FOREWORD

In November 1995, a review of labour market information was carried out for the Lao PDR as part of the Employment Promotion and Training project (TA 2326-LAO). This project was implemented by TEAMS (Pvt) Ltd of Sri Lanka and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project enlisted the services of Mr R. Pember, ILO/EASMAT Senior Specialist in Labour Statistics, as a consultant to undertake the review.

This directory, prepared by Mr Pember, reviews available labour market information and other selected labour statistics as at November 1995, as well as the statistical capabilities of the agencies producing these statistics. The results are presented in a simple format to facilitate the comparison and use of the statistics.

We are most grateful to the agencies which provided the information for the review, especially the staff of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW), the National Statistical Centre (NSC) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Special thanks are due to the staff of the MOLSW for accompanying Mr Pember to agency meetings and assisting with interpretation. Members of the Statistics Sweden Cooperation project at the NSC were also most helpful and supportive.

We are also grateful to the ADB and TEAMS (Pvt) Ltd for giving us permission to publish this document.

William R. Simpson

Director

ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (ILO/EASMAT)

Bangkok

June 1996

SECTION A: Directory of available labour statistics

Employment, unemployment and economically inactive population

•   1 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey

  2 1992 Urban Labour Force Survey

  3 March 1995 Population Census

  Employment data (government sector)

  4 Output from personnel records/payroll of the Civil Service

  Other statistics of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

  5 Work permits issued to foreigners

  6 Registration of jobseekers

  7 Notified job vacancies

  8 Job vacancies advertised in newspapers

  9 Social security

  10 Industrial accidents

  Education statistics

  11 Private sector education

  12 Public sector education (data base)

  13 Public sector education (traditional reporting system)

  Training needs

  14 1994 Urban Establishment Survey

  Trade union statistics

  15 Membership of trade unions

  Household consumption and expenditure

  16 1992/93 Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey

  and Lao Social Indicators Survey

  SECTION B: Capability and resources of agencies involved in labour statistics

  1 National Statistics Centre

  2 Ministry of Education

  3 Lao Federation of Trade Unions

  4 Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

  SECTION A: Directory of available labour statistics

  Employment, unemployment and economically inactive population

  1 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey

  Reference period: August 1994

  Agency responsible:

  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project, Strengthening Labour Market Monitoring and Analysis in Lao PDR (TA-1954 LAO) carried out the 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey. The consultants were the Netherlands Economic Institute (NEI) which worked with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW).

  The NEI enlisted the services of the ILO/EASMAT Senior Specialist in Labour Statistics for the Asia-Pacific region to design the survey questionnaire, methodology, processing system and tabulation plan, and to train staff in this work.

  The NEI employed a local consulting company, Société Mixte d=Étude et Développement (SMED) to undertake data collection, processing and tabulation for the survey after training by the ILO/EASMAT specialist and following his specifications.

  The National Statistical Centre (NSC) prepared the sample design and selected the sample for the survey.

  Mr K. Bot of the NEI analysed the results and produced the survey report.

  Summary of data content:

  The 1994 survey collected data on economic activity status and associated characteristics on a "usual" (last 12 months) basis and "current" (last week) basis for all persons aged 10 years or more. Demographic data, migrant status, and a full range of information on the employed (including current visible underemployment) and the unemployed were gathered. Data were also collected to identify informal sector work by the employed, and for the unemployed in their last job.

  Although data were collected for those aged 10 years or more, Mr Bot tabulated data only for those aged 15 years or more in order to compare results with the 1992 Urban Labour Force Survey. Most of those aged 10-14 years were inactive.

  Methodology:

  The sample comprised 2,010 households in urban areas only.

  The sample was designed to be representative of urban areas. Results were weighted to the total urban population.

  1 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey (continued)

  Each household was visited by an interviewer and those aged 10 years or more were asked about their economic activities during the last 12 months and previous week.

  A copy of the questionnaire(s) is in the survey report.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  There was no non-response.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  The edit and table specifications prepared by the ILO/EASMAT specialist for the survey were not followed exactly. Consequently, the data file contained some data errors when it was tabulated. It was re-edited and amended during November 1995 and new results were produced in December 1995. The data are still not completely error-free. The coding of occupation, industry and training has not been checked (except for invalid codes) and output editing suggests that errors remain in the coded data which cannot be removed without extensive recoding.

  The new (December 1995) results show relatively minor changes in the broad aggregates. Table 1 (page 3) compares the original with revised estimates.

  If computerised, name of software used:

  SMED processing (1994): DBase IV and Excel 4.

  Reprocessing (November 1995): FoxPro and SPSS.

  Data dissemination:

  Reports were produced (see publications below) and a diskette of the unit data file is available.

  Coverage:

  The survey was comprehensive in its coverage of private households in urban areas. Institutionalised persons (those in prisons, hospitals, army camps) and families of diplomatic missions were excluded.

  Data collection period:

  Start: August 1994 End: September 1995

  Frequency: One-off /X/ Regular /_/

  1 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey (continued)

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  ILO standards were followed for all concepts, definitions and classifications. The unemployed were defined using the strict definition "actively seeking work" as well as the "relaxed" definition (including those not actively seeking work, but wanting to work and available for work). Occupation and industry classifications used in the survey were

  1 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey (continued)

  the latest versions (International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO-88 and International Standard Industrial Classification, ISIC Rev. 3).

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  The results differ from the 1992 Urban Labour Force Survey because a more restricted definition of "urban" was used by the NSC when creating the population frame.

  Other differences include the following:

  (a) The cut-off age was 10 years in the 1994 survey and 15 years in the 1992 survey.

  (b) The 1994 survey used a more relaxed definition of unemployment. It included in the concept of "unemployment" those who wanted to work and were available to work but did not actively look for work in the reference period. Nevertheless, this group was separately identified and tabulated. The 1992 survey used the strict definition, namely only those actively seeking work.

  (c) The 1994 survey measured visible underemployment and informal sector activities while the 1992 survey did not.

  Publication(s):

  Three reports with survey results were produced by the 1994 project: (a) NEI: Report of the 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey, January 1995, by K. Bot.

  (b) NEI: Strengthening labour market monitoring and analysis in Lao PDR - Final report, January 1995, by K Bot.

  (c) SMED: Termination report of Urban Labour Force Survey, January 1995.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  These were produced in November 1995 and more can be produced very quickly.

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  1 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey (continued)

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No - sample too small.

  Urban/rural separately: No - urban only.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  These data are being widely used because they are the only available comprehensive and reliable estimates of economic activity.

  Contact person:

  MOLSW, Vientiane

  or

  Mr R. Pember, ILO/EASMAT Bangkok, telephone (66-2) 288-1784

  2 1992 Urban Labour Force Survey

  Reference period: July 1992.

  Agency responsible:

  Under the ADB-funded Human Resources Development project, Mr N. Roots (consultant) assisted the MOLSW in conducting this survey. SMED was engaged as the local consulting company to undertake this work.

