba
selin
eN
ation
al T
ripar
tite
Labo
ur S
tand
ards
Co
mm
ittee
est
ablis
hed
in 2
016.
Rol
e in
clud
es o
vers
eein
g an
d m
onito
ring
ratifi
catio
n, im
plem
enta
tion
and
repo
rting
of
inte
rnati
onal
labo
ur st
anda
rds.
Targ
et 2
.2.2
(a)
At le
ast o
ne a
ction
per
yea
r tak
en to
impl
emen
t in
tern
ation
al la
bour
Con
venti
ons,
with
par
ticul
ar a
ttenti
on
to C
100
and
C111
.
Targ
et 2
.2.2
(b)
At le
ast o
ne in
itiati
ve b
y 20
19 to
stre
ngth
en n
ation
al
cons
titue
nt c
apac
ity to
impl
emen
t, m
onito
r and
repo
rt o
n ra
tified
Con
venti
ons,
with
par
ticul
ar a
ttenti
on to
C10
0 an
d C1
11.
Indi
cato
r 2.2
.3La
o PD
R’s c
onsti
tutio
nal o
blig
ation
s to
subm
it re
port
s on
ratifi
ed
Conv
entio
ns a
nd o
ther
stan
dard
s-re
late
d m
atter
s are
satis
fied
in a
tim
ely
man
ner.
Base
lines
Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e La
bour
Sta
ndar
d Co
mm
ittee
est
ablis
hed
in 2
016.
Role
incl
udes
ove
rsee
ing
and
mon
itorin
g ra
tifica
tion,
impl
emen
tatio
n an
d re
porti
ng o
f in
tern
ation
al la
bour
stan
dard
s.
Targ
et 2
.2.3
All r
epor
ts re
ques
ted
by th
e IL
O su
perv
isory
bod
ies,
pu
rsua
nt to
Arti
cles
19
and
22 o
f the
ILO
Con
stitu
tion,
are
su
bmitt
ed b
y 20
21.
78
DW
CP P
rior
ity
3
Stre
ngth
en a
nd e
xpan
d so
cial
pro
tect
ion
DWCP
Out
com
e 3.
1 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Nati
onal
Soc
ial P
rote
ction
St
rate
gy a
nd n
ew so
cial
tr
ansf
er ta
x-fu
nded
pr
ogra
mm
es d
evel
oped
, ad
opte
d an
d im
plem
ente
d.
Supp
orte
d by
dev
elop
men
t co
oper
ation
pro
ject
s:
Deve
lopm
ent o
f reg
iona
l so
cial
pro
tecti
on fa
cilit
y in
volv
ing
Lao
PDR,
Cam
bodi
a an
d M
yanm
ar. T
he fa
cilit
y w
ill m
ake
tech
nica
l exp
ertis
e an
d th
ird-c
ount
ry e
xper
ienc
e av
aila
ble
to th
e de
velo
pmen
t of
Lao
PDR
’s so
cial
pro
tecti
on
polic
y an
d sy
stem
.
Nati
onal
Soc
ial S
trat
egy,
actio
n pl
an a
nd c
ostin
gs.
Fina
l rep
ort o
f ABN
D pr
oces
s.
Annu
al p
rogr
ess r
epor
ts o
n im
plem
enta
tion
of 8
th N
SEDP
.
MoL
SW re
port
s.
• M
oLSW
• M
oH &
oth
er re
leva
nt m
inist
ries
• U
NCT
& o
ther
IDPs
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU
$50,
000
for s
ocia
l pro
tecti
on
stra
tegy
form
ulati
on.
Tech
nica
l ass
istan
ce v
ia
Regi
onal
Soc
ial P
rote
ction
Fa
cilit
y.
$150
,000
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Out
com
e 2,
Out
put 5
: Ex
tend
ed a
cces
s to
soci
al
prot
ectio
n.
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er
equa
lity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
Out
com
e 2:
M
ore
peop
le h
ave
acce
ss to
so
cial
pro
tecti
on b
enefi
ts, i
n pa
rticu
lar v
ulne
rabl
e gr
oups
an
d th
e po
or.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity,
pa
rticu
larly
Out
com
e 1.
