Department of Public Administration and Civil Service

CONTENTS

• The Organization of the Government of the Lao PDR
• -Circular of the Lao PDR no 266/OPM of 16/02/96
• -Message of His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister
• Boungang VORACHITH
• -Message of the Resident Representative for the UNDP in the Lao PDR
• His Excellency Mr. Jan MATTSSON

ANNEX A: Organization Chart of the Institutional System of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

ANNEX: B: Relationship between Central Government, Provinces, Districts and Ministries

ANNEX C: Organization Chart of Local Administration

-Prime Minister's Office

-Ministry of Foreign Affairs

-Ministry of Justice

-Committee for Planning and Cooperation

-Ministry of Finance

-Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

-Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction

-Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts

-Ministry of Commerce

-Ministry of Information and Culture

-Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

-Ministry of Education

-Ministry of Health

-Lao Women's Union

Office of the Prime Minister

No-266/96.OPM

Circular

Attention: Department of Public Administration and Civil Service

Subject: Request for permission to publish the Government organization manual

With reference to the letter No-19/DACS dated 7 Feb. 1996 of the Department of Public Administration and Civil Service requesting permission to publish the Government organization manual.

The office of the Prime Minister submitted the matter to the Higher Authorities and the response was "approval".

Therefore, the Department is hereby informed to execute the circular.

Vientiane, 16 February 1996

Minister

Chief of the Office of the Prime Minister

Deputy-Chief

Signed: Bouasone Bouphavanh

CC:

-Office of the Party Central

Committee

-CPC

-File

I wish to extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Department of the Civil Service in the Office of the Prime Minister on the occasion of the publication of the first edition of the "Organization of the Government of the Lao PDR." For the first time, a public document is available which provides important information about each ministry.

As the Lao PDR opens up to the outside world, it is increasingly important that the Government makes itself accessible to all concerned. This book facilitates the interaction between, the Government and the people, the Government and the international community and between the Government and foreign investors.

The Organization of the Government of the Lao PDR is an essential document for the Party, for senior public servants, for the Diplomatic and donor community, and for the foreign investor.

I wish to congratulate the Government on the occasion of the publication of the first edition of the Organization of the Government of the Lao PDR. The United Nations Development Programme under its Public Administration Reform Project is pleased to have been able to assist with the preparation of this important book.

This book represents an important step toward making the Government a more open and accessible instrument of the State for the people. The organization chart and description of each Ministry and the list of development projects are of great use and interest for the Diplomatic and donor community. For the first time one is able to see what kinds of cooperation is underway Ministry by Ministry.

The Office of the Prime Minister is a state organization at central level in the government structure, serves as staff support for and a close aide to the Prime Minister. It also coordinates and makes a precis of various issues related to government work, and studies various issues related to collective work of the government in administration and state management in the country.

Overall and Responsibilities

The Prime Minister's Office has the following duties:

To monitor the progress of operation of the mechanism of the government, ministries, sectors and local administration; and to provide information and data necessary for the finalization of program policies and issues of the government.

To execute orders instructions and resolutions of the Prime Minister, and to help the Prime Minster to prepare action plans and projects.

To coordinate with various agencies of the government and local administration.

To prepare documents and reports for the Prime Minister, and to participate in meetings of the Cabinet for reporting.

To edit Prime Minister's reports to be presented to the Party Central Committee, Politburo and to the National Assembly.

To enforce regulations on document management and to manage the official enforced documents.

To carry out cartographic survey and measurement and aerial photography in support of strategic plans of economic-social development, national defense and security, and scientific and technical research.

To study draft state policies on personnel administration and management.

To study policies, rules and measures on tourism and tourism industry, and to manage and supervise activities of tourism companies.

To study and mange scientific, technological and environmental development.

To formulate policies on mass sports activities, and to plan, guide, manage and supervise these activities.

To study and manage civil aviation and airlines companies.

To contact with offices of the prime ministers of fraternal and friendly countries for the benefit of cooperation and exchange of experience according to the agreement of the government. The Prime Minister's Office is empowered to convene meetings of sectors and local authorities to discuss and recommend some issues deemed necessary.

To create working and living conditions in economic and social aspects favorable for both domestic and foreign situation for the Prime Minister.

To supervise political and ideological affairs, Party building and personnel training, national security; and to improve work and modify working methods of the Prime Minister's Office.

To monitor, summarize and submit to the Cabinet advantages and disadvantages of the process of implementing laws, policies plan regulations and rulers as well as the operation of central and local services.

organizational center for the implementation of the Party's policies and the government policies related to socio-economic development, international cooperation, and foreign investment.

undertaking research on strategic planning for short, long-term Socio-economic development to be submitted to the Government.

coordination center for seeking assistance, loans, and investment from foreign countries, as well as form international organizations, for incorporation into a planned socio-economic development.

being servicing center for the Supervisory Committee on foreign investment.

• -Department of Administration and the Civil Service
• -Civil aviation Department
• -The National Sports Committee
• -The Science, Technology and Environment Organization
• -National Geography Service
• -The National Tourism Authority
• -The National Economic Research Institute
• -The Committee of Foreign Investment Management and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries.

• 1.1.Secretariat Department
• -to monitor and collect information with regard to the operation of the mechanism of the government in general, of ministries, services and local administrations in particular, to supply necessary information and data for research, analysis and finalization of plans and policies of the government.
• -to realize all the orders of the Prime Minister, to help him in formulating projects in each plan period, and to monitor and support their implementation.
• -to play a role in coordination according to its mandate or to authorization from the Prime Minister, to help the Prime Minister to follow and guide the operation of the agencies under the Prime Minister's Office and to serve as a coordinator among these agencies.
• -to arrange meetings of the Cabinet, and to prepare for the Prime Minister reports to meetings of the Party Central Committee, of the Politburo and of the National Assembly.
• -to make contact with Prime Minister's Office of fraternal and friendly countries for the exchange of experiences according to the agreement of the government.

Mr. Somsavad LENGSAVATH Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Soubanh SRITHIRATH Vice-Minister Tel: 414 002

Mr. Vilayvanh PHOMKHE Vice-Minister

Mr. Phongsavath BOUPHA Vice-Minister Tel: 414 003

-Office of Minister Tel: 414 004

-Organization and Personnel Department Tel: 414 021

-Asia/Pacific/Africa Department Tel: 414 015-414 014

-Europe/America Department Tel: 414 016

-Protocol Department Tel: 414 028

-Consulate Department Tel: 414 031

-Press Department Tel: 414 036

-Law and Treaties Department Tel: 414 019

-Organization International Department Tel: 414 023

-Secretariat of National Mekong Committee

Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the Central State organizations of the government machinery, having the headquarters role of the central party and government in making the research and implementing the Foreign Affairs policy line.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the followings principal duties:

1. Undertake research of the policy line, policy plan, plan of the Foreign Affairs of the Party and State in order to submit to the Central Party and Government.
2. Implement the policy line, policy plan and Foreign Affairs policy of the Party and State in order to follow up and promote the relations between various parties including the Central Government and Regions of the Lao PDR with foreign countries.
3. Undertake research on world affairs, regional affairs and each country, making the proposal and report to the Central Party and the Government on an ongoing basis.
4. Coordinate with the various parties in the field of propaganda management, announce the news of the Lao PDR situation to foreign counties and of the foreign countries to Lao PDR.
5. Undertake research, make recommendations and manage the protocol activity in the field of cooperation between our Party and State with foreign countries.
6. To coordinate with the foreign relations committee of the Central Party and other relevant organizations to make the various arrangements for representatives of our Party and State to visit, work with and attend various conferences in addition to making preparations in order to receive representatives of the Party or foreign states visiting and working in the Lao PDR.
7. Supervise, manage and control all activities of the Embassy, offices of the representatives of the Lao PDR and consulates in foreign countries on an ongoing basis. In addition to manage and provide facilities to the embassy activity, office of representatives and others international organizations that have the permanent residence in Lao PDR in accordance with the law and regulations of Lao PDR and international law.
8. To follow up, encourage and control the implementation of various contracts and others agreements between Lao PDR and various foreign countries with regards to the correctness and efficiency.
9. To follow up, making the implementation of the consular agreement that are signed with foreign countries, coordinate with various relevant parties in the field of controlling immigration and emigration in conformity with the law and regulations to follow up manage the circumstances of foreigners living in Lao PDR. In addition to safeguard the rights and interests of Lao citizens in foreign countries and encourage them to contribute to the national development.
10. Undertaking research and making recommendations to the government for approval of the accreditation of the ambassadors, the representative of the Lao PDR in the foreign countries, the establishment or upgrading of diplomatic relations with foreign countries and the establishment of embassies or consular offices in foreign countries and facilitating foreign counties and international organizations in setting up their embassy, consular or other offices in Lao PDR.
11. Set up the training program build, manage and properly deploy Ministry personnel and apply correctly the personnel policy.
12. To prepare and manage budget of the Ministry in accordance with the State financial regulations.

