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Legal Document
Title: Statistics Law No. 03/NA, dated 30 June 2010
Type: Law
Responsible Agency: Ministry of Planning and Investment
Issuing Date: 2010-06-30
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Contents

Part I:General Provision

Article 1. Objectives

Article 2. Statistics

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

Article 4. State Government on statistical work

Article 5. Fundamental Principles of Statistical Activities

Article 6. Scope of the use of Law/Applicability

Article 7. International Cooperation

Part II:Type of Statistics

Article 8.Type of statistics

Article 9.Economic Statistics

Article 10. Socio Statistics

Article 11. Environment and natural resources statistics

Article 12. Security statistics

Part III:Statistics Production/Creation

Article 13. The importance and the need of statistics

Article 14. Statistics data collection approaches

Chapter 1:Statistical Surveys

Article 15. Survey type

Article 16. Statistical Survey Plan

Article 17. Survey time frame

Article 18. Authority to decide on statistical survey/ Survey Authorization

Article 19. Survey executing agencies

Article 20. Obligation in providing data for the statistical surveys

Chapter 2:Administrative report

Article 21. Type of administrative report

Article 22. Reporting procedure

Article 23. Reporting compulsion /obligation

Article 24. Statistics confidentiality

Part IV:Dissemination and Use of statistics

Article 25. Official statistics publication responsibilities

Article 26. Official statistics’ announcement and dissemination

Article 27. Person with the right announcement of survey result

Article 28. Person with the right announcement of result from administrative report

Article 29. Access and use of statistics

Part V:National Statistics Organization

Article 30. National Statistics Organization includes

Chapter 1:The Organization of Vertical Statistics System

Article 31. The Vertical statistics system

Article 32. Rights and responsibilities of Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB)

Article 33. Rights and responsibilities of Province Statistics Center and Municipality

Article 34. Rights and responsibilities of Districts’ Statistics Center and Sub-districts’ Statistics Center

Article 35. Rights and responsibilities of Village Statistics Center

Chapter 2:The Organization of Horizontal Statistics System

Article 36. Horizontal Statistics Organization

Article 37. Statistics Center at Line Ministries and Agencies

Article 38. Rights and Responsibilities of the Statistics Section at the Province and Municipality

Article 39. Rights and Responsibilities of the District, Sub-District Statistics Unit

Article 40. Rights and Responsibilities of the Statistics Unit of the Economic /Production

Part VI:Disclosure Prohibition

Article 41. Restriction/Prohibition for the Statistics Organization and its Staffs

Article 42. Restriction/Prohibition for the Data Supply Organization and its Staff

Article 43. Restriction/Prohibition for the individual and organization using statistics

Part VII:Statistics Management and Inspection

Chapter 1:Statistics Management Organization

Article 44. Management Organization in Statistics

Article 45. Rights and Responsibilities of Ministry of Planning and Investment

Article 46. Rights and Responsibilities of Province Planning and Investment Division, Municipality Planning and Investment Division

Article 47. Right and Responsibilities of Planning Office at Districts and sub districts

Article 48. Right and Responsibilities of Line Ministries, Agencies, Divisions at the provincial and district level and sub-district offices

Chapter 2:Inspection

Article 49. Organization responsible for Statistics inspection

Article 50. Objectives of Inspection

Article 51. Inspection Substance

Article 52. Inspection Plan

Article 53. Form of Inspection

Article 54. External Inspection

Article 55. Report and Problems Solution

Article 56. Rights and Responsibilities of the target of inspection intervention

Part VIII:Budget, Logo, Uniform and Stamp

Article 57. Sources of the Fund

Article 58. Budget

Article 59. Logo, uniform and stamp

Part IX :Rewards and Abuse Settlement

Article 60. Rewards

Article 61. Abuse Settlement

Part X :Implementation Provisions

Article 62. Accomplishment

Article 63. Enforcement


 

Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Peace Independent Democratic Unity and Prosperity

 

National Assembly                                                                                                      Number Order 03 /NA

Vientiane Municipality 30June 2010

 

Statistics Law

Part I

General Provision

Article 1. Objectives

This statistics law defines rules, regulation, measures with regard to the organization, management, monitoring and inspection of the statistical activities in a systematic way, strength, effectiveness and efficiency to assure the full coverage, accuracy and consistency with fact in order to provide reference for policy direction, socio economic planning, and contribute to the country’s development to achieve wealth, culture, well-being and equity.

