Lao People’s Democratic Republic enhances skills certification system as ASEAN marches on to achieve regional skills mobility

VIENTIANE, Lao People's Democratic Republic (ILO News) - The Lao People's Democratic Republic is strengthening its national skills assessment and certification system in preparation for the implementation of the Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers.

Since July 2024, the Lao People's Democratic Republic has been participating in the Mutual Recognition of Skills (MRS) Capacity Building Programme under the ILO/Korea Partnership. The programme includes a series of capacity-building workshops and technical skills demonstrations designed to prepare the country for regional skills recognition.

The initiative has been driven by close collaboration between Lao People's Democratic Republic's Skills Development Institute under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and Thailand's Department of Skill Development under the Ministry of Labour, with ILO's technical facilitation. Together, they have revamped the national skills assessment and certification system of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Key outcomes of the MRS capacity building programme include the development of an updated Skills Assessment Manual and Assessor Guideline, which will be promulgated and implemented across all occupational sectors. A solid national skills assessment manual and assessor guideline ensure consistency, fairness and quality in assessing skills that individuals have acquired. It also ensures that workforce skills are assessed in line with national skills standards and industry needs.

At the soft launch of the Updated Skills Assessment Manual, in Vientiane, on 11 June 2025, Phongsavanh Sourivanh, Deputy Director General of the Skills Development Institute, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare said: "Lao PDR is honoured to have received the long-standing support of Thailand's Department of Skill Development (Ministry of Labour) and the International Labour Organization. This enduring partnership has played a pivotal role in strengthening the country's skills assessment and certification system. The updated Skills Assessment Manual-once approved-will serve as a cornerstone for a more robust framework, fostering greater confidence and trust in the quality and recognition of Lao PDR's national skills certificates."

Hochul Shin, Chief Technical Adviser of the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme, added: "Today's event marks an important milestone toward establishing a more robust skills assessment and certification system in the country. I sincerely hope that this updated manual will contribute meaningfully to the implementation of the Vientiane Declaration on Skill Mobility, Recognition, and Development for Migrant Workers."

Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic, noted: "This achievement marks yet another important step forward in advancing skills development and labour mobility within the ASEAN Economic Community. ASEAN Member States have designated 2025 as the 'ASEAN Year of Skills', with the promotion of talent mobility within the region as one of the key objectives. The outcomes achieved through the MRS Capacity Building Programme and the broader MRS initiative directly support and align with this endeavour'. With these improvements, the Lao People's Democratic Republic is well-positioned to lead the implementation of the Vientiane Declaration."

For technical inquiries on the updated Skills Assessment Manual and Assessor Guideline, please contact Mr Inthavone Singdala, Director of Skills Testing and Certification Division, Skills Development Institute, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.