Laos

The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare announced a new minimum wage policy to support workers facing the economic challenges brought by the rising cost of living and the depreciation of the Laotian kip

Khammouane forest authorities have launched a new project to protect biodiversity and reduce poverty in the province by involving 600 farmers from three districts to help improve livelihoods and restore local vegetation

The 'Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics' system was launched with the aim of improving the management, use, protection and retrieval of citizens' information

To cope with rising cost of living the government is considering a proposal to increase company employees benefits; in July, inflation was reported at 26,10% and since May 2022 it has remained in the double digits and hit a peak of 41,26% in February 2023

The inauguration ceremony was held for the first meteorological tower in the village of Nathou, which will collect wind data crucial for evaluating wind farm projects in the region

Health and labour control centres will be set up to prevent occupational accidents and diseases by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, in cooperation with six hospitals in Vientiane

The critical issues related to water insecurity in rural areas have been indicated in a recent research by the Faculty of Public Health of the University of Health Sciences: poor water management has been identified as a significant factor

As of 1 August, digital platforms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon will charge a 10% value-added tax to customers in Laos, following the VAT increase from 7%

In response to persistent flooding in Vientiane during the rainy season, comprehensive measures are in place to mitigate the damage; flooding is due to city's rapid expansion, unregulated construction, improper land filling and changing weather patterns

Several provinces in Laos have started testing new public transport services with 'green buses', aimed at improving local infrastructure and reducing traffic congestion in agreement with South Korean company Booyoung Lao Company Limited

State Inspection Authority identified development and investment projects, particularly roads and bridges, as primary sources of fraud, notice the loss of large sums of money to corruption

The country is preparing to conduct its fifth population and housing census in March 2025, with a pilot test taking place in the capital Vientiane, Houaphanh, Bokeo and Sekong provinces, and will be the first digital census in the country