PM shines spotlight on need for skilled workforce

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has highlighted the urgent need to create a more highly skilled workforce to meet the country’s growing development needs. 
He drew attention to the chronic shortcomings in workforce skills when addressing the closing session of the annual meeting of the labour and social welfare sector on Wednesday.

Dr Sonexay Siphandone addresses a meeting of labour and social welfare officials.

He stressed the importance of raising the standard of work in all fields, to meet the needs of the domestic and foreign markets.
The prime minister also underscored the need for a labour market database to provide information that would help balance labour supply and demand.
Laws and regulations should be strengthened with the aim of creating new jobs and promoting social inclusion, he advised.
New policies and strategies to bolster labour and social inclusion should be devised between the central government and the seven new local governments, with a clear division of labour and responsibility between ministries and local governments.
The prime minister also called for the creation of a labour market database that would integrate with tax and other financial information systems.
He also stressed the need to improve the working methods of the National Labour Committee (comprising the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Lao Federation of Trade Unions, and the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry) to serve as a central hub for addressing issues related to workers and employers.
Stricter enforcement of laws governing both Lao and foreign workers is also necessary, he added.
Additionally, the premier called for the development of a stronger social protection system to better serve disadvantaged groups, victims of natural disasters, revolutionary supporters, private sector workers, and self-employed professionals.
This should include more effective social insurance and welfare systems to ensure broader coverage of workers.
More should also be done to create opportunities for informal workers in various professions to voluntarily participate in the social insurance system.
The management and administration of the National Social Insurance Fund must be transparent, sustainable, and capable of delivering high-quality and efficient services, he added.
PM Sonexay also called for more support for those who had been recognised for their contributions to the revolutionary cause, ensuring that all potential beneficiaries are identified accurately to avoid duplication or misallocation of resources.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is providing skills development in various fields for a total of 34,324 people, 15,015 of whom are women. Those taking courses will be tested and awarded certificates in line with national skill standards.
Under the government’s national development agenda, 124,539 people have been provided with jobs in the Lao and foreign labour markets.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update February 21, 2025)