Decree on Social Welfare
Chapter 1: General Provisions
Article 1 Objectives
Article 2 Social Welfare
Article 3 Definitions
Article 4 Requirements of Citizens
Article 5 Basic Principles of Social Welfare
Article 6 Scope of Application of this Decree
Chapter 2: Targets, Methods, and Types of Social Welfare
Article 7 Targets of Social Welfare
Article 8 Methods of Social Welfare
Article 9 Forms of Social Welfare
Chapter 3: Types of Social Welfare
Article 10 Types of Social Welfare
Article 11 Provision and Construction of Accommodation
Article 12 Assistance in terms of Consumer Goods
Article 13 Medical Assistance
Article 14 Legal Assistance
Article 15 Educational assistance
Article 16 Vocational Training, Labor-skill Development, and Job-seeking Assistance
Article 17 Funeral Assistance
Chapter 4: Social Welfare Fund
Article 18 Social Welfare Fund
Article 19 Resources of the Social Welfare Fund
Chapter 5: Rights and Obligations of Social Welfare Recipients
Article 20 Rights of Social Welfare Recipients
Article 21 Obligations of Social Welfare Recipients
Chapter 6: Prohibitions
Article 22 Prohibitions for Social Welfare Staff or Officers
Article 23 Prohibitions for Social Welfare Recipients
Article 24 Prohibitions for Individuals, Legal Entities, or Organizations
Chapter 7: Conflict Resolution
Article 25 Conflict Resolution Organizations
Article 26 Types of conflict
Article 27 Methods for conflict resolution
Article 28 Conflict resolution procedures
Chapter 8: Management and Inspection of Social Welfare
Article 29 Social Welfare Management and Inspection Organizations
Article 30 Obligations and Duties of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare
Article 31 Obligations and duties of Provincial and Vientiane Capital Labor and Social Welfare Divisions
Article 32 Obligations and duties of District and Municipal Labor and Social Welfare Offices
Article 33 Principles for inspection
Article 34 Forms of inspection
Chapter 9: Awards for Good Performance and Measures against Violators
Article 35 Awards for Good Performance
Article 36 Measures against Violators
Chapter 10: Final Provisions
Article 37 Implementation
Article 38 Effectiveness
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity
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The Government | No. 169/GOV |
Vientiane Capital, 19 June 2013 |
on
Social Welfare
- Pursuant to the Law on the Government of the Lao PDR No. 02/NA, dated 06 May 2003;
- Pursuant to the Proposal Letter of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare No. 2170/MLSW, dated 27 May 2013.
The Government hereby issues a Decree:
General Provisions
This Decree defines principles, regulations, and measures with regard to the implementation of social welfare policies for victims of disasters and disadvantaged people to ensure they receive effective, efficient, fair, and full assistance and service. The policies aim at improving the physical and mental quality of life, while ensuring basic living conditions for disadvantaged people as part of the implementation of the poverty eradication plan set forth by the Government.
Social welfare refers to physical and mental assistance and services offered to victims of disasters and disadvantaged people in society through contributions from the Government, individuals, legal entities, the community, and both domestic and international organizations.
Terms used in this Decree have the following definitions:
Article 4 Requirements of Citizens
Lao citizens, aliens, foreigners, and non-residents people who live in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic are required to contribute to social welfare.
Article 5 Basic Principles of Social Welfare
Social welfare shall be implemented based on the following basic principles:
Article 6 Scope of Application of this Decree
This Decree applies to organizations, legal entities, families, and individuals in relation to social welfare activities.
Targets, Methods, and Types of Social Welfare
Article 7 Targets of Social Welfare
Targets of social welfare consist of the following:
Article 8 Methods of Social Welfare
Social welfare comprises two methods: emergency and regular methods.