The supporting services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is composed of:

1. Minister's Office: attached directly to the Minister and Vice Minister. It is the central authority for assuring the day to day work, and addressing urgent affairs between the leader committee and other organs of the Ministry inside and outside the country, between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others ministries, State and Mass organizations of the Lao PDR. It assists the team leader of the Ministry for the issue at hand and makes policy proposals, plans, decisions, rules orders and others documents related to Ministry of Foreign Affairs activity, working in close cooperation with the Ministry's departments, analyzing world and regional policy, strategy issues, policy issues in order to be the directives for carrying out activity in present time and for the long run. It is responsible for making conclusions, summarizing the world and region situation, and the ministry activity and makes ongoing reports on the results of running the activity of the various organs relevant to the Ministry, to the Minister, Office of the Prime Minister and the Central Party. It manages the secretary code, receives and dispatches the diplomatic mail, telex, and all in coming-out going official letters of the Ministry, makes reports of ministerial meetings, after that making the research and recommendation to the Ministry leader for their approval after that must notify the department concerned, in addition to follow up the consequences of the implementation make the research and planning and set up the implementation and manage the financial activity and general service.
2. Organization and personnel Department: having the role of headquarters, assisting the party member committee in making the research and organize the implementation of improvement job, build, and party extension, directs the education of the political concept for the personnel. Making research on the organization of the Ministry, embassy, and office of the representative of the Lao PDR in foreign countries. Managing the personnel of the Ministry, of the embassy offices of the representatives of Lao PDR in foreign countries. Managing the research and training program in short and long term, to start with the political function of the Party and the Ministry for each period. Research and applying the personnel policy to staff.
3. Africa/Pacific/Asia Department.

To be the Ministry headquarters in liaison in the political, social economic activity with those Asia Pacific and African countries having the duty of making the research and analyze, evaluate the overall situation of such countries, assist the Ministry in the supervision of those embassies and others offices of representatives of the Lao PDR in the Asia Pacific and African regions to follow up, observe, evaluate the activity of various embassies of the said countries in Lao PDR.

Provide the facilities, cooperation and make recommendations to various Ministries, State, Mass organizations and Lao private sector in the field of political, economic social relations with various countries in the Asia Pacific and African regions.

4. America/Europe Department

To be the ministry headquarters in liaison with politic, economic, social activity and others issues with the various countries in the Europe and America regions, having the duty to make the research, analyze, evaluation of the overall situation of those countries assist the Ministry in the supervision of various embassies and offices of the representatives of the Lao PDR in the Europe America regions to follow up, observe, evaluate the activity of the said embassies in Lao PDR.

Provide the facilities cooperation and make recommendations to the various ministries of the State, Mass organizations and to private sector in liaison with political, social, economic relations with Europe and America.

5. Protocol Department

Has the duty to make the research, propose various principles, rules of protocol of the Lao PDR and organize, apply them correctly and unanimously.

Responsible for the protocol matters at various ceremonies or conferences at the national level and various special ceremonies that the foreigner may attend including the reception and departure ceremonies of high- ranking guests to the Party and State.

Give cooperation and assist the various Ministries and organs of the Central Party in protocol matters. Manage and provide the facilities in the carrying out Embassy activity the office of the representative, consular, various international organizations of the foreign country posted in Lao PDR.

To prepare the letter of accreditation and ending mission letter to the ambassadors, attach ambassador and high consular officials posted to foreign countries.

Requesting the approval on the accreditation of the Foreign Ambassador to be posted in Lao PDR, including the arrangement of the presentation of the accreditation letter ceremony.

6. Consular Department

To be headquarters for the consular regular regulation and consular activity in the country and abroad, making the research and recommendations for amendment of the rules and regulations relating to the entry and exit of the Lao citizens and foreigners.

To deliver the passport to government personnel and Lao citizens including to the issue if exit visas for Lao citizens to go abroad. To deliver multiple entry visas for entry and exit to foreigners as appropriate for each individual.

To make recommendations, give the point of view and coordinate with the others parties relating to the authorization of foreign transport equipment entering the Lao aerial space, sea zone and Lao territory and the other hand Lao transport equipment to come over the foreign country in accordance with the article I of the Constitution.

To supervise the consular service of the embassy or Lao consulate abroad regarding the number of Lao citizens living abroad, administer the consular activity abroad in order to protect, and safeguard the interests and assets of Lao citizens, the Lao law and the Lao Government abroad.

To deliver the wedding authorization in accordance with wedding law between Lao citizens and foreigners.

7. Press Department

To be the Ministry headquarters for the dissemination of the policy line and the good achievement of the Lao PDR abroad, to follow up to collect, summarize, analyze the news from abroad relevant to Lao PDR and taking measures where necessary to correct foreign news stories.

To be spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the dissemination of news related to the Foreign Country under supervision of the team leader of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, make the notices, Press interview, announcement and dispatch the documents, other information material related to the policy line and the achievements of Lao PDR to the embassy, the office of representative and the Lao consulate abroad.

To manage the press agency, culture center and foreign reporters posted in Lao PDR.

To supervise the news dissemination of the various news of the Lao embassy abroad and of the foreign embassies in Lao PDR.

To collaborate with relevant branches for making the propaganda of the Lao culture abroad and manage the propaganda of foreign countries in Lao PDR.

8. Law and Treaties Department

To be the headquarters in the field of domestic law and international law to the various organization units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To give legal advice to any State organs, making research and recommendations related to the access to the multilateral and bilateral agreements that will be beneficial for short and long term to Lao PDR.

To follow up implementation of various agreements between Lao PDR, with foreign countries and make amendments to agreement proposals that may be directly and indirectly harmful to the interests of the Lao PDR; to make proposals for amendments to treaties that are inconsistent with the Government policy line.

To make preparations for the negotiation for signature, rectification of treaties and agreements on the boundary of the Lao PDR, with neighboring countries, to follow up on the implementation of the treaties that have been already signed.

To be the document center of the original copy of the contract, Lao Government treaty and also to manage, safeguard historical documents relating to the boundary, boundary map and other legal documents in place during negotiations with the foreign country.

9. International organization Department: has the responsibility for central liaison between the government and other organizations of the Lao PDR with UN organization, other international organizations, including the State organization and non government organizations, for the political interests and to share the assistance and the cultural economic cooperation and others in accordance with the foreign policy of Lao PDR.

Making the research and recommendations regarding the possibility of extension of relations with international organizations in accordance with the Party and State general policy line, to make the conclusions, summary and report to the Ministry team leader permanently regarding the situation, problem and tendency of expansion of the international organizations including the group of political, economic, army organizations and others.

10. The Secretariat of National Mekong Committee, has the following duties:

Being the Center of Coordination of the different concerned parties in connection with the development of lower Mekong basin, in view to seek aid assistance from international organization, which are to be integrated into the socio-economic development; furthermore to follow, control, and to supervise the appropriate utilization of the cited funds into designated efficient targets of each projects. In conjunction with the above, to make regular evaluation reports on the outcome of the execution of each project, coupled with its own activities, to superiors.

