Members of the NA debate amendments to the Law on Civil Servants.

Home affairs ministry proposes changes to Law on Civil Servants

The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed key amendments to the Law on Civil Servants, including raising the maximum age for new civil servants to be recruited from 35 to 40, reducing maternity leave from five to three months, and extending the retirement age from 60 to 65 if it is deemed necessary for work purposes.
These proposals were debated on Wednesday during an Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly.
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Vilayvong Bouddakham outlined the proposed changes, highlighting the government’s intention to enhance career opportunities, align labour policies with international standards, and extend the working age for pension eligibility.
Under Article 18, the maximum age for new civil servants would rise from 35 to 40, broadening opportunities for experienced professionals to contribute to Party and state organisations.
Under Article 29, maternity leave would be reduced from five to three months, aligning with international standards to balance workforce participation and maternal care.
Under Article 71, the retirement age would be postponed to 65 if necessary, allowing experienced professionals to continue contributing while securing greater financial stability.
The National Assembly is now reviewing these amendments, with further discussions expected during the ongoing session.
Dr Vilayvong also revealed that the committee in charge of the amendments had expanded the draft law from 9 sections, 18 chapters, and 99 articles to 9 sections, 19 chapters, and 101 articles. This revision includes 44 revised articles and five new articles, based on the Party Central Committee’s resolutions.
It also aligns with the draft of the revised Constitution, the revised Law on Local Governance, and recommendations made during recent public consultations.
The five new articles comprise Article 16 on the Public Sector Civil Force Management Plan, which will be established to monitor, analyse, and estimate workforce numbers. It will support short- and long-term budget planning, ensuring alignment with economic conditions and government functions.
The proposed Article 17 on Reporting Requirements requires government bodies and mass organisations to submit regular reports on civil servant management to the Party Central Committee, which will review and forward them to the government for approval.
Reports must be submitted by July each year, allowing the government to finalise the civil servant quota by September.
Under the proposed Article 82, a disciplinary committee will be established at the taseng level, the lowest administrative tier in Laos. This committee will oversee disciplinary matters for civil servants working at both central and local levels.
In addition, Article 88 on the Rights and Duties of Administrative Committees of the Party Central Committee has been compiled, merging Articles 86 and 87 of the current law. The new Article combines the roles and responsibilities of the Party Central Committee and the Ministry of Home Affairs into a single organisation. This aligns with the Party Central Committee’s resolution of March 12, 2025.
Under the proposed Article 92 on the Rights and Duties of District-Level Administrative Committees, these committees will be tasked with managing civil servants consistently across all administrative levels, ensuring compliance with the Constitution and the Law on Local Governance.
The proposed amendments reflect the government’s commitment to improving civil service management while adapting to economic and social changes.
Further discussions on these revisions will continue as the National Assembly evaluates their potential impact on public administration and governance.

By Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
 (Latest Update March 20, 2025)