Article 2. Statistics

Statistics means data or figure from the survey and administrative records thru the process of collection, collation, integration, compilation, processing, analyzing and examining in accordance with statistical science.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Law, the terms underneath shall be understood as follows:

  1. Official Statistics are data or figures from survey and administrative records thru the process of collection, integration, compilation, processing, analysis and interpretation in accordance with statistical science that are certified by the national statistics system;
  2. Sectoral statistics are those data or figures from survey and administrative records thru the process of collection, collation, integration, compilation, procession, analysis and interpretation in accordance with statistical science that are certified by the line ministry, ministry-equivalent agency , institute according to their specific needs;
  3. Professional independence is the right in producing and disseminating the official statistics in accordance with statistical science in a coherent and independent manner;
  4. Statistics production is the process of data collection, integration/summarization / compilation, processing, analysis, interpretation from survey and administrative reporting methods in accordance with statistical science;
  5. The statistics processing is one of the statistics production processes that consists and focuses on data consistency or any possibilities, classifications and nomenclatures, organize the order, group and subgroup in accordance with statistical science;
  6. Statistics survey is a way of collecting statistics or figures through the survey design questionnaires by interview of respondents in direct and indirect ways in accordance with statistical science and specific timeframe as defined for each survey type;
  7. Statistics report is a way of colleting data or figures through regular reporting system of state authorities, economic units and other authorities on economic, socio, environment and natural resources and security statistics;
  8. Indicators are those that demonstrate through figures, reflecting the size and pace of the development, structure and proportional relationship of socio-economic environment and natural resources and security phenomena in specific conditions, places and time;
  9. Raw data are figures that are collected from survey and administrative reports but have not completely gone thru the production process in accordance with statistical science;
  10. Registration of production/economic units is a way to collect the list of economic units in a regular and continuing basis by state authorities, economic/business units and other authorities or organizations;
  11. System of Classification is a division of data by chapter, section, group, and subgroup defining the code / nomenclature in order to harmonize the statistics production and dissemination of the national statistics system;
  12. Production Unit /economic unit is an individual person, juridical person, state organization and non-state organization that do business, production services and other profit and non-profit institutions whose activities relate to socio and culture;
  13. Enumerators are those who are authorized and have the duty to be a data collector for any particular survey. They can be a government civil servant (staff) or non- government staff;
  14. Inspectors/Supervisors are those who are authorized and have the duty to collect /collate and integrate data from any particular survey;
  15. Data providers/ respondents are those individual persons, juridical persons, domestic and foreign organizations who reside in Lao PDR and who provide statistical data;
  16. Meta data are products of data documentation that describes the details about the statistics production.

Article 4. State Government on statistical work

State Government promotes statistics by defining policies, regulations, statistics organization system, human resources and competence development and staffing; and financing the SDNSS and action plan in each period to assure the sustainability of statistical work;

State Government promotes, motivates and encourages individual person, juridical person and organization, domestic and foreign, for support and contribution thru supplying the data, intellectual /technical and financial support.

Article 5. Fundamental Principles of Statistical Activities

Statistical activities must follow the fundamental principles as follows:

  1. Ensuring the centralization in the management and harmonization nationwide;
  2. Ensuring the accuracy in accordance with statistical science, manner and independence in statistical production, dissemination and provision of data which reflect the real situation, completeness, reliability and timeliness;
  3. Ensuring and being consistent regarding indicators, compilation methods, data collection template system, tables, measurement units and time for reporting out statistical results and attention should be made for gender disaggregated statistics;
  4. Ensuring transparency/disclosure on the production methodologies and data dissemination in order to achieve the credibility and trust of the statistics users;
  5. Ensuring equal rights with regard to access and use of published and announced statistics data, enhance the relationship among statistical producers and users.

Article 6. Scope of the use of Law/Applicability

This Statistics Law is used for individual person, juridical person and organization at home and abroad who live and perform any activity relating to production, supply and use of statistics in Lao PDR except dissemination of statistical data that relate to national security.

This law is also applicable for families as reporting units in the case of surveys related to sociology.

Article 7. International Cooperation

Government promotes regional and global cooperation thru the coordination, exchange of experience, participation in international meetings, upgrading of technical competence and technology, cooperation in the area of research and support mobilization in order to develop a strong and modern statistical system.

 

Part II

Type of Statistics

Article 8.Type of statistics

There are 4 types of statistics as follows:

  • Economic statistics; - Socio statistics;
  • Environment and natural resources statistics;
  • Security and stability statistics.

Article 9.Economic Statistics

Economic statistics are those data that reflect the activities of the development in the areas of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, industry and handicraft, energy and mine, telecommunication and post, information technology, construction, commerce, monetary, banking and insurance, tourist, business registration and other statistics relating to economic subject matters.

Article 10. Socio Statistics

Socio statistics are those data that reflect the activities of the development in the areas of the population, ethnicity, education, public health, labor, social welfare, information and culture, administrative unit registration, poverty, gender, social security, housing, sports and recreation, social organization, accident, crime and other statistics relating to socio subject matters.

Article 11. Environment and natural resources statistics

Environment and natural resources statistics are those data that reflect the activities of the development in the areas of environment and natural resources on country’s geography, mine, hydrology, topology, disaster, pollution, wastage and waste management to balance environment, natural resources, human and human development and other statistics relating to environment and natural resources subject matters.

Article 12. Security statistics

Security statistics are those data that reflect the situation in the area of national security and defense which will be separately regulated and defined.

 

Part III

Statistics Production/Creation

Article 13. The importance and the need of statistics

Statistics is an important tool for monitoring and evaluating the implementation and achievement of economic and socio development plan targets, it is essential for the evidence-based formulation of policies, strategies, plan, programs and projects; it is a significant source in providing accurate statistics and yardstick for measuring the economic and socio fluctuation/variation in each period of time.