Article 9 Forms of Social Welfare
Social welfare consists of the following forms:
Types of Social Welfare
Article 10 Types of Social Welfare
Social welfare comprises the following types:
Article 11 Provision and Construction of Accommodation
Provision and construction of accommodation comprises:
Article 12 Assistance in terms of Consumer Goods
Assistance in terms of consumer goods consists of relief and recovery efforts.
Medical assistance consists of medical counseling, disease prevention efforts, medical check-ups, treatment, rehabilitation, and health promotion.
Legal assistance refers to legal counseling in order to protect the rights and benefits of targets and target groups based on the laws of the Lao PDR, and international conventions and treaties to which the Lao PDR is a party.
Article 15 Educational assistance
Children in need of special protection and vulnerable children will receive scholarships based on the Law on Education.
Article 16 Vocational Training, Labor-skill Development, and Job-seeking Assistance
Children in need of special protection, vulnerable children, and disadvantaged children will be provided with vocational training, labor-skill development, and job-seeking assistance to help them become independent.
If those who are the target defined in Article 7 pass away, assistance will be provided for organizing their funerals.
Social Welfare Fund
Article 18 Social Welfare Fund
The social welfare fund has been set up by the Government at central and local levels in order to utilize the fund to assist targets and target groups as defined in Article 7 of this Decree.
Article 19 Resources of the Social Welfare Fund
The social welfare fund is derived from the following financial resources:
Rights and Obligations of Social Welfare Recipients
Article 20 Rights of Social Welfare Recipients
Social welfare recipients have the following rights:
Article 21 Obligations of Social Welfare Recipients
Social welfare recipients have the following obligations:
Prohibitions
Article 22 Prohibitions for Social Welfare Staff or Officers
Social welfare staff or officers are prohibited from engaging in the following behaviors:
Article 23 Prohibitions for Social Welfare Recipients
Social welfare recipients are prohibited from engaging in the following behaviors:
Article 24 Prohibitions for Individuals, Legal Entities, or Organizations
Individuals, legal entities or organizations are prohibited from engaging in the following acts:
Conflict Resolution
Article 25 Conflict Resolution Organizations
The following organizations are involved in conflict resolution:
There are two types of conflict:
Article 27 Methods for conflict resolution
Conflict resolution can be done via the administrative and judicial process.
Article 28 Conflict resolution procedures
Any conflict that occurs needs to be handled at the level where it occurs. If such conflicts cannot be resolved at that level, they will be passed on to higher authorities. If the conflict still remains unsolved, it will be dealt with under the judicial process of the People’s Court.
Management and Inspection of Social Welfare
Article 29 Social Welfare Management and Inspection Organizations
Social welfare management and inspection organizations comprise:
Article 30 Obligations and Duties of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare
In managing social welfare, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare has the following obligations and duties:
Article 31 Obligations and duties of Provincial and Vientiane Capital Labor and Social Welfare Divisions
In managing social welfare, the Provincial and Vientiane Capital Labor and Social Welfare Divisions have the following obligations and duties:
Article 32 Obligations and duties of District and Municipal Labor and Social Welfare Offices
In managing social welfare, District and Municipal Labor and Social Welfare Offices have the following obligations and duties:
Article 33 Principles for inspection
Social welfare inspection will be carried out based on the following issues:
Article 34 Forms of inspection
Inspection consists of the following forms:
Every inspection shall be strictly and legally carried out.
Awards for Good Performance and Measures against Violators
Article 35 Awards for Good Performance
Individuals, legal entities, or organizations who contribute to social welfare, physically or otherwise, will be properly rewarded.
Article 36 Measures against Violators
Individuals, legal entities, or organizations who breach this Decree will be educated, warned, subjected to disciplinary measures, fined, or punished based on laws.
Final Provisions
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is assigned to issue a detailed guideline to effectively implement this Decree.
Line ministries, ministerial-equivalent organizations, and local authorities shall acknowledge and strictly implement this Decree.
This Decree is effective from the date of signature. Any regulations or provisions that contradict to this Decree shall be canceled.
Prime Minister
[Signature and seal]
Thongsing THAMMAVONG