Sevilla, Aura, Loveleen De and Chansathith Chaleunsinh. 2024. Improving Home-Based Workers’ Access to Social Security in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR . WIEGO Policy Brief No. 32.
This qualitative analysis draws on a study of 75 home-based workers in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The study sheds light on the financial and other barriers these workers encounter in accessing social security.
Findings include that there are significant disparities in insurance coverage among the different groups of home-based workers; that limited disposable income, and irregular income, renders monthly premium payments unfeasible for many; and that without formal social protection, home-based workers resort to informal networks and family support as coping mechanisms to mitigate risks associated with illness, death in the family, or business-related challenges.
While there is wide recognition of the importance of health-care benefits among home-based workers, perceptions of these being of poor quality is a deterrent to enrolment in the National Social Security Fund. Lack of information is reported to be another reason for low enrolment levels, for example, focus group discussions revealed that many home-based workers were unaware of the fund’s comparative advantages over private insurance, such as a range of benefits at a reduced cost.