Laos must boost workforce skills towards AEC
Laos must boost workforce skills towards AEC
Laos will face several difficulties in human resource development ahead of the onset of the Asean Economic Community at the end of 2015, especially in the field of skilled labourers, according to a senior commerce official.
However the long term development of human resources must be a priority and it is necessary for both the public and private business sectors to work together as closely as possible.
Almost one year out from inception, Laos has only a short period of time to prepare for AEC integration; however the country will also be faced with a range of opportunities and several challenges as well.
Deputy Secretary General of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) Ms Sengdavone Bangonesengdet told Vientiane Times yesterday that human resource development and management is an area that Laos needs to focus on closely in the year ahead.
“We have to be in readiness for the AEC integration because the demand for skilled labourers will certainly increase as the inflow of foreign companies and investme nt projects will be attractive to human resources,” she said.
She explained that the government sector alone will be unable to manage human resource development but the private business sector will be involved in solving difficult issues.
Representatives from more than 60 companies in Laos were invited to yesterday's seminar entitled ‘Human Resource Management towards the AEC and Power to Success' held at the LNCCI in Vientiane.
“These invited company representatives came to share their experience with us on human resource management of their own companies and they also let us know about their preparations for AEC connectivity,” Ms Sengdavone.
She noted that some larger private companies in Laos seem to be ready for human resource development and management; meanwhile the medium and small s still need to work harder to increase the number of skilled labourers in order to avoid conflicts in terms of domestic labour recruitment.
Direct communication between the public and private sectors will be required as an essential key to further human resource development in different fields where skilled labour is badly needed, Ms Sengdavone added.
With one year remaining ahead of AEC integration both the public and private business sectors really need to enhance their efforts in human resource development as well as other necessary management tasks.
“One year's preparation is not enough for us but we will still keep on developing our human resources after the year 2015,” Ms Sendavone stressed.
A senior economist who asked not be named said recently that Laos will need additional time to deal with human resource development, the improvements to infrastructure and the adjustment of the business laws and other relevant regulations.
“This is an essential method to empower the domestic businesses and entrepreneurs to be ready for business competition with other Asean companies,” he said.
Currently many medium and small enterprises are still dependent on hiring foreign managers from Asean or other continents.
This is a compelling reason why Laos needs to tighten its human resource development in the years to come.
Many key lecturers and motivational speakers from the Ministry of Education and Sports, LNCCI and private companies were given an opportunity to share their experience on human resource management and development at the half daylong seminar yesterday.