11. In addition two other organizations are attached to the Ministry:
1. Office of diplomatic services
2. Institute of Foreign Affairs

1. To concretize the State policy and Government policy into law, rules and regulations.
2. Conduct research and make recommendations to the Government regarding the establishment, improvement and expansion of the Lao PDR legal system.
3. Conduct research on the law prescribed by the Government, make recommendations to the Ministry and others organizations relating to plan, methods of making laws to participate in making laws required by other ministries.
4. To disseminate and explain the law, to make recommendations to various ministries, organs and others organizations regarding the plan, method of disseminating the law to the population in order that all concerned are conscientious about the law and respect the law.
5. Make the collection of all laws in force and prepare the official gazette on a regular basis.
6. Manage the service of Justice, people's courts in the regions, the notaries, the high level law school, the counsel board and other organizations of Justice attached to the Ministry.
7. Coordinate with Supreme people's court, people's general prosecutor and Ministry of security in order to establish Justice statistics with regard to civil cases, criminal cases, accused persons, convicted individuals and other criminal statistics. To organize, supervise and control the activity of staff who make the court decisions, to summarize the performance of the regional courts, the notaries and the counsel board in order or improve the organization and the operation of the said organizations.
8. To train the personnel who safeguard the law in order to assign them to the service of justice in the centre and the regions.
9. To manage, post and deploy the personnel under the Ministry's jurisdiction both at the centre and in the regions.
10. To prepare, manage and execute the budget and manage various assets of its branch activity.
11. To set up the application forms and make recommendations regarding the nationality of individuals to the Government in order to submit to the Permanent Committee of the National Assembly.
12. To maintain contact with other countries regarding the law and justice.

1. Minister's office: is responsible for carrying out the administrative matters, summarizing, planning and finance, managing the assets, materials equipment, vehicles, infrastructure, building protocol and foreign relations.
2. Organization and personnel Department: is responsible for the design of the organization, the political conception process, the research, the division of tasks and activities of the Ministry and justice organizations in the regions, the management and application of personnel policy of the Ministry.
3. Law Department: is responsible for carrying out legal research activity, building, managing, improving explaining the law, and analyzing the effectiveness of the law, developing the legal system, research on preparing draft laws, participate in the drafting of laws and making recommendations on draft laws; to design the application form and make recommendations relating to Lao nationality issues, conduct research concerning international relations in the field of law and justice.
4. Legal dissemination and Publicity Department: Creates understanding of the law, learning, training disseminating the law, to make a collection of various laws that are principles, to establish the system and technique of legal education, dissemination of law, publish the justice law book, publish a law magazine, official gazette and mange the library.
5. Justice system management Department: establishes and improves the management of the regional people's court, justice services in the provinces, prefectures, offices of the notaries, board of counsel and other justice organizations attached to the Ministry of Justice; establishes and manages the system of registration of legal verdicts; establish, improve and develop the system of court statistics and financial control relating to court fees and court decision performance.

1. Being statistical database collecting center on socio-economy.
2. Undertaking research on regulatory rules, and various procedures concerning planning, statistical elaboration, international cooperation, foreign investment, then disseminate them to different sectors and regions in view to organize synchronized execution all over the country.
3. Control and inspection on follow up activities of different sectors and regions in the execution of there above mentioned duties.
4. Improving the structure of offices, and staff within its own responsibility.
5. Supervising activities of experts, technicians, and foreign businessmen on projects.

1. The main duties of the Minister's Office are as follows:

Responsible for the evaluation of different department's activities, reporting meeting of the Committee, following up control for the execution of orders to government; safeguarding rules and orders of the office, administrative work, protocol, transportation's supervision, and on various properties, concurrently, the Minister's Office is also responsible for the accounting and finances, as well as for the procurement of office materials for the commune uses of the Committee.

Responsible for organizational works, personnel, carrying out political activity's concept, undertaking research on regulatory measures for the structure, and attribution of work's duties, personnel supervision policies.

2. The plan Department has the following duties:

Undertake strategic planning research for socio-economic development for the country and for annual and long-term plans of 5 years. Orienting planning research on macro economy such as: financial situation of currency, capital sources, human and natural resources. Research on policies, laws, and restrictive rules of economy, which have effects on socio-economic development.

3. The Public Investment Project Supervision Department, has the following duties:

Undertaking research on project planning, and analyzing different projects submitted by regional services, classifying project priority by referring to the reality of capital sources capacity, materials, and labor forces. Making follow up analysis, and project's proficiency evaluation. In coordination with Central Bank, make follow up, control, and supervision on government's credit program of expenditures in support of productive activities.

4. The National Statistical Center has the following duties:

1. elaborating draft laws, policies and regulations on national finance principles in order to submit them to the Government for approval, or through the Government to the National Assembly for adoption, and promulgation. To advise, to oversee and stimulate the implementation of these laws, policies and principles, as in force.
2. undertake studies for establishing a long term financial plan, the annual financial plan and the State's annual budget which tally with the socio-economic development plan in each period, to be submitted to the government. To advise, stimulate and oversee the implementation of these financial plan and budget. To draw conclusions and lessons, and report regularly to the Government on the implementation status.
3. coordinate studies with concerned sectors, confer about different issues related to the management of the finances of the nation such as the socio-economic development plan, the general balance in the plan, the price, remuneration, credit, and currency policies, the cooperation with foreign countries, foreign investment, export-import, debt repayment and other issues in order to secure the unified and effective management of the finances of the nation.
4. organize the Budget revenue collection and do the payment into the State budget pursuant to the laws, regulations and principles in force.
5. Organize the implementation to the budgeted public expenses in compliance with the Budget Plan approved by the Government, and adopted by the National Assembly.
6. Coordinate with the Bank of Lao PDR on organizing the control of the currencies in circulation, issued for budgetary balance purposes, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for submitting a proposal to the Government for approval. To give its opinion on credit planning, organize and directly manage the National Treasury, the various State reserves (including gold, platinum, precious metals and materials, foreign currencies..) and all finance activities in the fields of insurance, lottery for the development, and other finance activities authorized by the government.

1. Minister's office: is the central administrative and managing body, direct staff of the Ministry. It is the direct administrative staff to the Minister to centralize the overall information situation in the finance sector. It supervises and oversees the execution of the Ministry's working plan; centralizes the studies achieved and stimulates the implementation of laws, systems and regulations in finance.
2. Organization Department: is the administrative staff to the Minister in the management and administration of allowances to the civil servants of the Ministry within the country. It is the direct assistant of the Ministry's Party Committee in the work concerning the Party, the Mass organizations and the training of the civil servants of the finance sector.
3. Budget Department: coordinates with the Committee for Planning and Cooperation in establishing the balance plan of revenue of the State, on the basic of centralization and synthesis of the sectarian budget plans established by the sectors the branches and local authorities at different levels, in order to submit it to the Government. Supervises the Budget executive, by the sectors and local authorities at different levels and different localities, as approved by the National Assembly.
4. Finance Inspectorate Department: Oversees the Budget expenditure of the various Ministries, sectors and local authorities in the execution of the Budget approved by the National Assembly. At the same time it oversees the public expenses authorized by the National Treasury, the performances of the different sectors in charge of tax, custom and revenue to the State Budget, oversees the financial system of the State owned enterprises and enterprises in which the State holds shares.
5. Accounting Department: Studies public accounting standards, the laws and regulations concerning enterprises accounting, for submission to the approval of the Minister of Finance or the Government, and organizes their implementation. It oversees the execution of regulations.
6. State property Management Department: Studies and implements the regulations and principles on the management of land, buildings, vehicles, equipment and other which are directly owned by the State and of the nation's natural resources. It has also the duty to manage the State's portfolio in State owned enterprises, and of share the state holds in enterprises; registers domestic of foreign enterprises (established) in Lao PDR; manages all insurance, lottery for the development and other financial activities as authorized by the Government.
7. National Treasury Department: Manages the funds of the State budget, centralizes all revenue sources of the State, pays public expenses to the Ministries, sectors, local authorities and others bodies pursuant to the laws and regulations and other duties as prescribed in decree No. 18/PM, of the Prime Minister, dated February 17, 1993 on the establishment of the National Treasury.
8. Foreign Currencies Affairs Department: Is in cooperation relations, prepares draft agreements and negotiates loans and grants with foreign countries and international financial institutions in accordance with the Government programme. Manages the foreign currency funds and reserve of the Government (including gold, platinum, precious metals and materials), as well as repayment of debts to foreign countries pursuant to the agreements signed by the government.
9. Custom Department: Studies and elaborates draft laws, provisions and regulations on the custom State policy, organizes the collection of import-export taxes all over the country in accordance with the custom policy in force.
10. Tax Department: Studies and elaborates draft laws, provisions and regulations concerning the fiscal revenues and deposit them into the budget pursuant to the Government's fiscal policy.
11. Cadastre and Housing Department: Elaborates regulations and principles concerning the management of land and houses, organize the implementation of management of land and housing in accordance with the laws and regulations in force, organizes as well the collection of the land taxes and other land and housing.

