Labour inspectors
Training for labour inspectors commences in Lao People’s Democratic Republic
The ILO helps Lao People’s Democratic Republic to build labour inspectors’ capacity to assist garment factories improve working conditions and productivity through workplace cooperation.
Vientiane (ILO NEWS) – Labour inspectors from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW) will start a five-day training course today (31 August), intended to give them the skills necessary to help enhance working conditions, worker safety and, ultimately, productivity in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic garment sector.
The course is organised by MOLSW, with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) project ‘Improving the Garment Sector in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Compliance through Inspection and Dialogue’. This project is part of a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank.
The course is designed to build the capacity of inspectors to assist garment factories improve working conditions and productivity through workplace cooperation. The topics covered will include the 2014 Labour Law, minimum wages, as well as inspection techniques. In-factory training will be carried out to allow participants to practice their skills in a real-life environment.
The inspectors will be joined by representatives of the Lao People's Democratic Republic social partners – workers’ and employers’ organizations. Ultimately, this training will be delivered to all inspectors in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, including those working outside the garment sector. In all 341 inspectors should complete the training by February 2016.
The garment sector is Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s largest manufacturing employer and makes a significant contribution to annual national exports. Around 30,000 workers are employed by about 60 exporting factories and 45 subcontracting firms, with production mainly in and around the capital, Vientiane.
“The ILO’s goal is to support Lao People’s Democratic Republic to develop a modern, transparent and credible labour inspection system,” said Mr Maurizio Bussi, Officer-in-Charge of ILO Country office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. “The labour inspectors involved in the project will play a vital role in providing education to garment sector workers and employers on their rights and obligations in order to ensure workplace compliance in keeping with national labour law and international labour standards.”
“The government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic is committed to the development of the labour inspectorate,” said Deputy Director General Phongsavanh Saycocie, Department of Labour Management, at the opening of the training on behalf of MoLSW.
The Compliance through Inspection and Dialogue project aims to improve working conditions, productivity and competitiveness in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic garment manufacturing sector by strengthening the national labour inspection system, protecting workers’ rights and improving the garment industry competitiveness in global supply chains.
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, workers and employers to jointly shape policies and programmes, with the aim of promoting Decent Work for All. In the context of this project, the tripartite constituents are represented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the Association of the Lao Garment Industry.
For more information please contact:
Ms Madeleine Jones
Chief Technical Advisor
Improving the Garment Sector in Lao People’s Democratic Republic:
Compliance through Inspection and Dialogue
Tel: (020) 7853 6636
Email
The course is organised by MOLSW, with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) project ‘Improving the Garment Sector in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Compliance through Inspection and Dialogue’. This project is part of a multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank.
The course is designed to build the capacity of inspectors to assist garment factories improve working conditions and productivity through workplace cooperation. The topics covered will include the 2014 Labour Law, minimum wages, as well as inspection techniques. In-factory training will be carried out to allow participants to practice their skills in a real-life environment.
The inspectors will be joined by representatives of the Lao People's Democratic Republic social partners – workers’ and employers’ organizations. Ultimately, this training will be delivered to all inspectors in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, including those working outside the garment sector. In all 341 inspectors should complete the training by February 2016.
The garment sector is Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s largest manufacturing employer and makes a significant contribution to annual national exports. Around 30,000 workers are employed by about 60 exporting factories and 45 subcontracting firms, with production mainly in and around the capital, Vientiane.
“The ILO’s goal is to support Lao People’s Democratic Republic to develop a modern, transparent and credible labour inspection system,” said Mr Maurizio Bussi, Officer-in-Charge of ILO Country office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. “The labour inspectors involved in the project will play a vital role in providing education to garment sector workers and employers on their rights and obligations in order to ensure workplace compliance in keeping with national labour law and international labour standards.”
“The government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic is committed to the development of the labour inspectorate,” said Deputy Director General Phongsavanh Saycocie, Department of Labour Management, at the opening of the training on behalf of MoLSW.
The Compliance through Inspection and Dialogue project aims to improve working conditions, productivity and competitiveness in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic garment manufacturing sector by strengthening the national labour inspection system, protecting workers’ rights and improving the garment industry competitiveness in global supply chains.
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, workers and employers to jointly shape policies and programmes, with the aim of promoting Decent Work for All. In the context of this project, the tripartite constituents are represented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the Association of the Lao Garment Industry.
For more information please contact:
Ms Madeleine Jones
Chief Technical Advisor
Improving the Garment Sector in Lao People’s Democratic Republic:
Compliance through Inspection and Dialogue
Tel: (020) 7853 6636