Article 14. Statistics data collection approaches

There are 2 data collection approaches underneath:

  1. Survey;
  2. Administrative report.

 

Chapter 1

Statistical Surveys

Article 15. Survey type

There are three type of survey as follows:

  • Census; - Sample survey;
  • Specific survey/case study.
  1. Census is a type of statistical survey to collect data from all target units in accordance to the objectives of any particular survey without sample technique selection;
  2. Sample Survey is a type of statistical survey to collect data of some of target units in accordance to the objectives of any particular survey with use of sample technique and design. The sample could be drawn for national representative and sub-national representative (provincial, district and village);
  3. Specific survey/ case study is a type of statistical survey that can cover all units or partially from the sample coverage in respective areas in accordance to specific objectives of sample survey or non-sample survey and it is can be conducted at any time as necessitated in each period of time to the national statistics system or any economic /production unit.

Article 16. Statistical Survey Plan

Each statistics survey must have a plan which comprises 3 stages as follows:

  1. Preparation stage includes defining the objectives, targets, scope, coverage, contents, reference period, time and duration of survey and overall output targets. It also includes preparation tools, equipments/supplies, budget and advocacy to urge all stakeholders for active participation;
  2. Operation stage/field work includes training for enumerators and supervisors, the action of interview and recording by means of direct and indirect interview methods. It also includes primary data validation and justification with regard to consistency and completeness;
  3.  Evaluation stage includes data aggregating, processing, database constructing, statistical tabulating, reporting and disseminating survey results.

Article 17. Survey time frame

  1. Census includes population and housing census, and agriculture census which are scheduled for every 10 year interval. Economic census is scheduled for every 5 year interval and other economic and socio census is conducted only when considered necessary;
  2. National sample survey includes household consumption and expenditure survey, labor force survey, socio indicator survey which is scheduled for very five year interval; Other sample surveys are implemented according to the survey program defined in the Strategy for Development for the National Statistical System (SDNSS) as well as in the work program of vertical and horizontal statistics system in each period of time;
  3. Specific survey/case study includes small surveys that focus on specific areas which may or may not be defined in the survey plan, can be conducted at any time as additionally needed, significant and in emergency circumstances.

Article 18. Authority to decide on statistical survey/ Survey Authorization

The authorization of each type of survey is as follows:

  1. The Prime Minister approves the statistics census upon the request from Ministry of Planning and Investment;
  2. The Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment approves national sample survey upon request from Lao Statistics Bureau and after the consultation with line ministries, ministry-equivalent agencies or sector concerned;
  3. The minister or head of agency, provincial and capital city’s governors approve the sub-national sample survey in their own sector and province upon the request from their respective sectors concerned thru the certification and technical approval from Lao Statistics Bureau;
  4. Apart from the surveys that are not defined in the SDNSS but are recognized as critically important and needed, within their authority those who as defined in provisions 1, 2 and 3 of this article decide and approve on statistical surveys in accordance with each survey type.

Article 19. Survey executing agencies

Survey executing agencies for each type of surveys are as follows:

  1. Lao Statistics Bureau executes census and national sample surveys and other specific surveys that are defined in the SDNSS in each period of time;
  2. Statistics Center based at line ministries, ministry equivalent agencies, province, municipality, districts and sub-districts execute sample surveys and specific surveys/case studies for the purpose of their respective sectors and local needs thru the certification and technical approval from Lao Statistics Bureau;
  3. The economic units can carry out any sample surveys or case studies to produce statistics data for their own need but these are not considered as official statistics.
  4. The international organizations, non-government organizations can carry out statistical surveys but it is required to get approval from line ministries, ministry- equivalent agencies or local authorities as defined in provision of article 18 of this law.

Article 20. Obligation in providing data for the statistical surveys

  1. Households or individual persons who live in Lao PDR are obliged to collaborate and provide data during the execution of any survey and data collection activity according to the work programs of national statistics system. They have the right to participate or reject on voluntary basis in providing data to any survey and data collection activity that are not carried out by the National Statistics System’s organization and not certified by Lao Statistics Bureau;
  2. Economic units operating in any activity in Lao PDR must report right, complete, accurate and on time statistics regarding to the status and performance according to the need of each statistics survey in accordance with statistics reporting procedures of the respective statistical organization in each period of time.
  3. Owner and chief accountant are responsible for accountability, accuracy of the data that they report in accordance with accounting law and other laws of Lao PDR.

 

Chapter 2

Administrative report

Article 21. Type of administrative report

There are two type of administrative reporting as follows:

  • Statistics reporting from state-owned economic unit;
  • Statistics reporting from non state owned economic unit.

Two types of reporting are processed thru the data collection, aggregation and regular reporting in accordance with their mandate to provide statistics to the management organization and the national statistics system and in accordance with reporting procedure defined in article 22 of this law.

Article 22. Reporting procedure

Reporting procedure is based on the objective, targets and report coverage as follows:

  • Table system (tabulation dummy);
  • Measurement unit;
  • Statistical concepts, standards and compilation methods in accordance with statistical science;
  • Classification;
  • Reference time period for reporting;
  • Data sources.