1. Study strategic policies, policy and legal framework, and regulations on management and sector development under its direction based on general directives and policy framework of the Party Central Committee and the Government such as:

1. Shift from a subsistence and semi-subsistence economy to a market economy;
2. Ensure that sufficient cereals and foods are based on general agriculture-forestry and water resource development;
3. Restrain and stop shifting cultivation; study and establish opportunities for the settlement of farmers;
4. Gradually establish rational agriculture-forestry-industry organizational structures;
5. Conduct national surveys for classifying economic zone in order to adjust agriculture-forestry areas to meet the potential of each area, region and ethnicity;
6. Utilize advanced science and technology to support and expand production in its sector development and in each region;
7. Organize the rational and lawful assignment of agriculture and forest lands to farmers, and also to foreign and domestic investors;
8. Promote the expansion of commercial credit to rural areas based on the farmer's family as a production unit;
9. Increase trading cooperatives and farmers' associations in replacement of previous forms of cooperatives;
10. Employ domestic, foreign and international funding sources for priority investment in agriculture, forestry and water resource development.

1. Formulate and implement agriculture, forestry and water resource development programs and projects as approved by the Government and the National Assembly.
2. Train and educate the technical staffs in agriculture, forestry and water resource management as an integrated system of training. Transform such personnel in to genuine and skilled staff firmly knowing the policy framework, on how to mobilize and organize the people for production.
3. Mobilize the pleura-ethnical people to develop their awareness of mastership and democracy for active contribution in solving the famine situation, progressing to a market oriented economy within their families and communities. Establish conditions for the people to be enthusiastic and active in the process of production, development and protection of the environment simultaneously both in the fields of agriculture and forestry.

Major duties of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

1. Implement strategies, programs, and policies as outlined by the Party Central Committee and the Government into programs and projects, detailing provisions of the laws, governing the managing of agriculture, forestry and water resources. Organize, control and assess the strict implementation of such programs, projects, provisions and laws and identify their positive impacts for promotion and development, and their negative aspects for timely adjustment.
2. Establish a network, agriculture, forestry and water resource statistical data and information centers, including hydro-meteorological data at the national level, which assists in the formulation of effective and efficient directives, policy framework, programmes, and projects. Collect and evaluate such statistical data and information in order to report changing situations in each sector to the leading bodies on a regular basis, and simultaneously informing and notifying on a timely basis concerned agencies as well as the people.
3. Coordinate with concerned ministries, organizations and localities to survey the socio-economic situation and natural potential for the classification of agricultural and forestry lands. Determine sites for irrigation or small-scale hydropower construction, natural conservation and protection of wild life species, and water lines for conservation. Establish environmental protection, infrastructure planning for technical and material construction up to the classification of integrated rural development areas.
4. Establish a national network of research institutions throughout the country for the research, promotion, and extension of domestic and foreign scientific and technological progress directed toward the grassroots to support the development of production, including processing and the quality commercial products for domestic consumption and for export.
5. Support and establish favorable conditions for central and local institutions under the management of the vertical line, including the technical grassroots and business units, to achieve their tasks.
6. Monitor and inspect the institutions mentioned in 2.5 above, in terms of their work productivity, strengths and weaknesses in management of the budget, control of common materials and vehicles, labors use and others issues based on the laws, provisions, regulations and technical-economic standards as laid down by the government.
7. Train, educate, appoint, manage and ensure personnel benefits according to the personnel policy outlined by the government, namely the policy of staff selection, active staff awards and promotion policy, a judicious and just staff transfer policy, vacation and medical leave policy, and retirement policy, etc.
8. Study and promulgate the working system of the Ministry, the internal management rules within the national agriculture and forestry apparatus, including the organizational structure, from the center to the locality at the organizational structure, from the center to the locality at the organizational structure, from the center to the locality at the vertical line, and control the number of permanent staffs (excluding engaged staff by contract and daily wage workers) for the national agriculture and forestry apparatus.
9. Cooperate with foreign countries and international organizations for the acquisition of assistance and cooperation of support agricultural, forestry and water resource development projects based on the general principles and regulations as laid out by the Government.

1. Minister's office
2. Organization and Personnel Training Department
3. Agriculture and Extension Department
4. Livestock and Veterinary department
5. Irrigation and Small sized Hydropower Department
6. Hydro-Meteorology Department
7. Forestry Department

The size and organizational structure of the Cabinet, Departments and local agriculture and forestry services are considered by the Ministry as appropriate to ensure the implementation of all-strategic policies, guidelines, and duties assigned by the Party Central Committee and the Government.

The Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction is a central State Management organization equivalent to others ministries in the Government machinery. It has the role of headquarters for the Party's Central Committee and the Government in the field of planning, organizing and managing the communication, transport, post and construction activity in the whole country.

The Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction has the following duties:

1. Concretize and streamline the Party and State policies relating to Communication, Transport, Post and Construction into laws, rules and regulations to be used for managing its activity.
2. Conduct research on the strategy and planning for developing the Communication, Transport, Post and Construction activity for the whole country.
3. Seek internal and external sources of funds in order to improve and expand the Communication, Transport, Post and Construction activity and to develop them in accordance with the government plan.
4. Manage and control the budget throughout the Ministry in the whole country.
5. Make the inspection and control of the operation of the various technical units and bases of the business production inside its branch activity in accordance with the rules, regulations, laws, standards and economic technical terms that are imposed by the State.
6. Manage the Communication, Transport, Post and Construction to make the registration of various materials, vehicle, and machinery inside its branch for the whole country.
7. Manage the training program for the ministry personnel.
8. Manage various schools and institutes of the ministry.

The main functions of the management, administration and technical departments are as follows:

1. Minister's office: is the central administration organ of the Ministry responsible for making the summary of economic, financial, plan and liaison with foreign countries for the Minister.
2. Organization Department: has the duty to mange, train and deploy personnel under the responsibility of the Ministry, to apply the personnel policies to personnel and to retired personnel, responsible for personnel training and direct grass roots organization activity.
3. Communication Department: has the duty for management, improvement and expansion of the communication net work by surface and by sea to set up the short, middle, and long term strategy, planning, make the research on the regulation, technical standards, and various terms and conditions in order to assure traffic security over the entire road network of the country.
4. The Transport Department: has the main duty to manage, improve, and expand the system of transport by surface and by sea, to set up the transport strategy plan for short, middle, and long terms, make the research on the regulations, technical standards, and various terms, make the inventory, the registrations and deliver the driver license for the transport equipment by surface and by sea in the whole country.
5. Posts and Telecommunications Department: has the main duty to manage improve, and expand the post, telecommunication network, set up the strategy plan for short, middle and long term, make the research on the laws, rules, regulations and various technical standards, to manage the radio, waves for communication, broadcasting, television channels in the whole country.
6. Housing and Urban cadastral plan Department: has the main duty to manage, improve, and expand the housing and urban cadastral plan activity, to set up the strategy plan for short, middle and long term make the research on the regulations, rules, technical standards and fix the terms, to promote Lao architecture in the construction work for housing and urban cadastral plan in the whole country.

The Ministry of Industry-Handicraft is a central state management institution in the Government organization. It acts as chief of Staff for the Party's central Committee and the Government in laying the plans, the implementation and the supervision of the sectors concerning the industry and handicraft works of the country.