3 (im
plem
ent
natio
nally
app
ropr
iate
soci
al p
rote
ction
sy
stem
s and
mea
sure
s for
all,
incl
udin
g flo
ors,
and
by
2030
ach
ieve
subs
tanti
al
cove
rage
of t
he p
oor a
nd th
e vu
lner
able
).
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er
wom
en a
nd g
irls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for a
ll.
Out
com
e 3:
Cr
eatin
g an
d ex
tend
ing
soci
al p
rote
ction
floo
rs, p
artic
ular
ly
Indi
cato
rs 3
.1 a
nd 3
.3.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202179
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Indi
cato
r 3.1
.1
Avai
labi
lity
of g
ende
r, di
sabi
lity
and
ethn
icity
-sen
sitive
Nati
onal
So
cial
Pro
tecti
on S
trat
egy
(NSP
S), a
ction
pla
n an
d as
soci
ated
co
sting
s.
Base
lines
Deve
lopm
ent o
f Nati
onal
Soc
ial P
rote
ction
St
rate
gy p
rioriti
zed
by p
relim
inar
y re
port
of
the
Asse
ssm
ent-B
ased
Nati
onal
Dia
logu
e (A
BND)
.
Mer
ger o
f pub
lic a
nd p
rivat
e sc
hem
es to
fo
rm N
ation
al S
ocia
l Sec
urity
Fun
d (N
SSF)
in
2015
, as k
ey st
ep to
war
ds m
ore
inte
grat
ed
appr
oach
to so
cial
pro
tecti
on.
Targ
et 3
.1.1
(a)
ABN
D on
soci
al p
rote
ction
com
plet
ed b
y 20
17 a
s bas
is fo
r fo
rmul
ation
of N
SPS
and
prio
ritizin
g go
vern
men
t soc
ial
prot
ectio
n in
itiati
ves,
with
acti
ve e
ngag
emen
t by
natio
nal
cons
titue
nts a
nd in
clud
ing
gend
er, e
thni
city
and
disa
bilit
y co
nsid
erati
ons.
Targ
et 3
.1.1
(b)
NSP
S in
clud
ing
gend
er, e
thni
city
and
disa
bilit
y co
nsid
erati
ons d
evel
oped
, cos
ted
and
adop
ted
by 2
020
thro
ugh
Indi
cato
r 3.1
.2N
umbe
r of n
ew so
cial
tran
sfer
tax-
fund
ed p
rogr
amm
es e
stab
lishe
d as
resu
lt of
ABN
D re
com
men
datio
ns.
Base
line
Data
is b
eing
col
lect
ed a
s par
t of t
he A
BND
proc
ess.
Targ
et 3
.1.2
At le
ast o
ne n
ew so
cial
tran
sfer
tax-
fund
ed p
rogr
amm
e is
desig
ned
base
d on
the
ABDN
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
is
(i) im
plem
ente
d by
202
1 an
d (ii
) at l
east
50%
fund
ed b
y do
mes
tic re
sour
ces.
DWCP
Out
com
e 3.
2 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d ac
cess
for w
orke
rs
and
fam
ilies
to so
cial
pr
otec
tion
bene
fits,
incl
udin
g so
cial
hea
lth p
rote
ction
.
Supp
orte
d by
dev
elop
men
t co
oper
ation
Pro
ject
: Reg
iona
l So
cial
Pro
tecti
on F
acili
ty
invo
lvin
g La
o PD
R, C
ambo
dia
and
Mya
nmar
, fun
ded
by
Gove
rnm
ent o
f Lux
embo
urg
(201
7–19
).
Annu
al R
ecor
ds o
f the
SSF
O
ffice
.
Annu
al H
ealth
Equ
ity F
und
data
.
Repo
rts o
f the
Nati
onal
Hea
lth
Insu
ranc
e Bu
reau
(NHI
B),
MoL
SW a
nd M
oH.
Annu
al p
rogr
ess r
epor
ts o
n im
plem
enta
tion
of 8
th N
SEDP
.
Repo
rts o
f LN
CCI a
nd L
FTU.
• M
oLSW
• M
oH
• U
NCT
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU•
Wor
ld B
ank
Tech
nica
l ass
istan
ce v
ia
Regi
onal
Soc
ial P
rote
ction
Fa
cilit
y.
$1,5
00,0
00
80
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Out
com
e 2,
Out
put 5
:Ex
tend
ed a
cces
s to
soci
al
prot
ectio
n.