The data reporting must be processed for signature and official certification stamp from data reporting organization or unit.

Article 23. Reporting compulsion /obligation

Reporting compulsion /obligation of National Statistics System are as follows:

  1. Village Statistics unit must generate documentation, metadata and archive the report of statistical data in accordance with reporting procedure in accordance with data collection table format of the national statistics system that are systematic to District statistics center, Sub-District statistics center in order to aggregate and report to the provincial horizontal and vertical statistics system for each reporting period as defined in the reporting procedure of the National Statistics System;
  2. Statistics center of district, city, province, municipality and the statistical system of sector at the province must generate documentation, metadata and archive statistics report in accordance with the reporting procedure, report to the statistics organization system above them as to define and harmonize the operation plan in each period of time;
  3. Statistics Center of line ministries and agencies must report to Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) in accordance with the reporting procedure and application in each period of time.

The vertical and horizontal statistics system at all levels must be responsible for the accountability, and accuracy of the statistics report that report to respective statistics organization above them and to the LSB in accordance to law.

Article 24. Statistics confidentiality

There are three type of statistics confidentiality as follows:

  1. State confidentiality with regard to stability, national defense, security and other secrets that are defined in a specific manner;
  2. State confidentiality with importance to any specific sector;
  3. Individual confidentiality of information from any individual, legal person or any organization that are gathered/collected from survey and administrative report.

 

Part IV

Dissemination and Use of statistics

Article 25. Official statistics publication responsibilities

The responsible organizations according to their mandates with regard to publication as follows:

  1. Lao Statistics Bureau;
  2. Statistics Center at National Assembly, Ministries, Agencies, Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Prosecutor Offices;
  3. Statistics Center of the provinces, municipalities, districts, sub-districts.

Article 26. Official statistics’ announcement and dissemination

The announcement and dissemination of the official statistics is as follows:

  1. Lao Statistics Bureau announces and disseminates national official statistics and survey results in accordance to its mandate, rights and responsibility;
  2. Statistics Center of National Assembly, line ministries, agencies, Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Prosecutor Offices announce and disseminate official statistics in their respective sector in accordance with their mandate, rights and responsibility thru the technical certification and endorsement from Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB);
  3. Statistics Center of Province, Municipality, District, Sub district announce and disseminate official statistics in their respective localities in accordance with their mandate, right and responsibility thru the technical certification and endorsement from Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB);

The dissemination of official statistics is authorized by statistics system at each level thru various modalities which are separately defined in detail.

Article 27. Person with the right announcement of survey result

Person with the right to announcement of the survey result is as follows:

  1. LSB Director General;
  2. Director of Statistics Center of the National Assembly, line Ministries, Agencies, Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Prosecutor Offices;
  3. Director of Statistics Center of Province, Municipality, District, Sub-district.

Article 28. Person with the right announcement of result from administrative report

Person with the right to announcement of the results from the administrative report is as follows:

  1. LSB Director General;
  2. Director of Statistics Center of the National Assembly, line ministries, agencies, Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Prosecutor Offices;
  3. Director of Statistics Center of Province, Municipality, District, Sub-district.

Article 29. Access and use of statistics

Access and use of statistics must operate on the impartiality principles as follows:

  1. Statistics users can access and use the official statistics that has been disseminated and announced by the national statistics system;
  2. Statistics users who need raw data (primary data) must follow the data services procedures and rule of respective organization’s concern;
  3. Statistics users must clearly define in detail the data sources when they use any statistics data.

 

Part V

National Statistics Organization

Article 30. National Statistics Organization includes

  1. Vertical System of the Statistics organization;
  2. Horizontal System of the Statistics organization.

In case it is necessary the Statistics Council can be established by the agreement of the Lao Government.

 

 

Chapter 1

The Organization of Vertical Statistics System

Article 31. The Vertical statistics system

Vertical statistics system includes:

  • Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB);
  • Statistics Center at Province, Municipality;
  • Statistics Center at District, Sub-district;
  • Village statistics unit.

Article 32. Rights and responsibilities of Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB)

Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) has the status equal to sub-ministry, under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Rights and obligations Lao Statistics Bureau as follows:

  1. Research on policies, legislation, strategy and generation of the action plan and budget with regard to the implementation of statistics activities;
  2. Issue agreement, order, guideline and notification with regard to the implementation of statistics activities;
  3. Advocate and disseminate policies, legislation, strategy and the action plan for the implementation of statistics activities;
  4. Direct, manage and implement the statistics activities in the production, dissemination of official statistics of the National Statistics activities;
  5. Upgrade, build up, train and raise the capacities and capabilities in the areas of statistics for the personnel in the national statistics system thru various methods.
  6. Study and make the proposal for the nomination, shifting or termination of the post of director and deputy director of the Statistics Center at Province, and Municipality;
  7. Appoint, reassign (shift) or terminate the post of director and deputy director of the Statistics Center at district, and sub-districts;
  8. Study and request for the organization restructuring of the statistics personnel and examine and put forward the request for the implementation of incentive policy and punishment to statistics staff;
  9. Conduct the research study and request for the incentive policy to individual, legal person and organization who fully cooperates in supplying quality data and punish individual and legal person and organization who do not practice/pursue the report procedures and compliance in reporting statistics which are defined in article 22 and 23 of this Law;
  10. It is a Center for coordination with line ministries, agencies and provincial authorities in the management, investigation/inspection and execution of statistics activities ;
  11. Monitor, examine and evaluate the use of sound statistical methodologies and the implementation of strategy for the development and action plan of National Statistics System in each period of time;
  12. Cooperate/collaborate worldwide on statistics in accordance with its own roles, rights and responsibilities given by higher authorities;
  13. Summarize and report the result of the implemented statistical activities to the higher authorities on regular basis;
  14. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

