Lao PDR Luanches First Labour Force and Child Labour Surveys.
The first surveys of the labour force and child labour in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) were launched in Vientiane today by the Government of Lao PDR with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
(ILO NEWS) Vientiane – The first surveys of the labour force and child labour in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) were launched in Vientiane today by the Government of Lao PDR with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The Labour Force Survey and Child Labour Survey 2010 of Lao PDR found that the population of Laos is 5,818,447 of whom 2,913,989 are female. More than two million people, or almost two-fifths of the population, are under 18 years of age. The report shows that out of 3,886,000 persons aged 15 or over, 3,080,000 are in the labour force. Of this labour force, 58,600 are registered as unemployed. The highest levels of unemployment are found in the province of Xieng Khouang (6.3 per cent) followed by the capital, Vientiane (5.5 per cent) and Borikhamxay (3.6 per cent). In urban areas overall unemployment is 3.2 per cent, while rural areas without road access reported the lowest unemployment rate, of 0.7 per cent. Nationally, the unemployment rate stands at 1.9 per cent (male 1.8 per cent, female 2.0 per cent).
According to the Child Labour Survey, approximately 178,000 children in Laos are considered to be engaged in child labour – around 96,000 girls and 81,000 boys. Of these more than 130,000 – or two out of every three child labourers - are involved in what is defined as hazardous work. Ninety per cent of child labourers work in agriculture, forestry or fishing, and seven out of 10 work more than 49 hours per week. The majority of child labourers are found in rural areas.
The Labour Force Survey and Child Labour Survey 2010 are the first such studies to be conducted in the Lao PDR. They were carried out by the Lao Statistics Bureau and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, with technical and financial assistance from the ILO. The findings and the new statistical information will help planners, policy makers, researchers, students and other users.
The launch of the surveys took place at a workshop in Vientiane on Friday 18 January. The workshop was chaired by H.E. Ms. Baykham Khattiya, Vice-Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, and Dr. Samaychanh Boupha, Vice Minister, Head of National Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Planning and Investment. The ILO was represented by Mr Maurizio Bussi, Officer-in-Charge of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR and Director of the ILO Decent Work Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Speaking during the workshop Mr. Bussi, said “statistics will change rapidly, and therefore national efforts need to be directed towards putting into place those measures and systems for continuous collection, analysis, and dissemination of labour market information that should be useful in informing policy decisions during a time of fast pace socio-economic changes in Lao PDR and across ASEAN countries”.
“The surveys and the reports have contributed to strengthening the national capacity in Lao PDR to carry out periodic surveys through scientific collection, processing and analysis of the labour force and child labour data” he added.
The ILO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour and work-related issues. The ILO’s unique tripartite structure brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes, with the aim of promoting Decent Work for All. In Lao PDR these tripartite constituents are represented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For more information please contact:
Ms. Khemphone Phaokhamkeo
ILO National Coordinator
Lao PDR
Tel: (020) 5662 1760,
Email:
The Labour Force Survey and Child Labour Survey 2010 of Lao PDR found that the population of Laos is 5,818,447 of whom 2,913,989 are female. More than two million people, or almost two-fifths of the population, are under 18 years of age. The report shows that out of 3,886,000 persons aged 15 or over, 3,080,000 are in the labour force. Of this labour force, 58,600 are registered as unemployed. The highest levels of unemployment are found in the province of Xieng Khouang (6.3 per cent) followed by the capital, Vientiane (5.5 per cent) and Borikhamxay (3.6 per cent). In urban areas overall unemployment is 3.2 per cent, while rural areas without road access reported the lowest unemployment rate, of 0.7 per cent. Nationally, the unemployment rate stands at 1.9 per cent (male 1.8 per cent, female 2.0 per cent).
According to the Child Labour Survey, approximately 178,000 children in Laos are considered to be engaged in child labour – around 96,000 girls and 81,000 boys. Of these more than 130,000 – or two out of every three child labourers - are involved in what is defined as hazardous work. Ninety per cent of child labourers work in agriculture, forestry or fishing, and seven out of 10 work more than 49 hours per week. The majority of child labourers are found in rural areas.
The Labour Force Survey and Child Labour Survey 2010 are the first such studies to be conducted in the Lao PDR. They were carried out by the Lao Statistics Bureau and Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, with technical and financial assistance from the ILO. The findings and the new statistical information will help planners, policy makers, researchers, students and other users.
The launch of the surveys took place at a workshop in Vientiane on Friday 18 January. The workshop was chaired by H.E. Ms. Baykham Khattiya, Vice-Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, and Dr. Samaychanh Boupha, Vice Minister, Head of National Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Planning and Investment. The ILO was represented by Mr Maurizio Bussi, Officer-in-Charge of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR and Director of the ILO Decent Work Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Speaking during the workshop Mr. Bussi, said “statistics will change rapidly, and therefore national efforts need to be directed towards putting into place those measures and systems for continuous collection, analysis, and dissemination of labour market information that should be useful in informing policy decisions during a time of fast pace socio-economic changes in Lao PDR and across ASEAN countries”.
“The surveys and the reports have contributed to strengthening the national capacity in Lao PDR to carry out periodic surveys through scientific collection, processing and analysis of the labour force and child labour data” he added.
The ILO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour and work-related issues. The ILO’s unique tripartite structure brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes, with the aim of promoting Decent Work for All. In Lao PDR these tripartite constituents are represented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
For more information please contact:
Ms. Khemphone Phaokhamkeo
ILO National Coordinator
Lao PDR
Tel: (020) 5662 1760,
Email: