VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Some 17,000 garment workers in Laos will each receive emergency income support of 900,000 kip (about US$100) to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The money will help workers who lost income and support business continuity while reducing employers’ staff turnover costs.
Funding support of US$1.8 million has been provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development with technical support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
An event to launch the garment workers’ income support programme in response to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic took place in Vientiane on Tuesday.
Those present included the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Padeumphone Sonthany; German Ambassador to Laos, Jens Lütkenherm; Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, Graeme Buckley; and Director General of the Lao Social Security Organisation, Keo Chamthavixay.
UNDP will continue targeted goals for Laos thestar.com.my - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thestar.com.my Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Developing a holistic investment strategy along with continued regulatory reforms will help Laos attract more diverse and higher-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), a new report suggests.
The approach will allow Laos to expand its economy, generate more jobs, and achieve shared prosperity, according to the report, which was published by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group.
The report was presented at an online meeting on Thursday (Feb 18), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Sonexay Siphandone.
Conducted in partnership with the government of Japan, the report titled ‘Investment Reform Map for Laos A Foundation for a New Investment Policy and Promotion Strategy’ lays out a proposed action plan for targeted reforms to realise the positive impact of FDI on the local economy.
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): A group of business owners have set up an organisation to unite their strengths to drive the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Laos.
A press conference to launch the Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Association of the Lao PDR (Lao SME) took place in Vientiane on Wednesday (Feb 17).
The association has set up four main work plans for 2021. The first involves working with the Lao-Japan Microfinance Association and the Lao-Japan Human Resource Development Institute to help Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) members and entrepreneurs affected by Covid-19 and the effects of the ongoing recession in 2021.
These rates have been challenged by motorists, who say the toll charged for pick-ups is too high.
Since the expressway opened in December, many people have posted complaints on social media, saying the amount charged for pick-up trucks is unreasonable because these vehicles are classified as truck type 1.
The Investment Promotion Department recently instructed the company to review the toll charges and the dollar-kip exchange rate, as the toll charges are based on US dollars.
The Law on Land Transport states that private vehicles include small transport vehicles with seats for not more than nine people including the driver, which covers pick-ups.