  Summary of data content:

  The 1992 survey is not clear on the reference period - whether "usual" (last 12 months) or "current" (last week). It seems to relate to "current" economic activity.

  The survey collected data on economic activity status and associated characteristics (industry, occupation). Demographic data, migrant status, union membership, work injuries and a range of information on the employed and the unemployed were also collected. The survey did not collect data on the informal sector or in respect of visible underemployment.

  Methodology:

  The report states that "available resources would allow for a sample of 1,000 to 1,500 households". It does not state the exact number. The sample was designed and weighted to represent the urban area as defined in the survey. Subsequently, the "urban" area was found to also include extensive peri-urban and rural areas around urban areas. In all other respects the survey was similar to the 1994 survey.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not known.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not known.

  Data dissemination:

  A report was produced (see APublications@ below) and is available in the MOLSW.

  Coverage:

  The survey was comprehensive in its coverage of private households in urban and peri-urban areas.

  2 1992 Urban Labour Force Survey (continued)

  Data collection period:

  Start: July 1992 End: July 1992

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  ILO standards were followed for all concepts, definitions and classifications. The unemployed were defined using the strict definition "actively seeking work".

  Occupation and industry classifications were based on out-of-date versions (ISCO-68 and ISIC Rev. 2).

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  The results differ from the 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey because a looser definition of "urban" was used by the NSC when creating the population frame.

  In addition, classifications of occupation and industry were not directly comparable, but can be accommodated. Other differences (cut-off age, relaxed versus strict definition of unemployment) can be accommodated in tabulation.

  Publication(s):

  A report with survey results were produced by the 1992 project: Report of the Lao Urban Labour Force Survey, July 1992, Department of Labour, November 1992, by consultant N. Root.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  2 1992 Urban Labour Force Survey (continued)

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No - sample too small.

  Urban/rural level separately: No - urban only.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  These data were being widely used until the 1994 results became available.

  Contact person:

  None.

  3 March 1995 Population Census

  Reference period: 1st March 1995

  Agency responsible:

  Organised by the NSC, this was a major undertaking which involved many organisations in Lao PDR.

  Statistics Sweden has a project in the NSC to assist with this work.

  Summary of data content:

  Data were collected on relationship, sex, age, birthplace, migration status, ethnic group, marital status, religion, literacy, education level, and whether employed/unemployed/inactive.

  For the employed, data were collected on job status, institutional sector, occupation and industry. For the unemployed, no additional data were collected. For the inactive, data on type of activity were collected.

  Methodology:

  This was the most recent decennial census of households.

  A copy of the census questionnaire is shown as an annex to Preliminary Report. The annex in the Preliminary Report has an error. Data on occupation and industry were asked of all those coded 1 to 7 in Q14 (and not 1 to 6 as shown in the English version annex to the Preliminary Report).

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not applicable.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not known.

  Data dissemination:

  A Preliminary Report (based on manually prepared census summaries) was produced and disseminated (released in October 1995).

  Provincial results will be progressively prepared and disseminated during 1996 and national results are expected to be released in mid-1997.

  3 March 1995 Population Census (continued)

  Coverage:

  This was a full and comprehensive census conducted on a de jure basis. As a de jure census, only Lao nationals and foreigners with a permanent residence permit are included. Foreigners with temporary residence permits and visitors to Lao PDR are excluded.

  Data collection period: March 1995

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/ 10-yearly.

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  No.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  Census questions are limited by space and cannot attempt to measure the concept of employment and unemployment in depth.

  The employed are classified by occupation (3 digit code) and industry (2 digit code) using adaptations of the latest international standards (ISCO-88 and ISIC Rev. 3) which were provided by the ILO in August 1994 and translated into Lao as part of the preparations for the 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey.

  The following are the main amendments made to ISCO-88 to create the current Lao Standard Classification of Occupations (LSCO) which was used for coding the 1995 Census:

  (a) Code 113 "traditional chiefs and heads of villages" split up into code 113 "traditional chiefs" and code 115 "heads of villages".

  (b) New code 622 for "slash-and-burn farmer".

  (c) Armed forces coded 981 (not 011), and major group 0 becomes major group 98.

  (d) New code 999 for "not specified" and new major group 99.

  (e) Major group 9 changed to major group 91-93.

  The unemployed exclude those not actively looking for work.

  No additional data were collected on the economic characteristics of the unemployed (detail of last job).

  3 March 1995 Population Census (continued)

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  No.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  Results are not yet available. When they are, the census will provide an essential benchmark of total population data on the employed and unemployed (actively seeking work) for comparison with the 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey.

  Employment data will be available at the local area level. Sample surveys are unable to provide these small area estimates.

  As no details on occupation or industry of the unemployed were obtained from the Census, the 1994 Urban Labour Force Survey will remain the only comprehensive source of unemployment data for the time being.

  Publication(s):

  NSC: Lao Census 1995, Preliminary Report, October 1995.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  In due course.

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/ Not yet.

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: Yes

  Urban/rural level separately: Yes

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  These data will be widely used when the full results are available.

  Contact person:

  Mr Bounthavy Director, NSC, telephone 21.6656

  Employment data (government sector)

  4 Output from personnel records/ payroll of the Civil Service

  Reference period: Currently under development.

  Agency responsible:

  Department of Administration and Management

  Summary of data content:

  The Department of Administration and Management is still developing this system and was not ready to be interviewed. As a result, details about the sort of information which will be held in the personnel data base could not be obtained.

  Methodology:

  No statistics are available from this potentially rich data base on government employees.

  Processing and tabulation:

  A computerised system is under development.

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not stated

  Data dissemination:

  No.

  Coverage:

  The Department of Administration and Management was not able to provide details of the content of the proposed data base or to indicate whether manpower statistics will be derived from it. It is therefore not known whether the data base includes temporary or non-pensionable employees, non-Lao (foreign) employees, or provincial government employees, etc.

  Data collection period:

  No data available.

  Frequency: None.

  4 Personnel records/ payroll of the civil service (continued)

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not known. Details of the occupation or training classifications used in the data base were not available. It is hoped that these will be compatible with other data sources in Lao PDR. The NSC and MOLSW should ensure that compatibility is achieved.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  Not known/not applicable.

  Publication(s):

  None.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No

  Urban/rural level separately: No

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Data are not yet available.

  Contact person: No interview was given.

  Other statistics of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

  5 Work permits issued to foreigners

  Reference period:

  On-going, since work permits were first issued in November 1994 (under Regulation 2335/94).

  Agency responsible:

  Within the MOLSW, three divisions are involved in this system: (a) Employment Promotion Division: Self-employed businessmen seeking to set up a business and employers wishing to recruit foreigners to fill employee positions in Lao PDR are required to submit an application for work permit to the division. The division considers the application and passes it with a recommendation on to the Director of the Department of Labour. If approved, the application is sent to the Labour Protection Division for issuance of the work permit.

