The Lao Social Security Office (LSSO) has presented progress on a new mobile application aimed at expanding social protection delivery. The update was shared during a technical workshop supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Designed to enhance access to information and services for both LSSO members and the general public, particularly underserved rural communities, the mobile app aims to enhance the administration and delivery of social protection services across the country.
The app is underpinned by Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that enable integration with other social protection schemes and selected public services, databases and information systems. Currently in the testing phase, the app is scheduled for launch at the National Symposium on Social Protection 2025, to be held later this year.
The app and APIs development is supported by comprehensive research undertaken by the ILO. Officially launched at the workshop, a report titled "Enhancing social security accessibility in Lao PDR: A road map for LSSO's digital transformation and service delivery optimization" outlines the country's digital ecosystem and presents a forward-looking plan to guide the LSSO's digital transformation. It also identifies joint areas of action for future collaboration.
The three-day workshop, held in Vang Vieng from 24 to 26 September 2025, was jointly organised 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".
Speaking at the event, Vilayphong Sisomvang, Director General of the Department of Planning and International Cooperation, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, emphasized: "Through this project, we have taken important steps in extending social protection to workers in the informal economy by harnessing digital innovation and South-South cooperation. The achievements made include improving accessibility, strengthening systems, and fostering peer learning, are not an endpoint but a foundation. We remain committed to expanding these results and ensuring their sustainability, so that social protection can truly be universal, resilient and future-ready in digital era."
Participants, including experts from China, Viet Nam and the ILO, shared their experiences, practical lessons and recommendations. The challenge of reaching underserved rural populations was recognised as a common issue across countries, faced during different stages of their development.
Lars Johansen, Deputy Director of ILO's Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic highlighted the importance of national efforts to strengthen social security service delivery and governance and enhance digital transformation in pursuit of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) goals.
"The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives and explore potential solutions together. The discussions laid a strong foundation for continued improvements, ensuring that technological solutions remain central to advancing social protection for all," he said.
The ILO-China Partnership project has a three-pronged strategy; to increase compliance of formal enterprises with the Social Security Law, pilot innovative service delivery approaches in underserved areas, and launch a mobile app to target more workers, especially the youth. All these activities contribute to extending social security coverage to informal workers.