Article 33. Rights and responsibilities of Province Statistics Center and Municipality

Statistics Center Province and Municipality Statistics Centers have status equal to the Division of Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB). Rights and obligations of Province Statistics Center and Municipality Statistics Center underneath:

  1. Consign the policies, legislation, strategy and the plan of action in to province, and municipality practices. Create implementation plan of statistics activities on their own areas of responsibility in each period of time;
  2. Advocate and disseminate policies, legislation, strategy and the action plan for the implementation of statistics activities on their own areas of responsibility;
  3. Direct, manage and implement the statistical production, dissemination of official statistics of the province, municipality and district and sub-district on their own areas of responsibility;
  4. Collect data thru the administrative report system, census and sample survey and special case study on their own boundaries; participate in the statistics technical discussion in accordance to their areas of responsibility;
  5. Create data collection tabulation, data collection manual and inquiry for the statistics data. Aggregate, process, analyze, and publish the official statistics in accordance with their areas of responsibility; motivate the District and Sub-district Statistics Center in the implementation of the statistics activities thru an appropriate mechanism and approach of coordination;
  6. Instruct, build up, train and upgrade the statistical capacity and professional capabilities to civil servants in the areas of their responsibilities;
  7. Study and make the proposal for the position nomination, shift or terminate the post of director and deputy director of the Statistics Center at District and Sub-District in the areas of their responsibilities;
  8. Personnel appointment for the statistics unit in the village in the areas of their responsibilities;
  9. Study and request to Lao Bureau of Statistics for the organizational restructuring of the statistics personnel and examine and put forward the request for the implementation of incentive policy and punishment to statistics staff in the areas of their responsibilities;
  10. Conduct the research study and request to Lao Bureau of Statistics for the incentive policy to individual, legal person and organization who fully cooperates in supplying quality data and punish individual and legal person and organization who do not practice/pursue the report procedures and compliance in reporting statistics which are defined in article 22 and 23 of this Law;
  11. Cooperate/collaborate with international organizations on statistics in accordance with those responsibilities given by higher authorities;
  12. Monitor, inspect and evaluate on the use of sound statistical methodologies and the implementation of the action plans of District and Sub District Statistics Center and other sub division at provincial and district statistics organizations under the vertical statistics system at the province in each period of time;
  13. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the Province Division of Planning and Investment and Province Administration Authority on regular basis;
  14. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

Article 34. Rights and responsibilities of Districts’ Statistics Center and Sub-districts’ Statistics Center

District and Sub-district Statistics Center has status equal to the Statistics Unit of Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB). Rights and obligations of Districts and Sub-district Statistics underneath:

  1. Disseminate, consign the policies, legislation, strategy and the plan of action in regards to the local statistics practices.
  2. Conduct data collection and inquire statistics data from related agencies, aggregate and report to Province Statistics center and Municipality Statistics Center ;
  3. Collect data thru the survey and administrative report system in accordance with their areas of responsibility;
  4. Monitor, inspect and evaluate the uses of statistics science and the implementation in accordance to the plan of operation of the Village statistics unit and other Statistical Units at the District and sub-district in each period of time;
  5. Extensively train the members of Village Statistics to the extent of their responsibilities;
  6. Study and make the request to the Lao Statistics Bureau on the organizational restructuring, staff recruitment and alteration, propose the implementation of incentive policy and punishment to Village statistics staff in the areas of their responsibility;
  7. Conduct the research study and request to Lao Bureau Statistics for the policy implement to individual, legal person and organization who fully cooperate in supplying quality data and punish individual and legal person and organization who do not practice/pursue the report procedures and compliance in reporting statistics which are defined in article 22 and 23 of this Law;
  8. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the Province Statistics Center, Municipality Statistics Center, District and Sub-district Statistics Center, District Planning Office, District Administration Authority on regular basis;
  9. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

Article 35. Rights and responsibilities of Village Statistics Center

  1. Collect and aggregate data from the production/economic unit within the boundaries of their village by the certification of village authority;
  2. Participate in the survey in accordance with the duties given by higher authorities;
  3. Receive extensive knowledge and technical training on statistics;
  4. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the District and Sub-district Statistics Center, Village Administration Authority on regular basis;
  5. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

 

 

Chapter 2

The Organization of Horizontal Statistics System

Article 36. Horizontal Statistics Organization

The Horizontal Statistics System includes:

  • The organization of sectors at the central and local levels;
  • The organization of production units/economic units.

