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<p><span class="page_heading">The Background of SSO</span>
<p> The Lao Social Security Organization (SSO) was set up in 2000 following the enactment of the underlying Decree 207/PM in December 1999. SSO guarantees the provision and management of social security benefits for employees of private sector companies and their dependents, including state-owned enterprises. Thus, the organization offers enterprise employees a benefit package, which comprises health care, financial allowances in case of illness, work accident benefits and pension benefits. In consequence, SSO largely contributes to the social welfare of its members.
<p> For enterprises with equal or more than 10 staff, the Decree 207 stipulates a mandatory membership. Small enterprises with less than 10 employees can subscribe voluntarily to SSO. The SSO organization is administered as a self-financing judicial entity under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. It takes care of the accumulated social security fund in terms of stability and sustainability.
<p>SSO staff members are fully accountable to keep improving the quality of services in health care and other non-medical services to become and remain satisfactory for its members. The organizational slogan " Social Security for a better quality of life" should become verifiable by all beneficiaries covered by the scheme.
<p><span class="text_heading">SSO's Values:</span></p>
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<li><p class="list"> Effective and customer oriented services. </li>
<li><p class="list"> Cohesive administration based on teamwork and skilful personnel. </li>
<li><p class="list"> Committed to overcome challenges of the organization to better represent its members. </li>
<li><p class="list"> Integrity and Transparency.</li>
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<p><span class="text_heading">SSO's Mission:</span></p>
<p>To provide effectively social security services for all members and beneficiaries with the aim to offer coverage to all mandatory members throughout the country. To financially manage the social security fund stable and sustainable.</p>
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<td width="378"><p><span class="text_heading">SSO Logo Definition:</span>
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<p> <li><p class="list"> The circle signifies social security fund under the Government's guarantee </li>
<li><p class="list"> 'Dok Champa' flowers stands for Lao nationalism </li>
<li><p class="list"> Decagon diamond crystal means the strength of the Social Security Fund </li>
<li><p class="list"> 10 equal sides are corresponding to 10 benefits provided by SSO </li>
<li><p class="list"> "SSO" is the official abbreviation of the Social Security Organization</li>
<li><p class="list">Three people correspond to the tripartite entity (government, employers and employees)</li>
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<td width="197"><div align="center"><img src="../images/small_logo.gif" width="130" height="130"></div></td>
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