  (b) Labour Protection Division: The division informs the applicant of approval of the application and requests him/her to complete a request form for a work permit card. When the form is completed, a work permit card is issued for one year (which may be renewed). A work permit card is not issued unless a request for the card is made.

  Some applicants do not complete the request form for a work permit card because the card is no longer required, or they are aware that provisional approval has been given and feel that this is sufficient.

  (c) Policy and Planning Division: The division accesses the request form for work permit cards and produces a table of the number of cards issued cross-classified by nationality and industry.

  Summary of data content:

  The new application form for a work permit introduced by the Employment Promotion Division in October 1995 collects data on industry, occupation, location, nationality, age, educational level, specialisation, work experience, duration of contract, salary and reason for not recruiting a Lao worker. Data on sex should be collected. "Occupation" is poorly reported and therefore more details on "Duties to be undertaken" should be obtained. This form was discontinued soon after its introduction in favour of a revised form (see below).

  5 Work permits issued to foreigners (continued)

  The request for a work permit from the Labour Protection Division duplicated some of the data entries in the original work permit application form. It has the same data, except educational level, specialisation, work experience, and reasons for not recruiting a Lao worker. The request form collects data on marital status, which is not in the original work permit application form.

  In November 1995, the ADB project assisted the Ministry by encouraging the two Divisions to collaborate in producing one form, which will minimise form-filling and avoid duplication.

  Industry data are classified using the out-of-date classification, ISIC Rev. 2, but this is similar to the latest version (Rev. 3). The new system uses the latest version in order to be consistent with other data sources in Lao PDR.

  Methodology:

  Statistics are manually compiled only in respect of the approved work permits which have been issued. The various steps in the approval and issuance of a work permit are outlined above.

  The 1995 ADB project assisted in rationalising the different forms into one form to minimise duplication and unnecessary paperwork.

  In November 1995, measures were taken action to design and implement a computer-based system for this work. The system will provide improved statistics and issue reminders for the renewal or cancellation of work permits. The system is a modest start within current computer resources and has been designed more as a training tool in statistical methods (coding, editing, tabulation). However, it will also provide useful statistics on the skills being imported into the country and therefore indicate where more training is needed for Lao workers.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not applicable.

  Processing and tabulation:

  Manual /X/ Computerised /_/ but converting to a computer-based system.

  If computerised, name of software used:

  The new computer system developed by the 1995 ADB project used Microsoft Visual Basic software.

  5 Work permits issued to foreigners (continued)

  Data dissemination:

  Not at present. A table of the work permit cards issued, classified by nationality and industry, is produced within MOLSW, but only in respect of the total period to date. No separate statistics are produced on the number of work permits issued each month.

  Coverage:

  The system does not cover all foreigners working in the country. The following exemptions are important: (a) Some foreigners are permitted to work in a province by permission of the local administration, but without a work permit card issued by MOLSW.

  (b) Staff of diplomatic missions are exempt.

  (c) Volunteers and others working without pay are exempt.

  (d) Foreigners working for the government (including long term consultants) are exempt.

  (e) Self-employed businessmen on trips of less than 30 days do not require a work permit.

  Article 7 of the Labour Law states that MOLSW will develop and promulgate a list of occupations from which foreigners will be prohibited. The list has not yet been prepared.

  Data collection period:

  Started in November 1994. Data will be available from the new computerised system in 1996.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/

  Statistics are not compiled regularly. The new system will produce estimates for each month as well as for the year to date.

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  No.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  The existing system uses an out-of-date classification for industry. The new system under development uses the Lao standard classifications which are compatible with the latest international standard classifications.

  5 Work permits issued to foreigners (continued)

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  No.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  See exemptions listed above. The total number of work permits would not be compatible with statistics from the census (which excludes foreigners who do not have permanent resident permits). No other regular data on foreign employment are available.

  Publication(s):

  None.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  But only for total number of work permits issued, classified by nationality and industry. When the system is computerised, a very rich data source could be tapped.

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: Not yet

  Urban/rural level separately: Not yet

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not all. No analysis or data interpretation is carried out as yet.

  Contact persons:

  Mr Vayya Souvanhnachack Chief, Employment Promotion Division, telephone 21.3011

  Mr Sounechanh Chief, Labour Protection Division.

  6 Registration of jobseekers

  Reference period: 1994 onwards

  Agency responsible:

  The function of registering jobseekers is divided between two units of MOLSW.

  The Employment Promotion Division has been carrying out this function since 1994. Applicants for jobs provide details to the division and a record is made before details are passed on to the Lao Employment Service Company (a wholly owned enterprise of MOLSW). However, the number of jobseekers is very small; in the five months from June to early November 1995, only 73 people registered as jobseekers with the division.

  In the five months of its operation, the Lao Employment Service Company received requests from five businesses for 317 positions to be filled. Of these vacancies, only 55 were filled. The Lao Employment Service Company has the function of placing jobseekers in notified job vacancies. Initially, it started to register jobseekers as part of its job placement function (2,322 were registered between 21 June and 30 October 1995), but it appears that the company has been directed to only register jobseekers when it has a vacancy available, for which it uses a different form from that of the Employment Promotion Division.

  Summary of data content:

  The Employment Promotion Division changed its job registration form in November 1995. The old form had the following data: age, place of birth, religion, location, marital status, number of children (boys and girls separately), education level and subjects studied, work experience, length of training, skills acquired.

  The new registration form is to be based on the design submitted by the 1994 ADB-funded project and will have the following data: sex, age, marital status, languages, education level and qualifications, special skills, occupation sought, location sought, salary sought, work experience, last occupation, last length of service, last industry, reason for termination.

  The registration form used by the Lao Employment Service Company has the following data: age, nationality, race, religion, marital status, number of children (male and female separately), place of birth, current location, details of father/mother, work experience, last occupation, last industry, last salary, reason for termination, previous training, subject of training, length of training, special skills, education details.

  6 Registration of jobseekers (continued)

  The number of jobseekers is generally tabulated by industry and occupation only. In view of the small number of jobseekers, it is easy to produce more tabulations. Tables can be produced quickly on jobseekers by:

  (a) occupation and education

  (b) occupation and age

  (c) occupation and experience.

  Methodology:

  Totals classified by industry and occupation are compiled from registrations. Occupation and industry are classified using out-of-date classification (ISCO-68 and ISIC Rev. 2). In addition, the quality of coding is not considered to be very good. It is recommended that MOLSW staff receive training in the coding of occupation and industry from the NSC. NSC staff are doing this now for the 1995 Population Census.

  At this stage, the number of jobseekers and the number of vacancies are so small that analysis can be undertaken easily. This will change as the job placement system develops. Early implementation of a computerised system is recommended.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not applicable.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /X/ Computerised /_/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not applicable

  Data dissemination:

  Poor dissemination. Results are available within MOLSW for extended periods (such as January 1994 to date), classified by industry and occupation. No results are produced for new registrations in each month or for total unplaced registrations as at the end of the month.

