Bolaven Plateau communities embrace social security

The Bolaven Plateau is well-known in Lao People’s Democratic Republic for its high-quality coffee and tea. The men and women working in this sector typically lack proper employment contracts, however, and much of the work is unpaid in the form of contributing family members. Few farmers are covered by social security, and labour rights violations and workplace harassment are not uncommon.

The “Reducing vulnerability in Lao PDR: Advancing social protection and labour rights and entitlements in the coffee and tea sectors (SOLAR)” project addresses these vulnerabilities by promoting labour rights and improving access to social protection and occupational safety and health. The SOLAR project is funded by the European Union and implemented by ILO and Oxfam.

Although Lao PDR has a National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, participation is quite limited, particularly among self-employed agricultural workers in rural areas. One of the reasons for low registration is lack of information and understanding about what social protection is and how it can benefit members.

The Lao Social Security Organization (LSSO) has conducted outreach in SOLAR target villages. However, farmers continue to face barriers in registering with the NSSF, as their homes are far from social security offices. To overcome this challenge, the SOLAR project is working with LSSO to explore innovative ways to increase access to NSSF in remote communities on the Bolaven Plateau. Through this initiative, mobile registration units load laptops, card printers, scanners, and cameras onto trucks and visit villages one day at a time, explaining the benefits of registration, answering any questions the farmers may have, assisting them to register, and collecting initial payments. “The mobile service is a pilot, to test and learn and adapt, to make it successful so people can register smoothly. Then we will expand to other provinces,” explained Sannakhone Bienthanong, Technical Officer for Public Relations, Lao Social Security Organization.

This face-to-face approach has been much appreciated by villagers and local leaders alike. Vongduane Saengsaden, a coffee farmer in Houyset Village, Paksong District, Champasak Province shared, “I attended a meeting and immediately decided to register as a member of the National Social Security Fund. It sounded very interesting. There are many benefits to my family and especially my children. When we get sick, we will not be a burden to our children.” Khamsouk Keobouapha, Chief of Thongkatai Village, Paksong District, Champasak Province, agreed. “When we get sick, we can use the card for treatment in a hospital. After 15 years of contribution, we get our own benefits, like pensions. My wife and I have both registered, so we will both get benefits.” Registration teams provide NSSF brochures to farmers like Kongpaeng Phengvilay from Dong village in Laongam District so that they can share the information within their communities. “I registered with the Lao Social Security Organization after they visited Laongam and explained about it,” said Kongpaeng. “I had not heard about Social Security before. Many women in the village are looking at me as an example. If I get benefits from the fund, like after giving birth, the other women will also register.” The initiative is not only reaching out to remote communities but also providing valuable lessons for LSSO. “ILO is proud to support this pilot. It helps the hard-to-reach as well as women and elderly who often cannot travel far. The pilot allows LSSO to test the systems and working procedures and to make adaptations. They are committed to gradually implementing it across the country,” said Loveleen De, ILO Programme Manager.