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er
equa
lity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
Out
com
e 2:
M
ore
peop
le h
ave
acce
ss to
so
cial
pro
tecti
on b
enefi
ts, i
n pa
rticu
lar v
ulne
rabl
e gr
oups
an
d th
e po
or.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity,
pa
rticu
larly
Out
com
e 1.
3 (im
plem
ent
natio
nally
app
ropr
iate
soci
al p
rote
ction
sy
stem
s and
mea
sure
s for
all,
incl
udin
g flo
ors,
and
by
2030
ach
ieve
subs
tanti
al
cove
rage
of t
he p
oor a
nd th
e vu
lner
able
).
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er
wom
en a
nd g
irls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t and
dec
ent w
ork
for a
ll.
Out
com
e 3:
Cr
eatin
g an
d ex
tend
ing
soci
al p
rote
ction
floo
rs, p
artic
ular
ly
Indi
cato
r 3.2
.
Indi
cato
r 3.2
.1N
umbe
r of f
orm
ally
em
ploy
ed w
omen
and
men
enr
olle
d in
N
ation
al S
ocia
l Sec
urity
Fun
d (N
SSF)
, exc
ludi
ng a
rmed
forc
es a
nd
polic
e offi
cial
s.
Base
lines
Mer
ger o
f pub
lic a
nd p
rivat
e sc
hem
es to
fo
rm N
ation
al S
ocia
l Sec
urity
Fun
d (N
SSF)
in
2015
, as k
ey st
ep to
war
ds m
ore
inte
grat
ed
appr
oach
to so
cial
pro
tecti
on.
Num
ber o
f for
mal
ly e
mpl
oyed
wor
kers
en
rolle
d in
NSS
F in
201
4: 5
50,3
39.
Num
ber o
f inf
orm
al se
ctor
wor
kers
cov
ered
by
soci
al se
curit
y in
201
5: 2
,986
(fem
ale:
1,
197)
.85
Targ
et 3
.2.1
At le
ast 3
00,0
00 fo
rmal
ly e
mpl
oyed
wom
en a
nd m
en
wor
kers
(exc
ludi
ng a
rmed
forc
es a
nd p
olic
e offi
cial
s)
enro
lled
in N
SSF
by 2
021.
86
85
SocialSecurityOffice.(2015).AnnualAdm
inistrativeData
86
Targ
ets
2.1
and
2.2
dire
ctly
alig
n w
ith th
ose
of th
e La
o P
DR
UN
PF
in o
rder
to re
info
rce
coor
dina
ted
UN
CT
actio
n on
soc
ial p
rote
ctio
n st
reng
then
ing
and
expa
nsio
n.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202181
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Indi
cato
r 3.2
.2Pe
rcen
tage
of p
oor w
omen
and
men
cov
ered
by
soci
al p
rote
ction
sc
hem
es.
Base
lines
Eigh
ty p
er c
ent o
f poo
r cov
ered
by
soci
al
prot
ectio
n sc
hem
es.87
Num
ber o
f inf
orm
al e
cono
my
wor
kers
co
vere
d by
soci
al se
curit
y in
201
5: 2
,986
(fe
mal
e: 1
,197
).88
Eigh
t NSE
DP ta
rget
for i
nfor
mal
sect
or
wor
ker c
over
age:
10,
000.
Targ
et 3
.2.2
At le
ast 9
5% o
f poo
r wom
en a
nd m
en a
re c
over
ed b
y so
cial
pro
tecti
on sc
hem
es b
y 20
21, p
eopl
e w
ith d
isabi
lities
m
akin
g-up
at l
east
2.8
% o
f soc
ial p
rote
ction
ben
efici
arie
s.89
Indi
cato
r 3.2
.3N
umbe
r of i
nitia
tives
to h
arm
onize
soci
al h
ealth
arr
ange
men
ts a
nd
insti
tutio
nal s
yste
ms.
Base
line
Nati
onal
Hea
lth In
sura
nce
Bure
au (N
HIB)
es
tabl
ished
as h
ub o
f soc
ial h
ealth
ha
rmon
izatio
n eff
orts
.
Targ
et 3
.2.3
At le
ast t
wo
initi
ative
s to
com
plet
e ha
rmon
izatio
n of
soci
al
heal
th in
sura
nce
bene
fits a
nd IT
syst
ems b
y 20
20.
Indi
cato
r 3.2
.4Ex
isten
ce o
f rev
ised
Soci
al S
ecur
ity L
aw a
nd re
gula
tions
in
alig
nmen
t with
inte
rnati
onal
stan
dard
s, w
ith fo
cus o
n in
form
al
sect
or a
cces
s
Base
line
Soci
al S
ecur
ity L
aw re
vise
d in
201
3,
regu
latio
ns a
dopt
ed in
201
4. U
nder
revi
sion
in 2
016–
17.
Targ
et 3
.2.4
Soci
al S
ecur
ity L
aw re
vise
d, a
ppro
ved
and
diss
emin
ated
by
end
of 2
018,
with
acti
ve e
ngag
emen
t of n
ation
al
cons
titue
nts a
nd in
put o
f ILO
pro
duce
d ac
tuar
ial v
alua
tions
.
87
Lao
PD
R-U
N P
artn
ersh
ip F
ram
ewor
k, 2
017–
2021
88
SocialSecurityOffice.(2015).AnnualAdm
inistrativeData
89
In li
ne w
ith n
atio
nal d
isab
ility
pre
vale
nce
indi
cate
d by
4th
Lao
PD
R N
atio
nal P
opul
atio
n an
d H
ousi
ng S
urve
y
82
Cros
s-cu
ttin
g pr
iori
ty 4
Stre
ngth
en tr
ipar
tite
coo
pera
tion
and
soc
ial d
ialo
gue
DWCP
Out
com
e 4.
1 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d qu
ality
of
mec
hani
sms a
nd
proc
edur
es fo
r trip
artit
e co
oper
ation
and
soci
al
dial
ogue
.
Repo
rts o
f the
Nati
onal
Tr
ipar
tite
Com
mitt
ee (o
nce
esta
blish
ed).
Repo
rts o
f the
Tech
nica
l Tr
ipar
tite
Com
mitt
ee o
n In
dust
rial R
elati
ons.
Repo
rts o
f the
MoL
SW, L
NCC
I an
d LF
TU.
• M
oLSW
• LN
CCI
• LF
TU
$350
,000
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 1
: En
surin
g su
stai
ned
and
incl
usiv
e ec
onom
ic
grow
th.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 5
: Im
prov
ed p
ublic
/priv
ate
labo
ur fo
rce
capa
city
.
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put 8
.21.
2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er
equa
lity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th
The
Lao
PDR-
UN
PF
high
light
s the
nee
d fo
r m
utua
l acc
ount
abili
ty
for d
evel
opm
ent r
esul
ts,
inte
rpre
ted
as “
the
resp
ectiv
e ac
coun
tabi
lity
of p
artie
s w
orki
ng to
geth
er to
war
ds
shar
ed o
utco
mes
”.
Goa
l 1: E
nd p
over
ty, r
educ
e in
equa
lity.
Goa
l 4: E
nsur
e qu
ality
edu
catio
n, p
rom
ote
lifel
ong
lear
ning
.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er w
omen
an
d gi
rls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t an
d de
cent
wor
k fo
r all.
ILO
cro
ss-c
utting
pol
icy
driv
ers:
Para
grap
h 12
4 of
the
prop
osed
ILO
Pro
gram
me
and
Budg
et fo
r the
Bie
nniu
m
2018
–201
9 st
ates
:
Achi
evin
g de
cent
wor
k an
d so
cial
justi
ce fo
r all90
and
m
eetin
g th
e tr
ansf
orm
ative
go
als a
nd c
omm
itmen
ts
of th
e 20
30 A
gend
a in
a
sust
aina
ble
man
ner r
equi
res
the
activ
e en
gage
men
t of
empl
oyer
s’ a
nd w
orke
rs’
repr
esen
tativ
es w
ith
gove
rnm
ents
in e
cono
mic
and
so
cial
pol
icy-
mak
ing.
Build
ing
capa
city
of
cons
titue
nts t
o eff
ectiv
ely
cont
ribut
e to
dec
ent
wor
k fo
r sus
tain
able
and
in
clus
ive
deve
lopm
ent
thro
ugh
enha
nced
soci
al
dial
ogue
and
col
lecti
ve
barg
aini
ng.