  Coverage:

  Few of the unemployed register with MOLSW or the Lao Employment Service Company. Most of them seek work directly with employers. Therefore coverage of the unemployed is incomplete.

  6 Registration of jobseekers (continued)

  Data collection period:

  On-going.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/ On-going.

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  No.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  The classifications used are out-of-date. The latest versions of the classifications should be used for compatibility with other data sources (1994 Urban Labour Force Survey and 1995 Population Census).

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  No.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  See earlier comments.

  Publication(s):

  None.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Not applicable.

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: In theory, not in practice.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  6 Registration of jobseekers (continued)

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not at all.

  Contact person:

  Mr Vayya Souvanhnachack Chief, Employment Promotion Division,

  telephone 21.3011

  Mr Sompone General Manager, Lao Employment Service Company

  7 Notified job vacancies

  Reference period: On-going

  Agency responsible:

  The Lao Employment Service Company is responsible for placement of jobseekers. Employers are expected to notify the company of unfilled vacancies for placement.

  Summary of data content:

  Not available.

  Methodology:

  No statistics are compiled from this source.

  The form in which vacancies are notified is not available.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not applicable.

  Processing and tabulation:

  Not processed. The number of vacancies is so small that manual processing is accomplished easily.

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not applicable.

  Data dissemination:

  No.

  Coverage:

  Few businesses notify their vacancies to the Lao Employment Service Company. Most recruit directly. Therefore the system will not provide full coverage of all job vacancies in Lao PDR.

  Data collection period:

  1994 on-going.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /_/ Not at present.

  7 Notified job vacancies (continued)

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  No.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Occupation and industry are classified using out-of-date international classifications (ISCO-68 and ISIC Rev. 2).

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  No.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  Not compatible with job vacancies announced in newspaper advertisements due to differences in coverage.

  Publication(s):

  None.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not at present.

  Contact person:

  Mr Sompone General Manager, Lao Employment Service Company

  8 Job vacancies advertised in newspapers

  Reference period: On-going

  Agency responsible:

  Two divisions of MOLSW, the Employment Promotion Division and the Policy and Planning Division, compile statistics on the number of vacancies advertised in the two local newspapers. This is unnecessary duplication.

  Summary of data content:

  The Policy and Planning Division produces tables of advertised vacancies classified by occupation and industry soon after the end of each month. The tables show the number of advertised vacancies from January 1994 to date.

  The Employment Promotion Division aims to produce a similar table. But data are not produced as timely or as regularly as required by the Policy and Planning Division.

  In both cases, occupation and industry are classified using out-of-date international classifications, rather than the current Lao standard classifications.

  Methodology:

  Statistics are compiled from advertisements for job vacancies appearing in the two local newspapers. Duplications are minimal because of the small number of vacancies involved and because the compilation table notes the source of each advertisement. However, relatively few vacancies are advertised in newspapers and consequently the coverage is limited.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not applicable.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /X/ Computerised /_/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not applicable.

  Data dissemination:

  Poor dissemination. Data are available within MOLSW only and not published elsewhere.

  8 Job vacancies advertised in newspapers (continued)

  Coverage:

  The coverage of all job vacancies is very poor. Few businesses advertise in newspapers. Not all jobseekers are expected to check newspapers.

  Data collection period:

  Start: January 1994, on-going.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/ Monthly.

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  No.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Classifications are the old international versions.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  No.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  There are differences between the advertised job vacancies and the vacancies notified to the Lao Employment Service Company. More vacancies are notified to the Lao Employment Service Company than appear in the newspapers.

  Publication(s):

  None.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  8 Job vacancies advertised in newspapers (continued)

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not at all.

  Contact person:

  Mr Prasong Policy and Planning Division, MOLSW Mr Vayya Souvanhnachack Chief, Employment Promotion Division,

  Telephone 21.3011

  9 Social security

  Reference period: Since August 1995

  Agency responsible:

  Social Security Department, MOLSW

  Summary of data content:

  Benefits paid out (in Kip) for (a) pensions, (b) child allowance under the pensions scheme, (c) invalidity allowance, (d) health care (medicines), (e) maternity, (f) death, and (g) artificial limbs.

  No data are compiled on the number of contributors or beneficiaries or their characteristics.

  Methodology:

  Following an ILO mission in August 1995, statistics are being compiled from regular reports on pension payments.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /X/ Computerised /_/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not applicable.

  Data dissemination:

  Data compilation started only recently. No dissemination as yet.

  Coverage:

  Compilations are produced for central government departments separately from the provinces. State-owned enterprises and non-government staff are excluded.

  Data collection period:

  Start: October 1995 (start of Lao fiscal year)

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Compilation only started recently.

  9 Social security statistics (continued)

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not applicable.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  Not applicable.

  Publication(s):

  Not applicable.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: Yes.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not yet.

  Contact person:

  Mr M. van der Auwera Department of Social Security, MOLSW

  Telephone 21.3013

  10 Industrial accidents

  Reference period: Casual reporting - intended to be annual

  Agency responsible:

  Department of Welfare, MOLSW

  Summary of data content:

  Total number of industrial accidents reported only.

  Methodology:

  Provincial officers are asked to report annually on the number of occupational injuries in their area. The method by which they collect the information is not clear. It seems that they merely ask businesses in the area and report the total accidents through this casual method. It was also not clear whether reports relate to factories only, or to a wider industrial scope. In addition, not all provincial offices report accidents. The resulting statistics are therefore of low quality.

  Data dissemination:

  Not disseminated outside MOLSW.

  Coverage: Not clear.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /x/ annual

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not available.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards? Yes /_/ No /X/

  This reporting mechanism is not closely monitored or controlled, and there are no definitions or guidelines issued to provincial officers as to what to include or exclude.

  Publication(s): None.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  The quality is inadequate for analysis.

  Contact person:

  Mr Sommay Former Director, Department of Welfare (now responsible for planning), MOLSW

  Education statistics

  11 Private sector education

  Reference period: 1993

  Agency responsible:

  The ADB-funded project, Encouraging Private Sector Education Study (TA no 1776 LAO), in association with the Ministry of Education (MOE), conducted a survey of private sector schools in 1993. This was a on-off survey.

  Summary of data content:

  Data was collected on: (a) Number of schools and their characteristics (year of establishment, facilities, source of funds, income and expenditure, level of tuition fees).

  (b) Number of teachers and their characteristics (qualifications, age, sex, experience, salaries, workload).

  (c) Number of students and their characteristics (sex, level, ethnicity, year of study).

  Methodology:

  Census of private sector schools.

  Copies of the survey questionnaire(s) were not available.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not known.

  Processing and tabulation:

  Not known.

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not known.

