Lao People's Democratic Republic launches the first national skills standards

VIENTIANE (ILO News) – The first national skills standards for the Lao PDR were launched in Vientiane today, focusing on the construction and automotive industries.

The standards were developed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare with the support of the Partnership Programme of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Republic of Korea.

Lao PDR has been trying to improve productivity through skills development. A critical response to the challenges and an integral component of the national development plan is a national skills strategy for the country which could ensure the availability of a skilled workforce to support the country’s industrial development and provide quality technical vocational education and training (TVET). The national skills standards and certification system is one of the key elements of the strategy which could empower individuals with skills, develop competitive and productive enterprises and provide a country with better living standards for its people . Laotian construction and automotive industrial sectors were chosen as two target sectors and priority areas under the NSEDP. The skills standards for the construction sector were developed between 2009-2010 and for the automotive sector between 2011-2012.

Ten (10) skills standards for the construction sector were developed in the key areas of electrical installation, plastering, plumbing, tiling, welding, handling concrete and cabinet making. The seven skills standards for the automotive sector include electrical, heating and air-conditioning systems, engines, painting and repair work. Workers who acquire the skills and pass the assessment will be certified. The standards will be published nationwide in both Laotian and English.

With the goal of the free movement of labour defined under the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, having these national skills standards prepares the country with available set of skills standards which can be benchmarked with standards of other ASEAN economies for skills recognition and a skilled migrant labour which could lead to regional labour integration​.

Lao PDR continues to place high emphasis in its NSEDP on the need to build and develop labour skills. Skills standard development continues to be a national priority, as highlighted by the 2009 Skills Development Decree. The Lao government is committed to develop more national skills standards and other priority sectors will be targeted in future. Standards for the ICT (information and communications technology) sector will be developed in 2013-2014, with continuing support from the Partnership Programme of the International Labour Organization and the Republic of Korea.

The launch of the new skills standards took place in Vientiane on Friday 15 March. The event was presided over by H.E. Ms. Onechanh Thammavong, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, and Mr. Yi Sung Ki, Vice President of Vice President of Competency Development Bureau of Human Resources Development Service of the Republic of Korea (HRD Korea). The ILO was represented by Ms. Thetis Mangahas, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. In addition, more than 70 representatives of government departments, development organizations and the private sector were also present.

For more information please contact:

Ms. Khemphone Phaokhamkeo
ILO National Coordinator
Lao PDR
Tel: (020) 5662 1760,
Email: