Lao People's
Democratic Republic

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2022 Score

71.5

2020 Score

N/A

Rating

Reasonable Access to
Decent Work

Fair
Wages

40

Decent
Working Hours

60

Employment
Security

80

Family
Responsibilities

50

Maternity
at Work

100

Safe
Work

75

Social
Security

100

Fair
Treatment

60

Child &
Forced Labour

100

Trade
Union

50

1. Fair Wages
2. Decent Working Hours
3. Employment Security
4. Family Responsibilities
5. Maternity at Work
6. Safe Work
7. Social Security
8. Fair Treatment
9. Child & Forced Labour
10. Trade Union

Fair Wages

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prescribe minimum wage rates in the country?No0§105 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require regular payment of wages?No0§104 & 110 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require overtime compensation be at least 125% of the regular hourly rate?Yes1§114 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require additional compensation for working on a weekly rest day?No0No applicable legal provision could be located
Does the law require additional compensation for night work?Yes1§61, 91 & 116 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013

Decent Working Hours

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law stipulate general working hours as 48 hours or lower?Yes1§51 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law restrict maximum working hours including overtime to 56 hours per week?No0§53 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require a weekly rest of at least 24 hours?Yes1§54 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require paid public holidays?Yes1§55 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require at least three working weeks of paid annual leave?No0§57 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013

Employment Security

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require written employment contracts or at least written employment particulars?Yes1§75-78 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law restrict the hiring of fixed-term contract workers?Yes1§76 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law limit the length of probation period including renewals to a maximum of 3 months?Yes1§79 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require a 30-day notice before contract termination?No0§80, 82 & 83 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require severance pay at the rate of at least 2 weeks of wages for every year of service?Yes1§88 & 90 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013

Family Responsibilities

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require parental leave for parents?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require at least one week of paid paternity leave for fathers?No0§58 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require flexible work arrangements for workers with family responsibilities?Yes1No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require paid nursing breaks?Yes1§98 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013

Maternity at Work

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prohibits inquiring about pregnancy during recruitment?Yes1§100 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks?Yes1§98 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require cash maternity benefit be at least 67% of a worker's former wage?Yes1§99 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; §24-25 & 49 of the Social Security Law, 2018
Does the law require maternity benefit be paid through contributory social insurance or universal benefits system?Yes1§99 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; §24-25 & 49 of the Social Security Law, 2018
Does the law protect workers from dismissals during or on account of pregnancy?Yes1§100 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013

Safe Work

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require provision of free personal protective equipment to workers from employer?No0§64, 117 & 119 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law require the employer to train workers on health and safety issues?Yes1§119 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law restrict work that is prejudicial to the health of the mother or the child?Yes1§97 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law provide for employment injury benefit?Yes1§128 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; §52-57 & §64-65 of the Social Security Law, 2018

Social Security

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law provide for an old age pension?Yes1§72-74 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law provide for a dependants'/survivors' pension?Yes1§129 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; §16 & 17 of the Social Security Law, 2018
Does the law provide for unemployment benefit?Yes1§66 & 67 of the Social Security Law, 2018
Does the law require paid sick leave for the first 6 months of sickness?Yes1§56 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; §9, 27 & 51 of the Social Security law, 2018
Does the law provide for invalidity benefit?Yes1§129 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013

Fair Treatment

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require equal remuneration for work of equal value?No0§37 of the Constitution, 2003; §96 of the Labour Law, 2013; §15 of the Law for Protection of Women, 2004
Does the law prohibit sexual harassment in employment?Yes1§35 of the Constitution, 2003; §83(4), 90 & 141 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; Gender Equality Law
Does the law prohibit discrimination in employment matters?No0§35 of the Constitution, 2003; §141 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013
Does the law allow women to do the same jobs as men?Yes1§37 & 39 of the Constitution, 2003; §96 of the Lao PDR Labour Law, 2013; §15 of the Law for Protection of Women, 2004
Does the law guarantee basic labour protections for gig economy workers?Yes1Social Security Law, 2018; ISSA Country Profile for Lao PDR

Child & Forced Labour

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prohibit employment of children?Yes1§101 of the Laos Labour Law, 2013
Does the law set employment entry age equal to or higher than the compulsory schooling age?Yes1§12-14 and 28 of the Education Law, 2015
Does the law prohibit the employment of children in hazardous work under the age of 18 years?Yes1§101 & 102 of the Laos Labour Law, 2013
Does the law prohibit forced labour?Yes1§59 of the Laos Labour Law, 2013; §30 & 89 of the Law on Anti-Trafficking in Persons, 2016

Trade Union

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?No0Article 20(1) of the Lao PDR Law on Trade Unions 2007; USDOS CRHRP 2021
Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?Yes1Article 169 of Lao PDR Labour Law 2013
Does the law provide for the right to strike?Yes1Article 154 of Lao PDR Labour Law 2013
Does the law prohibit employers from terminating employment contracts of striking workers?No0Article 87 of Lao PDR Labour Law 2013; USDOS CRHRP 2021