  Data dissemination:

  Very few copies of the report of the ADB project which includes the survey results are available for dissemination.

  11 Private sector education (continued)

  Coverage:

  Private sector schools were defined in the project report as: A (a) Schools run by individuals or entrepreneurs;

  (b) Schools run by associations (e.g. Chinese Association);

  (c) Schools run by organisations (e.g. SMED);

  (d) Vocational training centres and which are sometimes a part of a business concern (eg a computer company which runs courses in computer education) and sometimes by one or more persons (eg English language/secretarial centres).@

  Not included were:

  A (a) Tuition centres which supplement or upgrade the teaching of subjects taught in public schools (eg secondary school mathematics, sciences and English);

  (b) Training centres established to train semi-skilled or skilled workers in a factory or plant;

  (c) Schools run by foreign organisations or embassies for children of foreigners residing in Lao PDR (eg the international school).@

  Data collection period:

  1993 (dates not known).

  Frequency: One-off /X/ Regular /_/

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not applicable.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  11 Private sector education (continued)

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  These results should complement statistics available for the public sector.

  Publication(s):

  Final Report of the ADB-funded project, Encouraging Private Sector Education Study, (TA-1776 LAO), August 1993, by Mr V. Murugasu. Very few copies are available.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not widely, due to limited supply of the publication.

  Contact person:

  Mr Bounthavy Insisienmay Director, Education Quality, MOE.

  Telephone 21.3870

  12 Public sector education (data base)

  Reference period: 1994 (teachers) and March 1995 (students)

  Agency responsible:

  Two separate units of MOE compile education statistics:

  The Statistics and Planning Division sends annual questionnaires to each government school. The questionnaires have a number of tables which are filled in by the schools and progressively aggregated at district and provincial levels and finally at the national level. (See separate description, page 37.)

  The Department of Vocational, Technical and Higher Education found that these regular data reports from schools in the vocational, technical and higher education sector did not allow cross-tabulation by other characteristics. So it set up a personal data base with individual records for each teacher and student in the sector. This data base can be accessed to provide a variety of different cross-tabulations.

  Data on teachers and students in the vocational, technical and higher education sector will be part of a wider Management Information System on the educational system. There are seven components in the system: students, teachers, facilities/equipment, syllabus/courses, internal efficiency, external efficiency (including job placement of graduates) and costs/finance. The last five components have yet to be developed but are expected to be completed within two years.

  Summary of data content:

  The personal data base comprises: (a) For teachers: age, sex, level of qualification, subject of specialisation, nationality, location, years of service, and other items.

  (b) For students (enrolments, dropouts, repeaters, promotions, final year students, fellowship students): age, sex, academic year, ethnic group, specialisation, school type, location.

  As at November 1995, the data base does not produce any statistics on graduates from the vocational, technical and higher educational system. However, MOE plans to add this data to the data base starting from 1996.

  Statistics are also needed on the work experience of new graduates (for example, from a longitudinal tracer study).

  Methodology:

  Statistics are compiled from the data base of personal records for each teacher and student in the vocational, technical and higher education sector.

  12 Public sector education (data base) (continued)

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  The system currently has no checks for completeness. It is recommended that check totals on the number of students and teachers should be collected from schools to ensure completeness.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  FoxPro.

  Data dissemination:

  Five volumes of results were produced as follows: (a) Volumes I to III for teachers (1994).

  (b) Volumes IV and V for students (March 1995).

  A separate set of results relates to higher education.

  A very limited number of copies of these volumes are available. The ILO specialist recommended that a summary publication of the most important results be published for wider dissemination.

  Coverage:

  The results cover teachers and students in technical, vocational and higher education schools operated by MOE and other ministries. Lower levels of education and the private sector are excluded. The lower levels are covered in the traditional method (see next section) and the private sector is covered in a separate 1993 study (see previous section).

  Some government schools may have been missed.

  Data collection period:

  1994 for teachers and March 1995 for students.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/

  The Department of Vocational, Technical and Higher Education hopes that personal data for new students and new teachers will be progressively added to the data base each year, and that terminations, graduations and other departures from the system will be notified, so that the data base is maintained annually. This has not yet been confirmed.

  12 Public sector education (data base) (continued)

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not applicable.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  The results should agree with data from the annual reports completed by schools. However, there appear to be major differences which are not explained. From 1995-96, the traditional method of reporting for the vocational, technical and higher education sector will cease .

  Publication(s):

  Five volumes of results were produced as follows: (a) Volume I, teachers in schools operated by MOE (1994).

  (b) Volume II, teachers in schools operated by other ministries (1994).

  (c) Volume III, total for teachers (1994).

  (d) Volume IV, students in schools operated by MOE (March 1995).

  (e) Volume V, students in schools operated by other ministries and total (March 1995).

  A separate set of results relates to higher education.

  Very few copies of these volumes are available. A summary publication in more copies is recommended.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  12 Public sector education (data base) (continued)

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /X/ No /_/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: Yes.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  The results are used within MOE. They are not well disseminated outside MOE.

  Contact person:

  Mr Thammarath Nakhavith Deputy Director, Department of Vocational, Technical and Higher Education, MOE

  Telephone 21.2098

  13 Public sector education (traditional reporting system)

  Reference period: Since 1991/92, most recent 1993/94.

  Agency responsible:

  Two separate units of MOE compile education statistics:

  The Statistics and Planning Division sends annual questionnaires to each government school. The questionnaires have a number of tables which are filled in by the schools and then progressively aggregated at the district and provincial level and later at the national level.

  The Department of Vocational, Technical and Higher Education compiles education statistics based on a data base of individual records for each teacher and student. (See separate description - page 33)

  Summary of data content:

  Separate questionnaires are prepared and sent annually for completion by the following types of schools: (a) Pre-schools.

  (b) Primary schools.

  (c) Lower secondary schools.

  (d) Upper secondary schools.

  (e) Teacher training schools.

  (f) Vocational and technical institutes and universities.

  For example, the questionnaire in respect of (f) has tables on the following:

  (a) Students, by grade, sex and specialisation.

  (b) Students, by grade, sex and age.

  (c) Students in special courses, by grade, sex and specialisation.

  (d) Classes, by grade.

  (e) Students who graduate, by specialisation and ethnic group. (This table is not well reported and is not published. The reported number of graduates in some schools exceeds enrolment.)

  13 Public sector education (traditional reporting system) (continued)

  (f) Teachers and administrative staff, by sex and whether they worked or not.

  (g) Teachers, by qualification and ethnic group.

  The questionnaire in respect of each vocational and technical institute and university will be discontinued from 1995-96 and the data base method used instead.

  Methodology:

  MOE has a separate questionnaire for each level of school. See ASummary of data content@ above.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Adjustments are made at the district level for any school for which a report has not been received.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Vocational and higher education data are compiled using Excel. Technical school data are compiled using a special DBase system.