Bette
r dat
a co
llecti
on a
nd
repo
rting
on
the
stat
us
of th
e w
orld
of w
ork,
w
ith p
artic
ular
em
phas
is on
labo
ur re
latio
ns a
nd
empl
oyer
s’ a
nd w
orke
rs’
orga
niza
tions
.
90
Reflectingthe2008ILODeclarationonSocialJusticeforaFairG
lobalization(SocialJusticeDeclaration)
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202183
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Indi
cato
r 4.1
.1Es
tabl
ishm
ent o
f Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e Co
mm
ittee
and
as
soci
ated
sub-
com
mitt
ees.
Base
lines
Esta
blish
men
t of a
Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e Co
mm
ittee
un
der d
iscus
sion
betw
een
natio
nal c
onsti
tuen
ts in
20
16–1
7.
Oth
er k
ey e
lem
ents
of t
ripar
tite
arch
itect
ure
as o
f Fe
brua
ry 2
017
incl
uded
the
follo
win
g:
• Te
chni
cal T
ripar
tite
Com
mitt
ee o
n In
dust
rial
Rela
tions
(rev
iew
s min
imum
wag
e on
per
iodi
c ba
sis);
• 14
pro
vinc
ial t
ripar
tite
com
mitt
ees;
• O
SH c
omm
ittee
s at n
ation
al a
nd e
nter
prise
leve
l; •
Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e La
bour
Sta
ndar
ds C
omm
ittee
;•
trip
artit
e go
vern
ance
arr
ange
men
ts fo
r the
N
ation
al S
ocia
l Sec
urity
Fun
d; a
nd•
DWCP
Trip
artit
e Co
mm
ittee
and
Trip
artit
e M
&E
Wor
king
Gro
up.
Targ
et 4
.1.1
Nati
onal
Trip
artit
e Co
mm
ittee
and
at l
east
two
asso
ciat
ed
sub-
com
mitt
ees e
stab
lishe
d by
end
of 2
018;
subc
omm
ittee
s in
clud
e on
e on
gen
der e
qual
ity a
nd n
on-d
iscrim
inati
on a
t w
ork,
with
at l
east
30%
fem
ale
mem
bers
.
Indi
cato
r 4.1
.2N
umbe
r of e
vide
nce-
base
d an
d ge
nder
-sen
sitive
trip
artit
e m
inim
um w
age
revi
ews.
Base
line
As o
f Feb
ruar
y 20
17, t
ripar
tite
min
imum
wag
e re
view
s occ
urre
d on
a p
erio
dic
basis
in th
e Te
chni
cal
Trip
artit
e Co
mm
ittee
on
Indu
stria
l Rel
ation
s.
Min
imum
wag
e as
of F
ebru
ary
2017
: 900
,000
Kip
/pe
rson
/mon
th, e
ffecti
ve fr
om 1
Apr
il 20
15, a
n in
crea
se o
f 50%
ove
r pre
viou
s lev
el.
Targ
et 4
.1.2
Nati
onal
Con
stitu
ents
(i) a
gree
on
proc
edur
es a
nd c
riter
ia
for m
ore
regu
lar m
inim
um w
age
revi
ews;
(ii) a
gree
on
mea
sure
s to
ensu
re th
at g
ende
r con
sider
ation
s are
ad
dres
sed
in th
is co
ntex
t and
(iii)
hol
d at
leas
t tw
o re
view
s un
der r
evise
d ap
proa
ch b
y 20
21.
Indi
cato
r 4.1
.3In
crea
se in
num
ber o
f sec
tor-
and
ente
rpris
e-le
vel
colle
ctive
bar
gain
ing
agre
emen
ts n
egoti
ated
bet
wee
n em
ploy
ers a
nd w
orke
rs.
Base
line
Five
hun
dred
col
lecti
ve a
gree
men
ts a
s of 2
017,
bu
t mos
tly in
stat
e en
terp
rises
. Few
col
lecti
ve
agre
emen
ts in
the
form
al p
rivat
e se
ctor
.
Targ
et 4
.1.3
Ten
per c
ent i
ncre
ase
in n
umbe
r of c
olle
ctive
bar
gain
ing
agre
emen
ts n
egoti
ated
bet
wee
n em
ploy
ers a
nd w
orke
rs b
y 20
21.
