Govt assesses Covid-19 impact, debates future response

The government acknowledges that progress under the national development plan has been difficult over the past few months due to the coronavirus pandemic, while Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith is taking steps to prevent a possible second wave.
The government took stock of the situation at its monthly meeting for May held on Thursday and Friday, which was led by the prime minister.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment noted that implementation of the country’s development continued to face challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and various natural disasters.

Cabinet members discussed a master plan for development along the Lao-Chinese Economic Corridor, rollout of the development cooperation framework for the corridor, and a master plan for Lao-Chinese partnership towards a shared destiny.
Planning for development along the under-construction Laos-China railway route was considered to be the most urgent task facing the government.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare reported on assistance being provided to Lao nationals affected by the pandemic, including that offered to workers returning to Laos from other countries and those working in Laos.
The meeting agreed on the provision of unemployment benefits for workers under the social insurance scheme, in line with the Law on Social Insurance. The labour ministry was asked to compile statistics and consider alternative forms of employment for workers, and hold talks with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and businesses about the ways in which they could use workers.
Prime Minister Thongloun asked the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to continue to ease measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and to decide what guidelines would be put in place after June 2 to prevent a second wave of Covid-19.
He also instructed the taskforce in charge of addressing the economic impacts of Covid-19 to ensure effective implementation of the policies and measures approved by the government to enable businesses to resume normal operation.
He noted the need to maintain security and social order by clamping down on undesirable social conduct such as robbery, theft, street fights, lighting of fires, and drug abuse.
With regard to revenue, the prime minister said taxes and other payments owed should be collected from all businesses not affected by Covid-19, and that losses should be prevented by widening the use of electronic payment methods.
He instructed the Bank of the Lao PDR to closely manage currency exchange rates, encourage commercial banks to buy new government bonds, and to ensure that micro-finance operations complied with the relevant policies and regulations.
Mr Thongloun directed the Ministry of Energy and Mines to review the rates charged for electricity consumption and explain the reasons behind changes in order to create public understanding of the situation. He also advised that electricity cables be inspected after many recent fires were attributed to faulty wiring.
The meeting also discussed the ninth five-year national socio-economic development plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and green forms of development.
In addition, food production, support for small and medium sized businesses, price controls, improvement of tourism facilities and services, preparations to reopen schools, dengue fever prevention, climate change, and the overall international situation were discussed.

By Somxay Sengdara
(Latest Update May 25, 2020)