1. The organization of sectors at the central and local level includes:

  • Statistics center at Line ministries and Agencies;
  • Statistics Section at Provinces’ and Municipality’s Sectoral Divisions;
  • Statistics Unit at Districts’ and Sub-Districts’ Sectoral offices.

2. The organization of production and economic unit include the statistics unit in a respective production unit/economic unit.

Article 37. Statistics Center at Line Ministries and Agencies

Rights and obligations Statistics center at Line Ministries and Agencies as follows:

  1. Research on policies, create strategy for the development of sectoral statistics through the implementation of SDNSS; Generate the action plan and budget with regard to the implementation of statistics activities in their sectors;
  2. Direct, manage and implement the statistics activities in their sectors, provide data to Lao Statistics Bureau and other users;
  3. Advocate, disseminate and exchange official statistics with other sectors, using the statistics production methods, statistics procedure in accordance with the statistics science; coordinate with the Lao Statistics Bureau, other related sectors and local authorities in the implementation of statistics activities;
  4. Upgrade, build up, train and raise the capacities and capabilities in the areas of statistics for the personnel in their own agencies using various approaches or methods;
  5. Participate, provide technical comment on statistics and data exchange among the Statistics Center and agencies from central to the local level to assure harmonization and consensus;
  6. Conduct the research study and request for the incentive policy to individual, legal person and organization who fully cooperate in supplying quality data and punish individual and legal person and organization who do not practice/pursue the report procedures and compliance in reporting statistics which defined in article 22 and 23 of this Law;
  7. Monitor, examine and evaluate on the use of sound statistical methodologies and the implementations of the sectoral action plan of Statistics Section at the province and municipality in each period of time;
  8. Cooperate/collaborate worldwide on statistics in accordance with responsibilities given by higher authorities;
  9. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to their respective Ministry and Agencies and Lao Statistics Bureau on a regular basis;
  10. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

Article 38. Rights and Responsibilities of the Statistics Section at the Province and Municipality

The Rights and Obligations of the Statistics Section at the Province and Municipality as follows:

  1. Dispatch the policies, legislation, strategy and the plan of action into practices in their sector, create implementation plan for statistics activities in their areas of responsibility in each period of time;
  2. Advocate and disseminate policies, legislation, strategy and the action plan for the implementation of statistics activities in their areas of responsibility;
  3. Carry out the statistics production, dissemination of official statistics in the respective sector, direct and manage the Statistics Unit at District and Sub-District in their areas of responsibility;
  4. Enhance and train the staff on statistics in their areas of responsibility;
  5. Conduct the research study and request for the incentive policy to individual, legal person and organization who fully cooperate in supplying quality data and punish individual and legal person and organization who do not practice/pursue the report procedures and compliance in reporting statistics which defined in article 22 and 23 of this Law;
  6. Monitor, inspect and evaluate on the use of sound statistical methodologies and the implementation of the action plan of District and Sub District Statistics Section and in each period of time;
  7. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the Province Statistics Center, Municipality, their Division and Province Administration Authority on regular basis;
  8. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

Article 39. Rights and Responsibilities of the District, Sub-District Statistics Unit

The rights and responsibilities of the District, Sub-District Statistics Unit is underneath:

  1. Conduct data collection and inquiry on statistics data from related agencies, aggregate and report to Province, and Municipality Statistics Section;
  2. Participate in the implementation of surveys in accordance with the instruction of their Statistics Section;
  3. Obtain knowledge in technical statistics training;
  4. Coordinate with Province Statistics Center, Municipality and production’s unit in their areas of responsibility;
  5. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to their Division and to the District, and Sub-District Statistics Center, on regular basis;
  6. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authorities.

Article 40. Rights and Responsibilities of the Statistics Unit of the Economic /Production

The statistics unit of the production unit has the rights and responsibilities in providing the statistics data on the status of business operation in accordance to the survey and administrative approaches to the National Statistics System.

 

Part VI

Disclosure Prohibition

Article 41. Restriction/Prohibition for the Statistics Organization and its Staffs

The statistics organizations and its staff are not allowed to take any action as follows:

  1. Disclose and disseminate individual data, legal person or any organization which are defined in the article 24 of this law without the permission from respective concerned organization;
  2. Do something fictional and counterfeit to the official statistics and individual and legal person or organization for the private benefits or create any losses for others intentionally;
  3. Use the statistics data and report that are received from individual and legal person or any organization in country and abroad which operate any activity in Lao PDR as a reference for business inspection and auditing purpose or use for tax or duties calculation;
  4. Break statistics ethics/principles;
  5. Other actions against the laws.

Article 42. Restriction/Prohibition for the Data Supply Organization and its Staff

The individual and organization who is the statistics data supplier is not allowed to take any action as follows:

  1. Report unrealistic statistics data;
  2. Disseminate and provide data outside the extent of their responsibilities without the permission of concerned organizational authority;
  3. Do something fictional and counterfeit to the official statistics and individual and legal person or organization intentionally;
  4. Use the statistics data for other purposes other than statistics purposes; use statistics data for the purpose as to make losses for other;
  5. Other actions against the laws.

