Lao PDR Advances Digital Social Protection at Second National ILO–MOLSW Symposium

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, this year’s Symposium focused on the theme “Digitalise, Transform, and Deliver in a New Era.”

Digital transformation took centre stage in Vientiane as the Second National Symposium on Social Protection highlighted how technology is reshaping the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s (Lao PDR) public service delivery. Organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the event on 12 December 2025 brought together national policymakers, development partners, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and chart the future of inclusive social protection.

A Growing National Platform for Innovation and Collaboration

Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2024, this year’s Symposium focused on the theme “Digitalise, Transform, and Deliver in a New Era.” Supported by the ILO–UNDESA Project “Accelerating Universal Social Protection for Achieving the SDGs and Ending Poverty,” with funding from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund, the Symposium underscored the country’s commitment to leveraging digital tools for more efficient, transparent, and accessible social protection services.

A Pivotal Moment: Transition to the 2026–2030 Social Protection Strategy

The event comes at a crucial moment as the National Social Protection Strategy 2020–2025 concludes and Lao PDR prepares its 2026–2030 strategy. Digitalization is expected to be a cornerstone of the new framework, helping the government:

• Strengthen governance

• Improve targeting and identification of vulnerable groups

• Streamline benefits and service delivery

• Expand access to previously underserved populations

Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Phosay Sayason emphasized this shift in his opening remarks, noting that social protection has made “real momentum” since 2020. He highlighted the government’s commitment to building “modern, connected systems” that ensure equitable access to healthcare, welfare benefits, and essential services.

Key Digital Innovations Transforming Social Protection

Over the past few years, Lao PDR has taken major strides toward modernizing its delivery systems:

1. The Social Registry

A unified platform that improves identification of poor and vulnerable households, enabling:

• More accurate targeting of social programmes

• Reduced duplication across ministries

• Potential integration of multiple benefits into a single delivery platform

2. Enhanced System Connectivity via APIs

The development of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) has enabled real-time data exchange across government databases, marking a significant step toward interoperability and efficient service coordination.

3. Launch of the First Social Security Mobile App

A highlight of the Symposium was the official introduction of LSSO, Lao PDR’s first-ever social security mobile application. The app allows users—especially informal workers and those in rural areas—to:

• Register for social security

• Access contribution records

• Receive notifications and benefit updates

• Communicate directly with the social security office

ILO Country Office Director Xiaoyan Qian celebrated the app as a “major milestone” that helps reduce administrative barriers and expands access to contributory schemes, creating new pathways out of poverty.

UN Partners Emphasize Progress and Future Opportunities

Acting UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Martine Thérer commended Lao PDR’s progress in building a more comprehensive social protection system over the past five years. She underscored that social protection is “a foundation for resilience, equity, and sustainable development,” particularly in a world facing economic uncertainty and climate-related risks.

Engaging the Next Generation of Innovators

Ahead of the main event, the Symposium featured a youth-focused programme at the National University of Laos on 8 December 2025. Students competed in designing innovative social assistance delivery models. The winning teams presented ideas ranging from digitized community welfare platforms to targeted benefit-distribution systems using mobile technology. Their proposals were later showcased to national policymakers—highlighting the critical role of youth in shaping future social protection solutions.

Towards a Modern, Inclusive Social Protection Framework

The Symposium reaffirmed Lao PDR’s commitment to a digitally enabled welfare system that ensures no one is left behind. With strong government leadership, continued support from development partners, and a new national strategy on the horizon, the country is poised to make significant strides toward universal, efficient, and future-ready social protection.