Indi
cato
r 4.1
.4Pe
rcen
tage
of r
ecor
ded
indu
stria
l disp
utes
reso
lved
bef
ore
reac
hing
the
cour
ts.
Base
line
Data
to b
e co
llect
ed a
s par
t of t
he im
plem
enta
tion
of
the
Labo
ur D
isput
e Re
solu
tion
Decr
ee o
nce
adop
ted.
Targ
et 4
.1.4
Thirt
y pe
r cen
t of r
ecor
ded
indu
stria
l disp
utes
solv
ed
thro
ugh
soci
al d
ialo
gue
or st
atut
ory
proc
edur
e by
202
1.
84
DWCP
Out
com
e 4.
2 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d ca
paci
ty o
f em
ploy
ers t
o ad
vanc
e De
cent
Wor
k Ag
enda
an
d so
cial
dia
logu
e.
LNCC
I rep
orts
on
impl
emen
tatio
n of
its
Stra
tegi
c Po
licy
Fram
ewor
k
MoL
SW re
port
s on
trip
artit
e ac
tivity
.
LNCC
I pol
icy
repo
rts a
nd
pape
rs p
rese
nted
to th
e Go
vern
men
t.
Annu
al re
view
s of I
LO/L
NCC
I co
oper
ation
fram
ewor
k.
• LN
CCI
$500
,000
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 1
: En
surin
g su
stai
ned
and
incl
usiv
e ec
onom
ic
grow
th.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 5
: Im
prov
ed p
ublic
/priv
ate
labo
ur fo
rce
capa
city
.
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put
8.21
.2:
Pro
mot
e an
d de
velo
p ge
nder
equ
ality
, ju
veni
les a
nd y
outh
.
The
Lao
PDR-
UN
PF
high
light
s the
nee
d fo
r m
utua
l acc
ount
abili
ty
for d
evel
opm
ent r
esul
ts,
defin
ed a
s “th
e re
spec
tive
acco
unta
bilit
y of
par
ties
wor
king
toge
ther
tow
ards
sh
ared
out
com
es”.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er w
omen
an
d gi
rls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t an
d de
cent
wor
k fo
r all.
Out
com
e 10
: St
rong
and
repr
esen
tativ
e em
ploy
ers’
and
wor
kers
’ or
gani
zatio
ns, p
artic
ular
ly
Indi
cato
rs 1
0.1,
10.
2 an
d 10
.3.
Build
ing
capa
city
of
cons
titue
nts t
o eff
ectiv
ely
cont
ribut
e to
dec
ent
wor
k fo
r sus
tain
able
and
in
clus
ive
deve
lopm
ent
thro
ugh
enha
nced
soci
al
dial
ogue
and
col
lecti
ve
barg
aini
ng.
Stre
ngth
enin
g ca
paci
ty-
build
ing
prog
ram
mes
for
empl
oyer
s’ a
nd w
orke
rs’
orga
niza
tions
.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202185
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Indi
cato
r 4.2
.1N
umbe
r of L
NCC
I ini
tiativ
es to
influ
ence
nati
onal
law
s,
polic
ies,
law
s, st
rate
gies
and
pla
ns.
Base
lines
LNCC
I con
trib
uted
acti
vely
to L
abou
r Law
(201
4)
revi
sion
and
deve
lopm
ent o
f Soc
ial S
ecur
ity L
aw
(201
3), a
s wel
l as t
o ot
her l
egisl
ative
and
pol
icy
deve
lopm
ents
in 2
011–
16.
LNCC
I Gui
de o
n th
e La
bour
Law
laun
ched
201
6.
Targ
et 4
.2.1
At
leas
t tw
o LN
CCI i
nitia
tives
ann
ually
to in
fluen
ce n
ation
al
law
s, p
olic
ies,
law
s, st
rate
gies
and
pla
ns.
Indi
cato
r 4.2
.2N
umbe
r of L
NCC
I cap
acity
dev
elop
men
t ini
tiativ
es to
st
reng
then
cap
acity
to (i
) eng
age
in tr
ipar
tite
coop
erati
on
and/
or (i
i) se
rve
mem
ber i
nter
ests
.
Base
line
LNCC
I Str
ateg
ic P
olic
y Fr
amew
ork
laun
ched
May
20
16.