  Data dissemination:

  Annually, in a bound publication. The first publication was in respect of the 1991-92 school year.

  Coverage:

  The results cover teachers and students in technical, vocational and higher education schools operated by MOE. Schools run by other ministries and the private sector are excluded.

  Data are imputed for schools which do not report.

  Reporting on graduates is inadequate (see previous comment). More training is needed to improve reporting from schools.

  Data collection period:

  Annually for each school year. From 1995-96, this method of collection for the vocational, technical and higher education sector will cease, but will continue for other sectors.

  13 Public sector education (traditional reporting system) (continued)

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/ Annually

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  No.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not applicable.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  No.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  The results should agree with data from the personal data base (see separate description on page 33). However, there appear to be major differences which are not explained.

  Publication(s):

  Two publications: (a) Annual Bulletin 1993-94, General education (now at print, November 1995).

  (b) Annual Bulletin 1993-94, Professional education (to be released in November 1995).

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request? Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: Yes.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed? Widely used.

  Contact person:

  Mr Somkhanh Didaravong Chief, Statistics and Planning Division, MOE,

  Telephone 21.4722

  Training needs

  14 1994 Urban Establishment Survey

  Reference period: August 1994

  Agency responsible:

  The ADB-funded project, Strengthening Labour Market Monitoring and Analysis in Lao PDR (TA-1954 LAO), carried out the 1994 Urban Establishment Survey. The consultants were NEI which worked with MOLSW.

  NEI employed a local consulting company, Burapha Development Consultants Ltd, to undertake data collection, processing and tabulation for the survey using specifications provided by Mr K. Bot of NEI. Mr Bot analysed the results and produced the survey report.

  NSC provided the 1992 business register with data on establishment size and industry group so that the sample could be selected by Burapha Development Consultants Ltd.

  Summary of data content:

  The questionnaire collected data on industry, institutional sector (whether state or private), and the number of paid employees classified by sex and by occupation. Data were also collected on: (a) the most frequently occurring education in each occupational group.

  (b) the number who received training in each occupational group (training was classified into four main types: on-the-job training, formal training at a vocational school, training by the supplier of equipment and other training).

  For businesses providing training in 1994, data were collected on:

  (a) Cost and duration of training given by the business for each occupational group.

  (b) Number needing training in each occupational group.

  (c) Main skills needed in each occupational group.

  For businesses not providing training in 1994, data were collected on the reasons for not training for each occupational group.

  Finally, data were collected on future expectations of employment growth and problems related to recruitment and skill levels.

  Methodology:

  The survey sample was not randomly selected and the results were not weighted to a representative figure. In total, 130 businesses were selected, and a higher proportion of large businesses was selected than smaller ones, but no account was taken of this

  14 1994 Urban Establishment Survey (continued)

  differential sampling in the analysis of results. As a consequence, the results are distorted and not recommended for policy formulation.

  It was inappropriate to produce two large reports (one by Mr Bot and the other by Burapha Development Consultants Ltd) on such a non-representative and unweighted set of results.

  A copy of the survey questionnaire is shown as an annex to the reports.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  No. Substitute selections were made for businesses which could not be found or did not reply.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Stapac Gold and DBase.

  Data dissemination:

  Two large reports were produced: (a) Report of the 1994 Urban Establishment Survey, January 1995, by Mr Bot of the ADB-funded NEI project, Strengthening Labour Market Monitoring and Analysis in Lao PDR (TA-1954 LAO)

  (b) Report: Urban Establishment Survey, November 1994, by Burapha Development Consultants Ltd, sub-contracted under the ADB-funded project.

  Coverage:

  The survey related to a non-random sample of businesses selected from an incomplete and out-of-date business register for Vientiane, Savannaket and Takek. All types of economic activity were covered. Private and state-owned enterprises were included, but the central government and local governments were excluded.

  According to information available in November 1995, there are now 37,000 businesses on the current register as a result of recent developmental work. The 1994 Urban Establishment Survey was selected from a much smaller register.

  Data collection period:

  Start: August 1994 End: September 1994

  Frequency: One-off /X/ Regular /_/

  14 1994 Urban Establishment Survey (continued)

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not applicable.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  The results are not meaningful and therefore cannot be compared with any other source.

  Publication(s):

  See AData dissemination@ (above).

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Probably, but the records would need to be weighted and would still be based on an incomplete register of businesses.

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: No.

  Urban/rural level separately: No (urban only).

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Unfortunately, many users have been attracted to the survey because it provides the only source of data on training needs. However, the results are not an adequate or representative measure of training needs in urban areas.

  Contact person:

  Mr Bot NEI

  Trade union statistics

  15 Membership of trade unions

  Reference period: Annual, latest available 1994.

  Agency responsible:

  The Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) compiles a report on the number of members as part of its annual congress.

  The LFTU has seven sectoral branches and branches in each province . In 1995, there were 86,962 members, of which 19,918 were women. Only 17,000 were active members.

  Summary of data content:

  Total number of members, by sex.

  Methodology:

  Compiled from branch reports.

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not applicable.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /X/ Computerised /_/

  If computerised, name of software used:

  Not applicable.

  Data dissemination:

  The annual report by the LFTU is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office. It was recommended that a copy be sent to MOLSW.

  Coverage:

  Relates to paid-up members of LFTU each year. Some members are retired and receiving pensions. Consequently, the statistics cannot be used to determine the extent of unionisation in paid employment.

  Data collection period: Annually.

  Frequency: One-off /_/ Regular /X/

  15 Membership of trade unions (continued)

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not known.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Not applicable.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not known.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  Not applicable.

  Publication(s):

  None.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Not applicable.

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at:

  Provincial/regional level: Yes.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not used.

  Contact persons:

  Mr Outhay Inthathirath Acting Chief, International Relations, LFTU

  Telephone 21.2754

  Mr Khamtanh Sophimavong Coordinator, International Relations, LFTU

  Household consumption and expenditure

  16 1992/93 Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (LECS) and associated Lao Social Indicators Survey (LSIS)

  Reference period: 1992/93

  Agency responsible:

  NSC undertook these surveys with finance from UNDP and technical assistance from the Statistics Sweden Cooperation Project.

  Summary of data content:

  LECS: Household characteristics, household expenditure and consumption on food, clothing, durables, etc. Data on income, capital expenditure, assets, and business income/expenditure from agro-pastoral activities and non-farm self-employment were not collected.

  The same LECS sample was used immediately afterwards for LSIS.

  LSIS: Fertility, mortality, village facilities, health, economic activity, etc.

  Methodology:

  Sample of private households (the first in Lao PDR).

  Each household was interviewed each day for one month. (Two interviewers worked in a selected village before moving on to the next selected village.) Data on daily expenditures were collected each day and transcribed weekly into a questionnaire with pre-printed codes for common items. Expenditure on durable items was collected on a 12-month basis. The value of imputed rent was determined by dividing the cost of construction by the likely durability of the dwelling.