1. To execute the policies plans of the Party and the Government related to activities in the industrial and handicraft sectors; to develop detailed plans and projects and to administer laws and regulation relating to the development of the industrial and handicraft sector.
2. To organize the collection of and to develop statistics database for industry and handicraft activities order to assist the development of plans, projects, policies and regulations.
3. To provide broad general management at the Central level and at the local level which is composed of the technical units and business producing units of the industry-handicraft of sector to ensure their success within the law.
4. To follow up and control all organization's activities which are mentioned above in paragraphs 2 & 3 concerning the implementation of directives, policies and plans of the Party; the policies and laws which were promulgated by state; the implementation of project plan and the budgets pursuant to the duties and rights which are prescribed in the laws and regulations of the sectors.
5. To develop and promulgate the working procedures of the Ministry, the system of management and administration and also the system of personnel administration and also the supervision of its officials.
6. To coordinate with the concerned Ministries, the organizations and localities. To take necessary measures, and establish policies for promoting the production of consumer goods, and export goods and for protecting domestic, production and handicrafts.
7. To improve and train the civil servants (in policies, economics and the specialties and technologies of the Ministry) to enable them to respond to the needs of the sector at all levels, concerning the promotion of consumer and export products and the protection of the domestic economy. To recruit, appoint, supervise, to protect them and also ensure they receive social security benefits due then in accordance with government policy and regulation.
8. To coordinate with foreign countries and different International Organizations in seeking the assistance and the cooperation on industrial-handicraft development in accordance with the principles which the government has prescribed.

The Ministry's machinery of Industry-Handicraft is as follows:

1. The Minister's Office has the following basic duties:

1. To be chief of staff for Minister in the implementation of the role, the duties and rights of the Ministry of Industry and handicraft;
2. To be centre of domestic and foreign information on industry and handicrafts, to establish a statistical database; to prepare the plans, budgets, finances of the sectors; to summarize the progress of projects and the activities of the sectors for the Minister, and also to notify and follow up the execution of the directives of Minister; to assist the Minister in the supervision, execution and elaboration of the tasks of the Ministry;
3. To manage and supervise the properties, the budget and finances which are the responsibility, of the Ministry including the control and inspection of the mentioned works.

2. The Organization Department has the following basic duties:

1. Being chief of staff for Minister in planning and executing the work plans of the ministry; the management control and inspection; publicity, training, activities of the Party and of the mass organizations; the organization; personnel policy, administration, security and instructions within the responsibilities of the Ministry.

3. Department of Industry - Handicraft has the basic duties as follows:

1. Being chief of staff for the Minister in laying down the policies, planning, in formulating rules regulations and legislation to supervise and promote the old and new factories and manufactures;
2. Undertaking research and studying the documents concerning the request for the establishment, the activity, the renewal of authorization for factories and manufacturing enterprises including the industrial-handicraft consultants;
3. Supervising, implementing, and inspecting to ensure conformity with the provisions, regulations and the laws of the industrial-handicraft sectors;
4. Promoting the production of consumer products and export products to broaden the market to the extent possible.

4. Department of Geology - Mines has the following basic duties:

1. Being chief of staff for Minister in laying the policies and plans, and establishing rules, regulations and laws in order to supervise and promote research, exploration, extraction and refining of different mineral resources including crude oil, gas and the under-ground water of the country;
2. To explore, and collect geological and mining field data for archival purpose.
3. To make research and study the contracts documents, the documents of establishment requests, the activities, the prolongation of authorizations on geological and mining works including geological and mining consultant.
4. To study, organize, control and inspect contracts and agreements between companies to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations of the industrial-handicraft sectors.

5. Department of Electricity has the following basic duties:

1. To act as chief of staff of the Minister in determining policies plans, laws and regulations for directing and promoting the production and distribution of electricity and for establishing standards and technologies for electric services.
2. Collect data and undertake studies to evaluate the electrical energy productive capacity of the country.
3. Review and evaluate consultant project proposals for the development of electrical energy.
4. Review and inspect contracts and agreements for electrical energy development to ensure that they are in conformity with the law and regulation.

6. The Organization of Industry-handicraft at regional level:

1. Where warranted the Minister of Industry and Handicraft may establish agencies or organizations in the various regions for carrying out the supervision and promotion of the industry and handicraft works in the concerned regions.

The Ministry of Commerce is on e of the Central State supervisory organizations in the governmental machinery structure. Its role is to be chief of staff for the Party's Central Committee and the Government in the research and laying a plan on the implementation and the supervision of Commercial activities through out the country.

The Ministry of Commerce has the main duties as follows:

1. Executing of the Party and the government policies and plans. Develops regulations and laws for its sectors.
2. Undertaking strategic research and making plans for commercial development throughout the country.
3. Studying, undertaking researches on internal marketing and also in the foreign countries in order to assist domestic producers.
4. Undertaking research and to develop and implement measures in order to protect the interest of consumers.
5. Promoting and stimulating the production of goods in order to respond to the needs of internal markets and also for the export. Making research and laying the promotion policy on the production of export goods ensure they meet the quality standards of the market place.
6. Collecting, following up and reporting periodically to the government on the condition of and providing solutions to the problems of internal and external commerce.
7. Coordinating with the other sectors in order to exchange ideas concerning the commercial sector.
8. Promoting the use scientific techniques and modern and efficient methods in commerce and giving creative direction to the activities undertaken in commercial associations as well as the totality of the commercial sector.
9. Supervising and managing all activities of the Ministry in the economic sector, in planning, budgeting and in transport, building and properties acquired by the state.
10. Supervising, training and supporting the officials of its sectors.
11. Supervising the different schools and institution of its sectors.

1. Promoting the exports and giving advice on import matters
2. Advertising of Lao merchandises in the foreign countries.
3. Coordinating with the different sectors concerning the production of products destined for export.
4. Establishing the commercial plan and analyzing the export market.
5. Studying, proposing the way for solving commercial obstacles and taking measures for the export promotion.
6. Circulating throughout the government and the private sector, studies, information on marketing and foreign trade in order to build up the value of foreign trade.
7. Collecting and servicing the commercial database to the producers, the exporters and importers.
8. Cooperating with the concerned working units in the improvement and of quality, model of goods as the needs of the foreign markets.

1. Registration Enterprise Department has the following tasks:

1. To study, analyze and establish policies orientations plans, regulations and principles relating to the organization and the management of the regulation of Enterprise.
2. To coordinate the activities of the service in charge of implementing these rules and regulations.
3. To up date the information related to the activities of the various business units and to follow up and control the implementation of the rules and laws related to the sections.

1. Trade Service of the province and municipality:

1. The Minister determines the organizational structure for the provincial and municipal commercial service in accordance with the special needs of each region provincial commercial service to be representatives of the Ministry at the province or municipality.
2. The Minister appoints and transfers the officials with the rank of Chief or Deputy-Chief of commercial division at the province or municipality.
3. The Commercial service of the province and municipality is directly subordinated to the Ministry of Commerce on technical matters, the budget, organization, and the execution of orders, systems and regulation that are issued directly by the Ministry. It also undertaken studies and researches on commercial activities. It directs, controls and monitors the implementation of the commercial policy plans issued by the Ministry and senior provincial authorities.

1. Lao Commercial Representative in foreign countries:

1. The commercial representative of Lao PDR in foreign countries ensures the implementation of Lao commercial policy and in the responsible for commercial relations with the host country. The office of Lao commercial representative is subordinate to the Ministry of Commerce on the technical matters and budget, whereas the political activity is under the Embassy of Lao PDR in that country.
2. Besides the responsibilities system mentioned above, the Ministry of Commerce also supervises and directs other activities of the Ministry such as: the school of commerce, Chamber of Commerce, the companies and others who work in the commercial sector.
3. The roles, rights, duties and the programmes of Ministry's Cabinet, Department, Commercial Service of the province or municipality and the office of commercial representative in the foreign country will be detailed in separate documents.

The Bank of the Lao PDR is a perpetual legal entity; an organization equivalent to a Ministry performing the task of state management within the machinery of the government and has the role of a Central bank of the Laos PDR.

