Events

Getting to know Social Security Organization, Lao PDR.
The Social Security Organization was established on June 1, 2001, in accordance with Prime Minister’s Decree number 207 on social security scheme for enterprises workers that is relevant to the Labor Law of Lao PDR, and it also refers to the social policy of the Government. The Prime Minister’s Decree number 207 is the main legislation which sets out the principles, regulations, organizations, procedures and measures to ensure enterprise employees' social welfare rights and benefit with the objective of improving their living conditions and contributing to national socio-economic development. In accordance with mentioned Decree, employers employing 10 or more employees are required to participate to the social security scheme compulsorily, and those who are employing less than 10 workers can also apply for participation to the scheme, but they are required to perform similar rights and obligations to the others under this system.

Social Security Organization is officially abbreviated as SSO, and it is a juridical entity guided by the Minister of Labor & Social Welfare. SSO has the Board of Directors as its supreme management which is a tripartite body, and comprises of 11 members who are 3 representatives of the Government, 4 representatives of the Employers, and 4 representatives of the Employees.

Social Security Fund, established under insurance principles, is contributed by the employers and the employees. For the government side, it is the responsibility of the government to guarantee the stability of the fund. Moreover, the government also provided a building and some budget to SSO in the period when the scheme was started. The main objective of SSO is to social security rights to the enterprises workers that SSO provides 8 benefit types to its members. The 8 types of benefits are:

• Healthcare benefit
• Sickness benefit
• Maternity benefit
• Funeral benefit
• Working injury or Occupational diseases benefit
• Invalidity pension
• Retirement pension
• Survivors pension

Particularly, the Healthcare benefit under a capitation payment is available for insured persons, spouses and children under 18 of age.

Operational strategy of SSO is to firstly collect the contributions from targeted groups in Vientiane Capital, and then the scheme will be expanded to other potential provinces.

Visit to Social Security Organization by Cambodian delegates
On December 1 – 30, 2005, an official visit to SSO was made by the delegates from Ministry of Labor Vocational Training, the Kingdom of Cambodia. The delegation led by MR. SUM SOPHORN, Deputy Director of Social Security Department, was warmly welcome by the SSO Executives and its high-ranking officials.

The delegation aimed to learn from and exchange with SSO the knowledge on social security since the Cambodia have got plan to start its social security scheme in 2006.

The delegates have been presented the information of SSO. The delegates have also been guided all operational procedures of SSO.

In addition, the Cambodian delegation has paid a courtesy to the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare as well as high-ranking officials of the Ministry.

Taking the opportunity, the SSO Executives left the hope of further cooperation by the two parties to the delegates. Moreover, the SSO Executives also urged the Cambodia side to join the ASSA as soon as its social security scheme starts.