Article 43. Restriction/Prohibition for the individual and organization using statistics

The individual and organization who is the user of statistics data supplier is not allowed to take any action underneath:

  1. Use individual, legal person or any organization data in an inappropriate manner and for other purposes other than statistics purposes;
  2. Use the statistics data with the intention of destruction of business operation of individual, legal person or any organization;
  3. Provide raw database from the survey received from the Statistics Organizations to a third party for other purposes;
  4. Force anyone to disclose, report and announce data that does not correspond with reality;
  5. Other actions against the laws.

 

Part VII

Statistics Management and Inspection

Chapter 1

Statistics Management Organization

Article 44. Management Organization in Statistics

Ministry of Planning and Investment is authorized by the Government to act as the central coordination body working together with other line ministries, agencies and local authorities concerned to manage the statistics work nationwide.

Management organizations include:

  • Ministry of Planning and Investment;
  • Planning and Investment Division of provinces and municipality;
  • Planning office of District and Sub-District;
  • Line Ministries, Agencies, other sectors’ Division at the provincial and municipality.

Article 45. Rights and Responsibilities of Ministry of Planning and Investment

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has the rights and responsibility in regards to the management of the statistical areas as follows:

  1. Research, formulate policies, set strategic plan direction, legislation, in the area of statistics and propose for the Government consideration;
  2. Advocate and disseminate policies, strategic plan, legislation and laws in the areas of statistics activities;
  3. Direct, monitor and coordinate with other sectors and local authority in the implementation of the statistics law;
  4. Examine and make the proposal for the nomination, shift or terminate the post of the director general and deputy director general of the Lao Bureau Statistics;
  5. Appoint, reassign or terminate the post of director and deputy director of the Statistics Center of province, Municipality thru the coordination with local authorities;
  6. Conduct appraisal on the request from individual, legal person and organization who act against statistics law;
  7. Consider and propose measures in addressing the problems to assure the transparency and consistency with Law;
  8. Cooperate /collaborate with international community on statistics;
  9. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the Government on regular basis;
  10. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the Government.

Article 46. Rights and Responsibilities of Province Planning and Investment Division, Municipality Planning and Investment Division

The Province planning and investment division and the Municipality planning and investment division have the rights and responsibility in regards to the management of the statistical areas as follows:

  1. Dispatch, implement the policies, strategic plan, legislation and laws in the areas of statistics activities including advocacy and disseminate them in their provinces;
  2. Direct, monitor and coordinate with other sectors within their local authority in the implementation of the statistics activities;
  3. Conduct appraisal on the request from individual, legal person and organization who act against statistics law in their areas of responsibility;
  4. Consider and propose measures in addressing the problems to assure the transparency and consistency with Law in their areas of responsibility;
  5. Cooperate /collaborate with international community on statistics in accordance with the given task by the higher authority;
  6. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Province’ Governor Office, Municipality Governor Office on regular basis;
  7. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authority.

Article 47. Right and Responsibilities of Planning Office at Districts and sub districts

The District and sub-district planning offices have the rights and responsibility with regard to the management of the statistical areas as follows:

  1. Implement the policies, legislation, laws and plans in the areas of statistics activities, including the dissemination work in their provinces;
  2. Conduct appraisal on the request from individual, legal person and organization who act against statistics law in their areas of responsibility;
  3. Consider and propose measures in addressing the problems to assure the transparency and consistency with Law in their areas of responsibility;
  4. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the Province Planning and Investment Division, Municipality Planning and Investment Division and District Governor Offices , and Sub District Governor Office on regular basis;
  5. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authority.

Article 48. Right and Responsibilities of Line Ministries, Agencies, Divisions at the provincial and district level and sub-district offices

Line Ministries, Agencies, Divisions at the provincial and district level and sub-district offices have the rights and responsibility in regards to the management of the statistical areas as follows:

  1. Advocate, disseminate, provide guideline and monitor the implementation by the statistics organization under them, conduct appraisal and address measures to solve the problems on the request from individual, legal person and organization in their areas of responsibility thru the coordination of the Horizontal Statistics System;
  2. Examine and propose measures in addressing the problems in their respective sectors to assure the transparency and consistency with Law in their areas of responsibility;
  3. Summarize and report the result of the statistical activities implementation to the higher authority and Lao Bureau Statistics on a regular basis;
  4. Other rights and responsibilities in accordance to law and those responsibilities given by the higher authority.

 

Chapter 2

Inspection

Article 49. Organization responsible for Statistics inspection

Organizations for Statistics inspection are as follows:

  1. The inspection organization is the same as the management organization as defined in article 44 of this law;
  2. The external inspection organizations include National Assembly, the State inspection and the State Audit organization.

Article 50. Objectives of Inspection

The objectives of inspection are to make the management of the program of statistics work execution of the National Statistics System and to attain efficiency and effectiveness in accordance with the regulations and law.

Article 51. Inspection Substance

The areas of the substance inspection include monitoring and, assessment of the implementation of the working programs of the National Statistics System in accordance with regulation and law.