The duties of the Bank of the Lao PDR are as follows:

1. To safeguard the stability of the nation's monetary economic system, to implement various measures in a flexible and creative manner in order to stabilize national currency (Kip); to maintain the assets and valuable property of the Nation consigned to it by the Government.
2. To create and foster conditionals conductive to balanced and sustained socio-economic growth by mobilizing finds from internal and external sources on a broad scale, by granting loans to develop systematically and proportionally production and business in conformance with the directives and policies of the Party and the Government.
3. To print (issue) bank notes and to withdraw notes from circulation or to destroy such notes (including coins, commemorative coins and coins for collection) according to a fixed schedule or a specific decision by the Government based on a recommendation from the Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR.
4. To ensure a sufficient supply of kips bank notes and for the payment requirements of the country's socio-economic situation, thus contributing to the stability and development of the national economy as well as its balanced grants.
5. To manage and protect the nation's foreign currency reserves through flexible coordination of the 3 principles and to guarantee that of good safekeeping, while as effective use of reserves when necessary.
6. To supervise the financial and monetary institutions, monitoring credit grant, organizing the clearing house system, and managing and providing guidance, on the management of foreign exchange and precious metals, to the commercial banks and other institutions on organizations concerned, as well as the people throughout the country.
7. To organize and promote professional education and training for bank staff of all levels in order to meet the requirements of the whole banking system, encouraging the introduction of new technology and innovation in the financial and banking sector to the country.
8. The scope of operation of the Bank of the Lao PDR extends throughout the country and may include activities and relations with foreign countries in its own field on the Government's representative in conformance with specific assignments and as stipulated by law.

The management and activities organization of the Bank of the Lao PDR consists of the following basic structure:

1. The head office, Bank of the Lao PDR branches
2. +The Boards of Directors
3. +The Bank of the Lao PDR executive management

The Principal rights and duties of the Board of the Bank of the Lao PDR:

1. The Board of the Bank is the organ of supreme responsibility in the organizational structure of the Bank of the Lao PDR. It acts and decides on banking matters by a majority vote of the members of the Board. It acts in accordance with Articles 6,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15 and 16 of the Law No. 04/SPA concerning the Establishment of the Bank of Lao PDR.
2. The Principal duties of the Board are as follows to:

1. Formulate national monetary and credit policy conformance with Party and Government policy at all time.
2. Draft laws and adopt regulations governing and overseeing the organization and functioning of the whole banking system and other financial institutions which are under the Board's authority pursuant to the law.
3. Adopt the regulations, principles and policies submitted by the management of the Bank of Lao PDR consideration by Board meetings.
4. Adopt the annual report, balance sheet, and profit-and-loss statement, consider and adopt the annual budget of the Bank of the Lao PDR.
5. Confirm the appointment of Department heads or staff of equivalent rank and the directors of state commercial banks; confirm the appointment of auditors and accounting expert's external to the Bank of the Lao PDR, who will be engaged in bank auditing.

3. The Board of the Bank operates in accordance with its own by-laws (Standing orders) as authorized by the Prime Minister.

The Executive Committee of the Bank of the Lao PDR:

1. The Executive Committee of the Bank of the Lao PDR is comprised of the governor, who is a member of the government, and the Deputy Governor. They direct and supervise the operations of the Bank and are directly responsible to the Board of the "Bank and to the government.
2. The appointment and principal rights and duties of the Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR are stipulated in Articles 10,11,12,13,14,15, and 16 of the above mentioned Law on the establishment of the Bank of the Lao PDR. In the head office of the Bank of the Lao PDR are Departments with the following responsibilities:

1. Administration Department:

Is responsible for administrative and secretarial duties, documentation, and preparation of general reports, and public relations and information matters for the Bank of the Lao PDR, reviews the regulations or the Bank established by the various Departments. Is responsible for protocol matters and liaison work with foreign experts and other guests come to work with the Bank of the Lao PDR. Prepares and consolidates financial plans, manages assets, improves the physical and psychological wellbeing of the staff and oversees the operations of the nurseries and daycare centers. Maintains order and security on Bank premises.

2. Organization and Personnel Department:

Assists the Party Committee of the Bank of the Lao PDR in the task of building and consolidating the Party. Handles political and ideological work within the Bank, as well as maters of personnel and mass organizations.

Studies the organization, structure, role and division of responsibilities among the various Department and performs organizational tasks, such recruitment, selection, assignment, appointment, and transfer of personnel in accordance with the decisions of the Executive Committee of the Banks. Formulates general plans on human resources development needs, is in charge of ideological work among the staff. Studies and implements personnel policies such as, education and training congratulations (recognition of merits), promotion, and training welfare policies.

3. Economic Research Department:

Gathers, consolidates, and maintains statistical data for research use. Prints and disseminates Bank's data and information. Conducts research on the world economics. Acts as liaison with international economic and financial institutions concerned, as directed by the Board of Governors. Conducts research in the country's domestic economy prepares reports on the economic situation.

4. International Department:

Studies and drafts policies, decrees, regulations, and detailed documents concerning the implementation of foreign exchange management. Monitors and surveys foreign exchange activities throughout the country. Studies policies, standing orders, guidelines, and detailed documents to manage the foreign currency reserves. Handles placement of funds on the international market, foreign currency transactions with domestic commercial banks. Handles foreign currency transactions for the Government and coordinates with the Ministry of Finance to monitor foreign aid and Government loans from foreign countries and international financial organizations.

5. Credit Department:

Studies policies and regulations concerning credit such as: loans procedures, lending interest rates, all categories of deposits. Formulates macro-economic plans concerning sources of funds, summarizes and reports on the credit situation of the country. Manages and implements credit projects assigned to the Bank by the Government. Administers, supervises, and accelerates the recovery of debts which have reached or passed maturity for commercial banks and directly for clients.

6. Accounting Department:

Studies procedures and techniques for bank accounting, issues form and documents for nation wide uniformity in bank accounting. Organizes disseminates, and advises on new modifications in accounting techniques. Summarizes operations and prepares balance sheets and financial statements for banks throughout the country.

7. Currency Department:

Studies rules and principles regulation the issuing of currency, establishes a plan for a balance of bank notes in circulation. Withdraws money from circulation, prints bank notes and negotiable instruments and mints coins. Studies rules and principles concerning the treasury and monitors commercial activities of precious metals. Formulates macroeconomic plans for cash flow and prepares periodic summary reports of its work. Maintains the security of the Treasury.

8. Banking operations Department:

Organizes customer service by deposits to and withdrawals from accounts. Issues and purchases stock. Provides credit with interest. Prepares daily, monthly, and annual balance sheets for the Department. Sets the mandatory reserve requirements for commercial banks and for the Central Bank itself. Establishes and inter-bank clearing facility and handles overseas banking-related transactions.

9. Supervision Department:

The Ministry of Information and Culture is a state organization at central level in the government mechanism, serves as a staff for the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government in planning and macro management of information and culture affairs across the country. It also serves as an organ of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government in announcing and presenting to the country and to the world documents on guidelines and policies, laws and regulations, Party - Government positions on domestic events.

The Ministry of Information and Culture has the following duties:

1. To study and put the Party's guidelines and policies and Government regulations and laws into plans, programmes and projects for its operation.
2. To set up a network to collect data and statistics on information and culture for research and planning of projects, formulation and modification of laws on information and culture.
3. To Coordinate with services at central and local levels, to discuss with them in order to draw lessons from information and culture activities, and to develop and expand their operation.
4. To study and analyze cultural and work in various fields aiming to tap, expand and preserve fine culture of Lao people and of ethnic minorities so that it will be the colourful culture of Lao nation, and to analyze, select and use human being's cultural quintessence.
5. To monitor, supervise, advise, stimulate and facilitate operations of all services under control both at central and local levels.
6. To study, formulate and enforce working methods of the ministry as well as its institutional regulations on information and culture service and on its vertical structure in the whole country, and determine the number of personnel needed to operate the ministry.
7. To establish the news network of domestic and overseas offices.
8. To prepare and manage the budget and other properties under authority of information and culture in the country.
9. To develop and maintain relations with different countries and international organizations with respect to information and cultural affairs.
10. To plan the training and upgrading of personnel working in the field of information and culture across the country.
11. To study and formulate personnel policies for those engaged in the field of information and culture, and submit them to higher authorities for consideration.

