Pension
In Laos, all labor units and employees must be insured and contribute to the National Social Security Fund to be eligible for Social Security benefits. Employers are responsible to employees who have yet to contribute at all or enough to the fund to receive benefits. Foreigners who work in Lao for over 12 months must register with the National Social Security Fund.
The retirement age in Laos is 60 for men and 55 for women who have worked at least 15 years. For employees who worked in dangerous conditions continuously for 5 years, the retirement age is 55 for men and 50 for women who have worked at least 15 years. Individuals who are 3 years shy of retirement age, are in poor health, and have contributed at least 15 years to the Social Security fund in full are eligible to receive retirement benefits.
Dependents/Survivors Benefits
The Lao Social Security Organization provides a subsidy for beneficiaries of the deceased. Survivor's benefits can include health care services, monthly pensions, and death grants. The deceased must have completed contributions to the social security fund for at least 5 years.
The following conditions must be met to be eligible for a spouse to receive a benefit for 30% of the last insurable earnings:
- The surviving husband is at least 60 years old and has no regular income
- The surviving wife is at least 55 years old and has no regular income
Children are eligible for a benefit for 20% of the last insurable earnings until they reach 18. Children with deceased parents who were both insured are only entitled to a benefit based on either the father's or the mother's entitlement.
Insured deceased children who were the breadwinner for parents and where a parent has reached retirement age and has no regular income are entitled to benefits equal to 30% or a total of 50% if both parents are entitled to the benefit.
Invalidity Benefits
Lao's Social Security Organization provides a subsidy for labor accidents, occupational diseases, and other accidents or illnesses that leave citizens unable to work.
The following conditions must be met to be eligible for a disability subsidy due to general accidents or illnesses:
- Loss of work capacity of a minimum of 41% as assessed by the National Social Security Fund's Medical Committee
- Contributed to the disability pension for at least 12 out of 24 months
Employees are entitled to 100% of their regular wages for 6 months during the prescribed treatment and rehabilitation of a workplace accident. After 6 months, the social insurance organization will cover the cost per the Law on Social Insurance. Employers or social insurance must pay remuneration to the employee if they become disabled or lose any organs due to a workplace accident.
Accidents that occur while an employee completes a personal task not assigned by the employer or its representative are not workplace accidents.