SOLAR Project highlights progress supporting coffee and tea sector workers in Lao People's Democratic Republic

The “Reducing vulnerability in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Advancing Social Protection and Labour Rights and Entitlements in the Coffee and Tea sectors (SOLAR)” project held a Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting on 20 June 2023 in Vientiane.

The PAC leverages multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure that the national government, local authorities and village leaders, sectoral associations, coffee and tea producer groups, and development partners work together to promote better access to labour rights in the Lao People's Democratic Republic’s coffee and tea sectors. The PAC Meeting was preceded by a Provincial Working Group (PWG) Meeting of the three target provinces of Champasak, Sekong and Salavan on 8 June 2023 in Pakse City.

The PAC and PWG meetings served as a platform for the SOLAR Project’s mid-term reflection. Partners highlighted some key lessons from implementing project activities so far; such as allowing farmers to become members of the National Social Security Fund through their cooperatives and informal worker groups, using village savings funds as a potential source of social security contributions, partnering directly with local authorities on activity implementation, organising tailored and frequent advocacy campaigns and linking rights advocacy with business-related training and access to markets.

© ILO

© ILO

Speaking on behalf of the Lao Social Security Organization, Ms. Bouahome Phommachan, Deputy Director General, emphasized the importance of social security for Lao coffee and tea farmers.

SOLAR Project plays a significant role for the informal sector. Lao tea and coffee farmers have gradually increased their understanding of social security. The project is like a model for new initiatives; mobile LSSO services were piloted in Vientiane Capital to see what works and what does not, and then to expand to project areas. A new office in Paksong District was launched, bringing services closer to people"

The European Union-funded project helps coffee and tea farmers on the Bolaven Plateau in Lao People's Democratic Republic gain access to the National Social Security Fund and improved occupational safety and health. It trains producer groups to manage groups effectively and on negotiation skills, thus equipping them to ask for and better realise their labour rights.

Mr. Vincent Vire, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Lao PDR welcomed the PAC Meeting and reiterated EU’s commitment to effective collaboration with ILO, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and civil society, to promote labour rights in Lao People's Democratic Republic’s agriculture sector through the SOLAR Project and ongoing European engagement.

© ILO

© ILO

The project is jointly implemented by ILO and Oxfam, together with the government (Lao Social Security Organization and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare at central, provincial and district levels); workers' organizations (Lao Federation of Trade Unions, Lao Women’s Union, producer groups and smallholder farmers) and employers' organizations (Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lao Coffee Association, Paksong Tea Promotion Association and Bolaven Plateau Coffee Producers Cooperative); and at the grassroots level (with village chiefs and civil society organizations).

The SOLAR project promotes labour rights on the Bolaven Plateau by strengthening service delivery on the government side, raising awareness among workers and their representative individuals and organizations, and building capacity of civil society and grassroots stakeholders.

For more information, please visit the project page: Reducing Vulnerability in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Advancing Social Protection and Labour Rights and Entitlements in the Coffee and Tea Sectors (SOLAR)

Or contact:

Ms Loveleen De
SOLAR Project Manager (English)
Tel.: +856 20 5590 3483
Email: [email protected]

Ms Noutthong Alounthong
National Project Coordinator (Lao, English)
Tel.: +856 20 2241 3183
Email: [email protected]

Mr Khamphy Khammavong
Program Manager (Lao, English)
Tel.: +856 20 5555 2220
Email: [email protected]

Mr Sungkey Chalernkhun
National Project Coordinator (Lao, English)
Tel.: +856 20 9911 9959
Email: [email protected]