Targ
et 4
.2.2
At le
ast t
wo
initi
ative
s ann
ually
(ave
rage
d ov
er fi
ve y
ears
) to
stre
ngth
en m
embe
r cap
acity
to (i
) eng
age
in tr
ipar
tite
coop
erati
on a
nd/o
r (ii)
serv
e m
embe
r int
eres
ts in
line
with
th
e LN
CCI N
ation
al S
trat
egic
Pol
icy
Fram
ewor
k.
Indi
cato
r 4.2
.3Pe
rcen
tage
incr
ease
in M
SME
mem
bers
hip
of L
NCC
I.Ba
selin
esLN
CCI m
embe
rshi
p ba
se in
14
prov
ince
s.
Data
to b
e up
date
d by
LN
CCI a
s par
t of m
aint
aini
ng
mem
bers
hip
reco
rds.
Targ
et 4
.2.3
Twen
ty p
er c
ent i
ncre
ase
in M
SME
mem
bers
hip
of L
NCC
I by
2021
.
Indi
cato
r 4.2
.4Pe
rcen
tage
incr
ease
in n
umbe
r of w
omen
in L
NCC
I le
ader
ship
and
man
agem
ent p
ositi
ons.
Base
line
Data
to b
e up
date
d by
LN
CCI a
s par
t of r
egul
ar
inte
rnal
mon
itorin
g.
Targ
et 4
.2.4
At le
ast 3
0% o
f lea
ders
hip
and
man
agem
ent p
ositi
ons h
eld
by w
omen
by
2021
.
86
DWCP
Out
com
e 4.
3 M
eans
of v
erifi
catio
nPa
rtne
rsIn
tegr
ated
reso
urce
requ
irem
ents
Estim
ated
as a
vaila
ble
(US$
)To
be
mob
ilize
d (U
S$)
Incr
ease
d ca
paci
ty o
f w
orke
rs to
adv
ance
De
cent
Wor
k Ag
enda
an
d so
cial
dia
logu
e.
LFTU
repo
rts o
n im
plem
enta
tion
of it
s na
tiona
l str
ateg
y an
d pl
ans.
MoL
SW re
port
s on
trip
artit
e ac
tivity
.
LFTU
pol
icy
repo
rts a
nd
pape
rs p
rese
nted
to
Gove
rnm
ent.
Annu
al re
view
s of L
FTU
co
oper
ation
fram
ewor
k.
• LF
TU•
APHE
DA U
nion
Aid
Abr
oad
(Aus
tral
ia)
• O
xfam
Lao
PDR
$500
,000
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 1
: En
surin
g su
stai
ned
and
incl
usiv
e ec
onom
ic
grow
th.
Out
com
e 1,
Out
put 5
: Im
prov
ed p
ublic
/priv
ate
labo
ur fo
rce
capa
city
.
Cros
s-cu
tting
Out
put
8.21
.2:
Prom
ote
and
deve
lop
gend
er e
qual
ity,
juve
nile
s and
you
th.
The
Lao
PDR-
UN
PF
high
light
s the
nee
d fo
r m
utua
l acc
ount
abili
ty
for d
evel
opm
ent r
esul
ts,
defin
ed a
s “th
e re
spec
tive
acco
unta
bilit
y of
par
ties
wor
king
toge
ther
tow
ards
sh
ared
out
com
es”.
Goa
l 5: A
chie
ve g
ende
r equ
ality
, em
pow
er w
omen
an
d gi
rls.
Goa
l 8: P
rom
ote
full
and
prod
uctiv
e em
ploy
men
t an
d de
cent
wor
k fo
r all.
Out
com
e 10
: St
rong
and
repr
esen
tativ
e em
ploy
ers’
and
wor
kers
’ or
gani
zatio
ns, p
artic
ular
ly
Indi
cato
rs 1
0.1,
10.
2 an
d 10
.3.
Build
ing
capa
city
of
cons
titue
nts t
o eff
ectiv
ely
cont
ribut
e to
dec
ent
wor
k fo
r sus
tain
able
and
in
clus
ive
deve
lopm
ent
thro
ugh
enha
nced
soci
al
dial
ogue
and
col
lecti
ve
barg
aini
ng.
Stre
ngth
enin
g ca
paci
ty-
build
ing
prog
ram
mes
for
empl
oyer
s’ a
nd w
orke
rs’
orga
niza
tions
.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202187
Link
s to
NSE
DPLi
nks t
o La
o PD
R-U
NPF
Link
s to
SDG
sLi
nks t
o IL
O P
&B
outc
omes
Bali
Decl
arati
on
Indi
cato
r 4.3
.1N
umbe
r of L
FTU
initi
ative
s to
influ
ence
nati
onal
law
s,
polic
ies,
law
s, st
rate
gies
and
pla
ns.
Base
lines
LNCC
I con
trib
uted
acti
vely
to L
abou
r Law
(201
4)
revi
sion
and
deve
lopm
ent o
f Soc
ial S
ecur
ity L
aw
(201
3), a
s wel
l as t
o ot
her l
egisl
ative
and
pol
icy
deve
lopm
ent i
n 20
11–1
6.
Targ
et 4
.3.1
At le
ast t
wo
LFTU
initi
ative
s ann
ually
to in
fluen
ce n
ation
al
law
s, p
olic
ies,
law
s, st
rate
gies
and
pla
ns, i
nclu
ding
revi
sion
of T
rade
Uni
on L
aw in
201
7.
Indi
cato
r 4.3
.2N
umbe
r of L
FTU
cap
acity
dev
elop
men
t ini
tiativ
es to
st
reng
then
cap
acity
to (i
) eng
age
in tr
ipar
tite
coop
erati
on
and/
or (i
i) se
rve
mem
ber i
nter
ests
.
Base
lines
LFTU
cap
acity
incl
udes
offi
ces/
staff
at n
ation
al,
prov
inci
al a
nd d
istric
t lev
els,
as w
ell a
s OSH
mob
ile
team
s in
each
pro
vinc
e.
As o
f Feb
ruar
y 20
17, t
he L
FTU
man
aged
the
Mig
rant
Re
sour
ce C
entr
e (M
RC) i
n Sa
vann
akhe
t Pro
vinc
e.
Targ
et 4
.3.2
At le
ast t
wo
initi
ative
s ann
ually
(ave
rage
ove
r five
yea
rs)
to st
reng
then
mem
ber c
apac
ity to
(i) e
ngag
e in
trip
artit
e co
oper
ation
and
/or (
ii) se
rve
mem
ber i
nter
ests
in li
ne w
ith
LFTU
prio
rities
, inc
ludi
ng im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e Tr
ade
Uni
on
Law
and
the
LFTU
acti
on p
lan
on p
rote
ction
of m
igra
nt
wor
kers
.
Indi
cato
r 4.3
.3Pe
rcen
tage
incr
ease
in n
umbe
r, di
sagg
rega
ted
by se
x, o
f fo
rmal
and
info
rmal
wor
kers
cov
ered
by
unio
ns.
Base
line
LFTU
mem
bers
hip
of 1
84,3
14 w
orke
rs a
s of 2
016.
Lim
ited
cove
rage
in th
e in
form
al e
cono
my,
incl
udin
g am
ong
agric
ultu
ral w
orke
rs.
Targ
et 4
.3.3
At le
ast 5
0% in
crea
se in
num
ber o
f priv
ate
sect
or fo
rmal
w
orke
rs a
nd 1
00%
incr
ease
in th
e nu
mbe
r of i
nfor
mal
w
orke
rs (d
isagg
rega
ted
by se
x) c
over
ed b
y un
ions
by
2021
.
Indi
cato
r 4.3
.4Pe
rcen
tage
incr
ease
in n
umbe
r of w
omen
in L
FTU
le
ader
ship
and
man
agem
ent p
ositi
ons.
Base
line
Data
to b
e up
date
d by
LFT
U a
s par
t of i
nter
nal
mon
itorin
g.
Targ
et 4
.3.4
At le
ast 3
0% o
f lea
ders
hip
and
man
agem
ent p
ositi
ons h
eld
by w
omen
by
2021
.
Decent Work Country Programme The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) 2017–202189
ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodiaand Lao People’s Democratic Republic
BangkokUnited Nations Building, 10th floor,Rajdamnern Nok Avenue,Bangkok 10200 Thailand
Tel: +66 2 288 1234Fax: +66 2 288 3062Email: [email protected]
Lao PDRAlounmai Tower4th Floor, Room 401Ban Nongbone, 23 Singha RoadSaysettha disctrict, P.O.Box 8156Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Tel/Fax: + 856 21 454 415Email: [email protected]