  The sample was a two-stage sample of 2,937 households in 147 villages (LECS), of which 960 households were in Vientiane. It was designed to be representative of the whole country and was self-weighting. The sample frame was based on the 1990 population count. (The LSIS sample of 2,868 households was smaller due to the movement of households between the two surveys.)

  Adjustment, if any, for non-response?

  Not necessary. Only two non-respondents to LECS. No substitutions.

  Processing and tabulation: Manual /_/ Computerised /X/

  Manual editing in the field. Office processing with Paradox and SAS.

  16 Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (LECS) 1992/93 and associated Lao Social Indicators Survey (LSIS) - continued

  Data dissemination:

  NSC has published a report Expenditure and Consumption Survey and Social Indicator Survey (1992-93), July 1995.

  Three analytical reports were also produced:

  (a) Mortality and fertility by the Ministry of Health.

  (b) Poverty assessment by the World Bank.

  (c) Nutrition assessment by the Ministry of Agriculture and UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

  Coverage:

  As with most surveys of this type, it excluded the institutionalised and homeless population, and families of diplomatic missions. However, it included foreigners who were house-owners or married to a Lao national.

  Data collection period:

  (a) March 1992 to February 1993 (LECS).

  (b) May to July 1993 (LSIS).

  Frequency: One-off /X/ Regular /_/.

  If regular, are there any periods for which estimates are missing?

  Not applicable.

  Are definitions and concepts comparable with international standards?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  The concepts and methodology for LECS followed the UN/ILO recommendations and were based on the National Household Survey Capability Programme (NHSCP) publication Household Income and Expenditure Surveys: A technical study, New York, 1989.

  The concepts of economic activity used in the survey were broadly comparable with international standards. However, the unemployed were defined as those with no work to do on any of the seven days of the reference week even though they wanted to work. Under international standards, they would be defined as part of the underemployed if they had a job, or as unemployed (under the relaxed definition) if they did not have a job.

  16 1992/93 Expenditure/Consumption Survey and Social Indicators Survey (continued)

  The underemployed were defined as those who worked in the reference week but found that there were some workdays on which there was no work to do. This is comparable with international standards, provided that they were available to work on those days and wanted to work more than they did.

  The survey results do not show any data classified by occupation or industry. It is not clear whether these data were collected and, if so, what classifications were used.

  For time-series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time? (Give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

  Not applicable.

  Are results inconsistent, in definition or any other way, with results from other sources?

  See above.

  Publication(s):

  Some limited results were included in the report Technical advice for the Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (LECS) 92/93 - Report on a short-term mission to SSC, Vientiane, May 17-26 1993 by Lars Lundgren, published by Statistics Sweden, Report LAOSTAT 1993:3.

  The official report is Expenditure and Consumption Survey and Social Indicator Survey (1992-93), July 1995 by NSC.

  Are unpublished tables as well as more recent results available on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Are computer files of "clean" unit data available for more detailed analysis by government agencies on request?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  Results available at: Provincial/regional level: No - sample too small.

  Urban/rural level separately: No.

  How widely are the results used and analysed?

  Not widely used due to delay in release of results.

  Contact person:

  Mr Bounthavy Director, NSC, telephone 21.6656

  SECTION B

  Summary of capability and resources of

  agencies engaged in labour statistics

  17 National Statistics Centre

  Summary description of this agency: How does it fit into the overall statistical system and public administration?

  Reports to the Committee for Planning and Cooperation (CPC) and is responsible for overall statistical coordination and development.

  Number of staff engaged in statistical activities:

  Professional statisticians? 5

  Other statistical staff? 30

  Total 35 (central)

  In addition, there are about 200 officers in districts and provinces. There is one statistical office in each district. These district officers report to the line organisation of the CPC and NSC has indirect control over their functions. This has not caused any problems.

  Additional staff required? Yes /_/ No /X/

  Additional staff (20 temporary staff) have been brought on for processing of the March 1995 Population Census.

  More staff are needed with training in sampling design and sample survey methodology.

  Skills, training needs:

  Current levels? Adequate, except more needed in sampling (see above).

  More training is needed? Sampling (see earlier).

  Computer aspects: Computerised? Yes /X/ No /_/

  1 National Statistics Centre (continued)

  If yes, number and type of computers?

  About 30 in head office (many dedicated to processing the Population Census). Only 10 provinces out of 18 have computers, and it is hoped to send computers to the other provinces when Census processing is complete.

  Software used?

  Diverse, with a preference towards Windows based software because of the use of Lao alphabet.

  Current software includes ACCESS, DBase, SPSS but there is a need to standardise and coordinate the software systems.

  Additional requirements (if any).

  Not determined.

  Statistical coordination and planning:

  Does this agency regularly meet with other users-producers of labour statistics?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  NSC has plans to set up a National Statistical Plan in collaboration with the appropriate agencies and ministries. The Statistics Sweden project is assisting with this work and there was a visiting Statistics Sweden mission on this topic in November 1995.

  Statistical legislation:

  There is no statistical legislation in Lao PDR and action is planned to develop this, maybe in 1996.

  Consequently, there are no controls on confidentiality, or empowerment to collect statistics. Statistical activities of other agencies do not have to be reported to NSC.

  Population frames:

  Establishment based population frame (register of businesses):

  This register is considered incomplete. It is currently maintained by the NSC based on various sources (Ministry of Finance tax data and Ministry of Trade permits), but there

  1 National Statistics Centre (continued)

  are plans to transfer the responsibility for this register to the Ministry of Trade under a new decree which has not yet been declared (Nov 1995).

  The existing register has industry codes uses an old Lao industrial grouping. The National Statistical Centre is re-coding these using Lao Standard Industrial Classification and expects this to be completed by February 1996.

  The business register is not considered confidential and is available to all agencies.

  Household survey population frame:

  This will be produced from the March 1995 Population Census.

  Future plans:

  The NSC plans to conduct a regular programme of household based surveys, probably based upon a Labour Force Survey. This programme is planned to start in 2-3 years' time. To implement this programme, the NSC is considering setting up a task force based in the Ministry of Labour. The skills of the NSC would be used but the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare will have major responsibility.

  A Geographic Information System (GIS) has been recently promoted by the World Bank (with a training course in MAPINFO Version 3.0 offered in Vientiane, 25 Sept to 14 Oct 1995). Ministries (including Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and Ministry of Education) have been encouraged to use this system. However, only the Ministries of Health and of Education (and perhaps Agriculture) are likely to have local level data to support the system. The CPC wants each ministry to use the GIS to create their own data base so that the CPC can also "tap into" each data base. Other Ministries will also be able to use the data bases created by each ministry on request. It is recommended that the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare might benefit from using the Ministry of Education's data base in this way to measure the number of trained entrants to the work force.