Article 52. Inspection Plan

The inspection organization/authority creates the inspection plan in order to monitor, inspect statistics work that is related to the execution of statistics activities and products defined in the operational program of the National Statistics System in each period of time.

Article 53. Form of Inspection

There are three inspection forms underneath:

  • Regular system inspection;
  • Advance notification inspection;
  • Emergency inspection without advance notification.

Regular system inspection must be carried out at a minimum of once a year on a regular basis with exact date and time notified. Advance notification inspection is conducted when necessary and must be notified to the target of the inspection in advance at a minimum of 24 hours.

Emergency inspection without advance notification is conducted when necessary without prior notification to inform the target of inspection in advance.

The inspection must be carried out based on documents and sites of field work as basis.

Article 54. External Inspection

The external inspection is carried out with the objective of examining/investigating the implementation of all statistics organization within the National Statistics System, Management and Inspection organizations are for the soundness, transparency and impartiality. The external inspections are as follows:

  1. Inspection by National Assembly as defined in the Monitoring Inspection Law of National Assembly;
  2. Inspection of the State Inspection as defined in the State inspection law;
  3. Inspection of State Audit Authority as defined in State Auditing Law.

Article 55. Report and Problems Solution

The inspection committee must create the memo of the inspection, report of result which includes the measures to solve problems encountered and report to the authority for consideration on the result of inspection.

The inspection committee must be responsible for the result of the inspection report and strictly keep confidential all statistics documents that have been inspected.

Article 56. Rights and Responsibilities of the target of inspection intervention

The rights and responsibilities of inspection targets are as follows:

  1. Ask the inspection committee to present the agreement for the inspection mission and authorized card for inspection;
  2. Appeal to related authorities on the inaccurate inspection in accordance to the regulation as set in the agreement;
  3. Facilitate the inspection committee in the inspection process by providing documents, data, witness and responses to the questions that relate to the inspection substance in accordance to the request of the inspection committee.

 

Part VIII

Budget, Logo, Uniform and Stamp

Article 57. Sources of the Fund

The main sources of funds to support statistics activities are from government budget, support from bilateral and multilateral international organization, contributions from the society and other sources.

Article 58. Budget

The budget of the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB) is classified at the first grade layer of the state budget. The management and use of the budget for the vertical statistics system must follow the state budget law.

Article 59. Logo, uniform and stamp

The vertical statistics system has its own logo, uniform and official stamp for use in their official routine work.

 

Part IX

Rewards and Abuse Settlement

Article 60. Rewards

Individual, legal person or any organization that has been outstanding in the implementation   of statistics activities will receive the honor certificate or any other reward in accordance with the regulations.

Article 61. Abuse Settlement

Individual, legal person or any organizations act against the statistics law will be punished, fined according to the case of offense including compensation of accrued cost.

 

Part X

Implementation Provisions

Article 62. Accomplishment

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic Government is executor this Law.

Article 63. Enforcement

This Law shall take effect after sixty days, starting from the date that President of Lao PDR issued the Decree for the announcement.

Any rules, regulations which contradict this law shall have their effects terminated.

 

President of National Assembly

[ Seal and signature ]

Pany YATHORTOU)

 



Download English:Statistics Law No. 03/NA, dated 30 June 2010

Download Lao:Statistics Law No. 03/NA, dated 30 June 2010


List Measures Related to Legal Documents
NameDescriptionStatus
Prohibition on providing raw database from the survey received from the Statistics Organizations to a third party for other purposesIndividuals and organisations which are users of statistics data are prohibited from providing raw database from the survey received from the Statistics Organizations to a third party for other purposesActive
Prohibition on using data in an inappropriate mannersIndividuals and organisations which are users of statistics data are prohibited from using data in an inappropriate manner and for other purposes other than statistics purposesActive
Prohibition on using data with the intention of destroying business operationsIndividuals and organisations which are users of statistics data are prohibited from using statistics data with the intention of destroying business operations of individual, legal person or any organizationActive
Prohibition on Data Supply Organizations and its Staff from disseminating and providing data outside the extent of their responsibilities without the permission of concerned organizational authorityIndividuals and organizations who are statistics data suppliers are prohibited from disseminating and providing data outside the extent of their responsibilities without the permission of concerned organizational authorityActive
Prohibition on Data Supply Organizations and its Staff from intentionally producing counterfeit official statistics to individual and legal person or organizationIndividuals and organizations who are statistics data suppliers are prohibited from intentionally producing counterfeit official statistics to individual and legal person or organizationActive
Prohibition on Data Supply Organizations and its Staff from reporting unrealistic statistics dataIndividuals and organizations who are statistics data suppliers are prohibited from reporting unrealistic statistics dataActive
Prohibition on Data Supply Organizations and its Staff from using the statistics data for other purposes other than statistics purposesIndividuals and organizations who are statistics data suppliers are prohibited from using the statistics data for other purposes other than statistics purposesActive
Prohibition on Data Supply Organizations and its Staff from violating other lawsIndividuals and organizations who are statistics data suppliers are prohibited from violating other lawsActive