라오스 산업안전보건제도 개관

In recent years, the Lao PDR has experienced a rapid increase in industrial activities, particularly in manufacturing, construction, mining, and hydropower sectors, as a result of expanding foreign direct investment and sustained economic growth. However, the occupational safety and health (OSH) system that should accompany such industrial expansion—aimed at preventing industrial accidents and protecting workers’ health—remains at a developmental stage. Not only are the relevant legal provisions and institutional frameworks insufficiently established, but the operational aspects of the system also remain inadequately organized and implemented. This paper constitutes a foundational study intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of the occupational safety and health system in Lao PDR. Its primary objective is to systematically review the background of institutional formation, the legal and regulatory framework, administrative structures, the current state of policy implementation, and the challenges related to future institutional improvement. As a contextual starting point, the paper examines Laos’s demographic structure, industrial composition, and stage of economic development, while also highlighting the growing importance of occupational safety and health research in the context of expanding human and economic exchanges between Korea and Laos. The paper then analyzes the characteristics of the Lao working environment, including its industrial structure centered on agriculture, mining, and construction, the hot and humid climatic conditions, and the limitations of transportation and public health infrastructure. Particular attention is paid to how these structural factors influence the risks associated with occupational accidents and work-related diseases. Through this analysis, the study clarifies the underlying conditions that shape occupational safety and health risks in the Lao context. Next, the paper examines the legal framework governing occupational safety and health by analyzing relevant constitutional provisions and a range of sectoral laws, including the Labour Law, regulations on occupational safety and health, the Law on Hygiene, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the Industrial Processing Law, the Health Insurance Law, and the Social Security Law. This analysis highlights a key structural feature of the Lao legal system: in the absence of an independent and comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSH-related regulations are dispersed across multiple statutes and subordinate regulations. In addition, the study reviews the institutional arrangements responsible for occupational safety and health, focusing on the tripartite structure involving the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, employers’ organizations, and workers’ representatives. It further examines the labour inspection system, the composition and functions of occupational safety and health committees, and the content and implementation process of the National Occupational Safety and Health Programme. Finally, by reviewing statistics on occupational accidents and diseases, reporting and record-keeping mechanisms, supervisory capacity, and the current state of OSH professional training, the paper assesses the operational realities of the system. Based on these findings, it summarizes the institutional characteristics and limitations of Laos’s occupational safety and health system and presents basic implications for future legal and institutional improvement.