The Ministry of Information and Culture has the following organization structure:

1. Minister's office:

1. making records, plans of cooperation, investments in information and cultural affairs.
2. handling macro management of foreign relations in information and culture affairs.
3. controlling budgetary and financial affairs of the sector across the country.
4. handling the management of administration; in and out documents, filing systems, typing and photocopying services, public relations, protocol, vehicle management, cleaning, security and orderly services, and supervising the cabinet work in various units within the ministry and at local levels.

1. Organization and Personnel Training Department:

1. to coordinate with all services at central and local levels, to study possibilities of improvement and renovation of the organization including formulating and modifying roles and regulations on operations at ministerial and local levels.
2. to undertake research and training of personnel at the central and local administrative levels and consolidate training plans for all specialized jobs.
3. to study and formulate specific policies, decrees, and regulations towards personnel and people working in the field of information culture, and to monitor the observation of the existing policies towards personnel.
4. to play a role in ideological and political education in the sector.
5. to work for the Party building, institutional security and ministry inspection.

3. Mass Media Department

1. to study and plan for the improvement and development of information and culture work including newspapers, news agencies, radio and television, orientation, principles, contents, ways and forms of presenting guidelines and policies of the Party, laws and regulations of the Government.
2. to study and plan for the development of film-video service/work in accordance with the renovation policy of the Party and Government.
3. to study and formulate regulations, decrees or laws on mass media and video-film management, and to monitor the observation of the said regulations, decrees or laws.
4. to study and submit for approval requests of setting up news and video-film businesses in the country.

3. Fine Arts Department

1. to study and plan for development of fine arts, including music, stage plays, and fine arts throughout the country, and to monitor and supervise the implementation of plans of the department.
2. to study and formulate regulations, policies and laws on arts activities in the country.
3. to study and submit for approval request of setting up arts associations and businesses, and to censor (arts) cassettes.
4. to plan for training and upgrade of personnel and their placement, and to manage units under control.

3. Publishing and Library Department

1. to study and plan for development and formulation of regulations and laws pertaining to publishing activities, material printing and sign board advertising, and to monitor their implementation.
2. to study and plan for restoration, development and preservation of national library work and its branches in the country.
3. to study and submit for approval requests on publishing and printed materials.

3. Museum and Antiques Department

1. to study and plan for tapping/excavation, restoration, development and preservation of museums, antiques, ancient sites and revolutionary tradition in the country.
2. to study and formulate regulations and laws on management and preservation of museums, antiques, ancient sites, places of revolutionary history and revolutionary tradition.

3. Literature and Mass Culture Department

1. to study and plan for exploration, restoration, promotion and preservation of ancient and contemporary literature of Laos and of quintessential literature of human beings.
2. to study and plan for restoration, promotion and preservation of fine customs, tradition and lifestyle of Lao people of ethnic minorities across the country.
3. to study and plan for promotion and development of cultural clubs in the country.

The main functions of the ministry:

1. Extend the guideline of the party and the policy of the government to prepare planning program and detailed projects, to prepare provisions, regulations and legal for managing the organizations and the movement of labour and social labour welfare, pension, veteran and social security fund management.
2. Set up the statistical network for gathering data on the labour situation and veteran retirements, the relinquished persons that dedicated their life for the nation, the national hero, the handicapped wars, the handicap, the older, the orphans, the poorest children and the person that has other social problems in the whole country.
3. Share the concerned institution for monitoring the natural disaster, it can occur in case such as: flood, drought, storms, fire burned houses and other public emergency for providing the assistance in order to alleviate the problems of these natural victims on time.
4. Coordinate with the concerned institutions at the central and local level in order to establish policies, regulations, legal and articles for the unanimous utilization's to the aims of the tasks that were that were that were mentioned in the provision above 2.3.
5. Set up social welfare management such as retirement center, handicap center, handicapped veteran center therapeutic center, older center, and orphanage, Lao refugee repatriate center and others that concern in social welfare activities.
6. Establish the vocational training for the workers the persons that need the employment, refugee training, civil servants retirement before the official service determination, handicapped, orphans, poorest children and others.
7. Study to establish, manage and heroic monuments conservation and the Revolution cemeteries.
8. Encourage and create the conditions in order to facilitate for the public administration, technical persons and business (if there is) at the central and local level under the management of itself to achieving the task.
9. Study the regulations that concern the labour management, the labour relationship, the labour policy and the human resources development. Lead, inspect and promote the labour employment to legal labour code and regulation provisions concerned the labour management that the government has issued.
10. Encourage, promote, manage and facilitate to the foundation movement and social welfare.
11. Bring up, create, staff, manage and ensure very well the benefits of their civil servants on the management policy of the public employees that the government has issued.
12. Study and issue the procedure of the ministry through to the management into the labour sector mechanism system and social welfare in the whole country including the structural organization from the central to the local on the vertical lines, determine the number of officers for the whole of its mechanism system.
13. External relations and internal organizations in order to get assistance and the cooperation supporting labour and social welfare sectors based on the rules and regulations that the government has issued.

The organization chart of the ministry and local.

The organization char of the ministry of labour and social welfare is as following:

1. Minister's office:

1. Responsible for documentation, typing and external communication, property management of the ministry, security, and social affairs arrangement in the offices and prepares for the meeting, receives and send the guests, vehicle management.
2. Notes the memorandum of the meetings, speech, interview and comments for the various activities to the leaders of the ministry.
3. Study the master plan, analyses, monitoring and evaluation the annual plan for the long, medium and short term of the ministry.
4. Responsible for the overall financing and accounting such as revenue and the expenditure of the administrative budget and infrastructure budget, gathering the fund and material that have been received the grant from international organizations.
5. State assesses registration and procurement and supplies the material factors to the administrative fields and infrastructure fields besides of these. It is responsible for the grant and international cooperation such as the relation for the conventions and sub-conventions and contracts with overseas, encourages, monitors and grant implementations assessment, including the report of income and expenditure of the grant and national contribution.

1. Organization and Training Personnel Department:

1. Coordinate with concerned department within the ministry to study the organizational improvement of the labour and social welfare sectors in the whole country in each appropriate period.
2. Study to upgrade the specialty staff and manage its civil servants of the sectors in the whole country based on the legal and provisions that the government has issued such as: the selecting, staffing and nominating to employment, promote the positions, removes, punishments and congratulations.

1. Labour Department:

1. Study the extendible strategy and labour planning, provisions regulations on the labour management and utilization monitoring labour guidance at the labour institutions of each economic activities such as: working security safety, social securities, salaries, wages, overtime in case of relaxation and others bonuses, study the internal and external labour market for employment promotions, upgrades and encourages for the skill labors, foreign labor management in the Lao PDR.

1. Social Welfare Department

1. Responsible for the grant and resettlement with the sedentary occupations to the ethnic minorities that has been removed in the domesticity, it's not any removal that happened in politic economic cases whether any other.
2. Provide to alleviate for the natural damages victims such as: burning, flood, drought and other disaster.
3. Look after and help the orphans, poor children, handicapped and other low opportunity groups of persons in community including the leper. Help to take care of the repatriate refugees in order to be able to adopt in new situation an environment and have equal normal life as well as the general population.

1. Pension Department

1. Study, guide, inspect the provisions and policies in order to the services for retired staffs.
2. Coordinate with the public functions department that depend on the Prime Minister's office, gather and inspect the actual pension staffs number at the same time, formulate the estimated pension staffs number will be retired in each year.
3. Manage, organize and promote the living conditions in material and spirit for the pension staffs.

1. War veteran Department

1. Coordinate with the concerned department to study the provisions and the policies for ensuring war veterans, veteran handicapped, dedicatory veterans that have been relinquished their life for the nation and revolution.
2. Collect the statistical data and curriculum vitae and their detail life situation in order to carry out the right policy for them.
3. Organize, manage the veteran handicaps center, vocational training center for the handicapped veterans and therapeutic handicapped for veterans and other in the whole country.

1. Study to design the constructions and cemeteries maintenance, hero veteran monuments in the whole country.

1. Social Security Fund Department

1. Plan, manage, utilize the pension funds and social security fund in accordance with the provisions and policies that the government has issued.
2. Mobilize the resources fund in order to gradually improve the social welfare service.
3. Ensure the income and expenditure balances and the losses of this fund in the whole country.
4. Organizational structure of the provincial divisions, municipality and cabinets of the districts is submitted to the ministry to study and consider on the appropriate simple guideline and efficiency.
5. Organizational structure reforms of the Ministry, including the local level, other than that determined in this decree must be considered and issued by the government.

Article: The Ministry of Education "ED", is a body in the administration managed by the State at the central level, in the Government's mechanism, headquarters of the Party's Central (Committee) and the Government in charge of planning, of elaboration education policy and guidance, and leading and supervising the implementation of education throughout the country.

1. To organize the implementation of all resolutions and orders of the Party's Central Committee and the Government.
2. To set guidance, (and) policy line, (and) plan development program, of education.
3. To organize, supervise, manage, control, monitor, stimulate and create conditions to facilitate the performance of duties of local and grass-roots education.
4. To improve the organs of administration and supervise education throughout the country.
5. To administer, train and retrain its staff.
6. To organize the training and retaining of teachers, to manage directly teacher's training schools, vocational schools, universities and other institutes falling within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education.
7. To organize and develop education curricula, and edit model teaching books, (and) disseminate education and pedagogy throughout the country.
8. To define academic positions in the educational system and the educational system and the hierarchy of civil servants in education.
9. To study and submit to the Government proposals on miscellaneous allowances and technical bonuses for the teaching staff.
10. To organize, manage, and control the implementation of the education Budget throughout the country.
11. To organize coordination, and exchange of experience and mobilize internal and external funds from foreign countries, international organizations, and other organizations, for the development of education.
12. In the scope of its responsibilities, develop human resources, good citizens and contributors to the society.

The education system has an administrative organization, and hierarchy management at three (3) levels, as follows:

1. Ministry of Education
2. Education Department of the Province of the Prefecture
3. Education office of the District

In the hierarchy management system, the Ministry of Education and its different Divisions is the highest ranking level, taking precedence over the Education Department of the Province or the Prefecture which, in turn, out-ranks the Educational office of the district. The Institutes and Schools are the grass roots units entrusted with carrying on research, teaching and education.

1. Minister's Office: is the central organ, of the administrative organism of the Ministry, responsible for administration, support services, statistics, planning and relations with foreign countries.
2. The finance Department: is in charge of financial matters, supplies for offices and construction of infrastructures.
3. The Organization and Personnel Department: is in charge of the organization, staff management [executive and civil servant], and activities of the Party and of the mass organizations.
4. General Education (primary and colleges) and Kindergarten Department: is in charge of the tasks related to nurseries, kindergarten, general education schools, and gives guidance on education throughout the country.
5. Non-Former Education Department: (for adults) is in charge of upgrading of knowledge and post-schooling education.
6. The Teacher Education: is in charge of the teacher's training and retraining activities for teachers.
7. Higher Education and Vocational Technical Department: is in charge of training for craftsmen, engineers, and upgrading courses for vocational school teacher.
8. The Physical Education Department: is in charge of physical training and activities in the schools.
9. The General Inspection Committee for Education: is in charge of the task of inspecting education.

The Ministry of Health is one of the bodies of the Government's mechanism, at the central level. It plays a role as an assistant body to the Party's Central Committee and to the Government in the planning the organization, the management, the functioning, and the development of the sanitary actions and the protection of the people's health.

The essential tasks of the Ministry of Health are as follows:

1. To convert the political line of the Party and the Government's guidance into work plans and detailed programs, regulations and laws in order to manage the organization and implementation of the sanitary actions throughout the country.

• To organize, control, report on and appraise the carrying out of the above mentioned work plans, projects, regulations and laws; to follow up closely and analyze both the good results in order to promote them, and the bad ones in order to solve them timely.

1. To establish networks of statistical data and sanitary information including data on the Lao People's health, on the basis of which the policy line, the plans and programs may be precisely and efficiently established; to collect and report data, to do an assessment of the information to both, report regularly to the leaders on the changes in the various activities and tasks of each sector, and to disseminate among and inform timely the different relevant organizations and the people.
2. To coordinate with the Ministries, the [central] and local bodies concerned to make a census of the sanitary conditions, the diseases and health of the people throughout the country, then set priorities in planning and developing sanitary actions.
3. To establish networks of research Institutes throughout the country in order to well serve research, to promote and to disseminate the successes in the field of domestic and international science and technology in the interest of the grass-root's units so as to stimulate sanitary preventive measures, health care, and disabled restoration to develop as much for education, teaching and the medical services as for the management and solving of sanitary problems.
4. To stimulate and create good conditions to meet the needs of the central and local organizations, which are vertically managed [under the authority of the Ministry of Health], including the public or private, medical and pharmaceutical administrative [grass root] units so as they fulfill their tasks according to the regulations and laws.
5. To overlook and control the implementation efficiency of the organizations mentioned in point 2.5 above, their strength and weaknesses in managing the budgets, the equipment, the vehicles shared, the human resources and other this in compliance with the laws, the regulations and economic and technical established by the Government [state].
6. To retrain, train, appoint, protect the rights of the personnel and act in their interests, pursuant to Government's staff management policy, namely the recruitment policy to hire personnel who is qualified and is of good behavior; the policy to congratulate [praise] and promote efficient personnel; the policy of judicious and fair transfer of personnel; the policy on leave; the policy on retirement/pension and other.
7. To examine and fixe the working methods of the Ministry, the regulations of the health administrative machinery throughout the country, including the central organizational structure, from the top to the grass-roots according to the hierarchy; determine the permanent staffing (exclusive of contract and day workers) in the health machinery throughout the country.
8. To establish relations with foreign countries and international organizations, to obtain assistance and cooperation to support the development of the sanitary actions, this keeping in line with the principles and regulations established by the Government.

6. Is the administrative staff of the Minister of Health, its scope of activities, its management and administration of all the activities of the Ministry of Health. It studies, reports on the activities in all areas, manages the archives, is in charge of external relations, welcome national and foreign hosts, implements the staff management of the Ministry in order to improve the living and working conditions, maintain the order and security in the Ministry. It has also to assist the Minister in the statistical tasks, the planing, the finance, the accounting, the finances, the management and centralized control of foreign and domestic assistance; to take care of the construction and maintenance of infrastructure; to manage the housing, salaries and other allowances to the personnel.

1. Department of Organization, Human Resource for Health

1. Is the administrative staff of the Minister and of the Party's Committee of the Ministry in the training of the Party's staff [and of the Ministry of Health]; in the organizational machinery of health; in the training, retaining and education of the personnel; in the management, the posting and implementation of the personnel policy; in the follow up and supervision of the implementation of the staff training plan and of the rules on the management of the schools.

1. Department of Hygiene and Prevention

1. Department of Therapy

1. Department of Health Care

1. Is the administrative staff of the Minister in the management and administration of the functioning, the strengthening and the health protection and of medical treatments, of the health of the cadres under the central management.

1. Foods and Drugs Department

1. Is the administrative staff of the Minister and of the National Commission in charge of the nutritional and drug policy, it is to manage and control the quality of the food and drug production so as to protect the people's health, to establish technical standards to manage food and drugs and medical equipment at all stages, import, export, production, distribution and consumption, balance, throughout the country, the supply plan in drugs and medical equipment.

1. Office of Medical, Technical, Scientific Council

1. The Medical Council is an advisory body to the Ministry of Health, on the science of management of public health, medical and drugs laws, scientific and technical standards in preventive hygiene/medicine, and on physical restoration, work in pharmaceutical, medical equipment and training of the personnel, to submit to the Ministry of Health for approval and uniform implementation throughout country.
2. The members of this Council are experts in organization and management of health, scientists and technicians of health management, experience senior scientists and technicians form various areas.
3. The Office of the Council is the administrative staff of the chairperson of the Scientific and Technical Medical Council, in studying, consultation and planning of scientific research, the management and dissemination of the achievements of scientific research, the construction of the University [of Medical Sciences].