  On a separate but related matter, contact was made with the ILO project on "Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning in Lao PDR (IRAP)" (Ministry of Communications, Transport, Post and Telegraph/International Labour Organisation/UNDP project LAO/95/001). This project aims to compile an integrated set of data in respect of selected provinces and it was thought that there may be some economic activity data arising from the project as well as some inter-relationship with the GIS exercise. The ILO project has only recently started and will not collect much data on economic activity. It may be discounted as far as the present ADB project is concerned.

  2 Ministry of Education

  Summary description of this agency: How does it fit into the overall statistical system and public administration?

  There are two units in the Ministry of Education engaged in statistical work: the Statistics and Planning Division and the Statistics Division of the Department of Vocational Technical and Higher Education.

  Number of staff engaged in statistical activities:

  Professional statisticians? Nil

  Other statistical staff? 16 (a) plus 150 in provinces

  Total 16 in Vientiane plus 150 in provinces

  (a) The 16 staff in Ministry of Education, Vientiane comprise 2-3 in the Vocational Technical and Higher Education Department and a further 13 in the Statistics Division. In addition there are 151 people engaged in statistical work in the districts and provinces.

  Additional staff required? Yes /_/ No /x/

  The Department of Vocational Technical and Higher Education plans to decentralise its data entry functions in respect of the data base of personal information on teachers and students to each school. It is believed that no new staff will be required for this work.

  Skills, training needs:

  Statistical training is currently very limited. More advanced training is needed for headquarter staff and additional basic training is needed in schools and in district/provinces.

  Most headquarter staff engaged in statistical work were previously teachers, but most have had basic statistical training in Thailand.

  Computer aspects: Computerised? Yes /X/ No /_/

  If yes, number and type of computers?

  One in the Department of Vocational Technical and Higher Education plus 6 in the Statistics and Planning Division.

  2 Ministry of Education (continued)

  Software used? FoxPro and SPSS.

  Additional requirements (if any).

  The Department of Vocational Technical and Higher Education plans to get more computers for those schools which do not currently have computers so that data entry can occur at school level.

  Statistical coordination and planning:

  Does this agency regularly meet with other users-producers of labour statistics?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  The Ministry was interested to hear of the National Statistical Centre's plans for a National Statistical Plan with greater coordination and collaboration between the users and producers of statistics. The Ministry of Education is keen to work together with the Ministry of Labour on development of their information system on vocational and technical statistics, and on the development of a tracer survey on post-education work experience.

  3 Lao Federation of Trade Unions

  Summary description of this agency: How does it fit into the overall statistical system and public administration?

  The LFTU staff are government employees, but operates semi-autonomously.

  Number of staff engaged in statistical activities:

  Professional statisticians? Nil.

  Other statistical staff? 1

  Total 1

  Additional staff required? Yes /_/ No /X/

  No requirements at this stage. Perhaps more when more labour statistics are available.

  Skills, training needs:

  Current levels? Adequate (but very limited).

  More training is needed? No.

  Computer aspects: Computerised? Yes /_/ No /X/

  Statistical coordination and planning:

  Does this agency regularly meet with other users-producers of labour statistics?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  4 Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

  Summary description of this agency: How does it fit into the overall statistical system and public administration?

  Separate ministry. Several units of the Ministry are engaged in statistical work.

  The Employment Promotion Division compiles data on:

  (a) Notified job vacancies;

  (b) Registered job seekers;

  (c) Applications for work permits for foreign workers;

  (d) Job vacancies appearing in newspapers.

  The Lao Employment Service Company compiles data on:

  (a) Notified job vacancies;

  (b) Registered job seekers.

  The Planning and Policy Division compiles data on:

  (a) Applications for work permits for foreign workers;

  (b) Job vacancies appearing in newspapers.

  This division is also responsible for data analysis and interpretation.

  Number of staff engaged in statistical activities:

  Professional statisticians? Nil.

  Other statistical staff? 3

  Total 3

  Additional staff required? Yes /X/ No /_/

  Additional staff (one labour statistician and at least one more statistical clerk) are required to undertake the currently statistical workload of data compilation of data derived from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare's administrative system.

  (Even more staff will be required if the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is to undertaken direct data collections from establishments or households in sample surveys.)

  4 Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (continued)

  Skills, training needs:

  Current levels? and details of training needs?

  Inadequate. The staff engaged in statistical work have only limited knowledge of the following essential skills for developing and using a statistical system: (a) how to identify the essential data to be extracted from administrative records;

  (b) how to extract, code and edit these data;

  (c) how to tabulate and analyse the results;

  (d) how to present and disseminate statistics.

  Training is needed in these basic skills.

  In the longer term, training will also be required in more advanced skills, including the preparation of specifications for computer systems.

  If the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is to be involved in sample surveys of establishments or households, then extensive training will be required in sample design and methodology, data collection procedures (including basic matters such as registering and controlling the flow of documents from field to processing to archives), statistical computing and data processing, and so on.

  Computer aspects: Computerised? Yes /_/ No /X/

  None of the administrative systems upon which the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare's statistics are based are computerised (as at November 1995). However, it would be a relatively simple matter to design a computer system to support these systems and to extract the required statistics. Resources would have to be found for on-going processing (coding, data input, edit/amendment, tabulation) and staff would require training in the operation and maintenance of the systems.

  It would be prudent to design and implement these systems now, while the number of records involved are relatively small.

  The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has 4 IBM-compatible computers with printers, all of which were provided by ADB-funded projects (2 in 1994 and 2 in 1995). The computers are used only for word processing at present but have a full range of software installed, including DBase.

  At the end of November 1995, the ADB project set up a computer system for work permits for foreigners. This is estimated to require up to 50 percent of one of these four machines.

  4 Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (continued)

  Additional requirements (if any).

  More computers and more staff training in computer use will be needed if the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare computerises the job placement system (job seekers and job vacancies) and, at some future time, the systems for labour inspections, industrial disputes, occupational accidents, etc.

  The system for job placement within the Lao Employment Service Company is being discussed elsewhere but at least one computer will be needed for each branch.

  To permit the further computer development of the Ministry, it is recommended that at least two new machines (and associated peripherals) will be required.

  Statistical coordination and planning:

  Does this agency regularly meet with other users-producers of labour statistics?

  Yes /_/ No /X/

  The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has had virtually no contact with other agencies involved in statistics.

  It made no contribution to the development and content of the questionnaire for the 1995 Population Census and, as a result, missed an opportunity to obtain detailed statistics at small area level (district level) on the characteristics of the unemployed. Earlier in 1995, the Ministry gave limited advice and assistance in preparation of the Census processing system relating to occupational coding.

  The Ministry has not made any representation to the National Statistical Centre for improvements in the system of labour statistics (for example, for employment data from establishment surveys and for a regular programme of Labour Force Surveys). It is recommended that this should be done.

  The Director of NSC has plans to involve the major statistical users more closely in statistical development in Lao PDR, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare should actively encourage and participate in this initiative.

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