The Lao Social Security Office (LSSO) has shared progress on a new mobile application designed to expand social protection delivery, with the update presented during a technical workshop supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The app is intended to improve access to information and services for both LSSO members and the general public, with a focus on reaching underserved rural communities, and aims to enhance the administration and delivery of social protection services nationwide.
The mobile application is built on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that allow integration with other social protection schemes, public services, databases, and information systems. Currently in its testing phase, the app is scheduled for launch at the National Symposium on Social Protection 2025. Its development is informed by comprehensive research conducted by the ILO, which culminated in a report titled “Enhancing social security accessibility in Lao PDR: A road map for LSSO’s digital transformation and service delivery optimization,” outlining the country’s digital ecosystem and providing a forward-looking plan for the LSSO’s digital transformation.
The technical workshop, held in Vang Vieng from 24 to 26 September 2025, was jointly organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the ILO-China Partnership project “Extending Social Protection Coverage to Workers in the Informal Economy in Lao PDR.” During the event, Vilayphong Sisomvang, Director General of the Department of Planning and International Cooperation, emphasized that the project represents a significant step toward extending social protection to informal workers by leveraging digital innovation and South-South cooperation. He noted that the achievements so far—improved accessibility, strengthened systems, and peer learning—serve as a foundation for sustainable expansion of social protection services.
Experts from China, Viet Nam, and the ILO shared experiences, practical lessons, and recommendations, highlighting the challenge of reaching underserved rural populations as a common issue across countries at different stages of development. Lars Johansen, Deputy Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, emphasized the importance of national efforts to strengthen social security governance and service delivery while advancing digital transformation in line with the National Social Protection Strategy goals.
The ILO-China Partnership project follows a three-pronged strategy: increasing compliance of formal enterprises with the Social Security Law, piloting innovative service delivery approaches in underserved areas, and launching the mobile app to target more workers, particularly youth. These initiatives collectively aim to extend social security coverage to informal workers, ensuring that social protection systems in Lao PDR are more universal, resilient, and digitally enabled.
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