You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

March 30, 2020

Laos Imposes Sweeping COVID-19 Lockdown Measures

Subscribe to Updates

On March 29, 2020, the Prime Minister of Laos issued Order No. 06/PM on the Reinforcement of Measures for the Containment, Prevention, and Full Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This order is by far the most serious announcement in the country since the crisis began, and follows the first official report of COVID-19 cases by the Lao authorities outside the capital, Vientiane. In a bid to limit transmission across the country as much as possible, the Prime Minister’s order imposes strong lockdown measures on businesses and the general public. It also expands the powers of the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control—a special taskforce established on February 3, 2020, to provide appropriate responses and public information to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

All measures below take effect on March 30, 2020, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Residential Lockdown Imposed with Limited Exceptions

All persons are prohibited from leaving their houses or residences, except in necessary circumstances, such as: 

  • Buying food and necessary consumables;
  • Going to hospital; and
  • Carrying out activities expressly authorized to continue operating, such as banks, financial institutions, the stock exchange, listed companies, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, ambulances, post services, telecommunications, electricity, water treatment, collection and treatment of waste, agricultural produce markets, retail shops, supermarkets, and restaurants and beverage shops for the provision of takeaway and delivery services only.

Service providers that are allowed to remain open must practice staff rotation measures and other measures ordered by the taskforce.

Factories (expressly including garment factories, but covering all factories deemed to be “at risk,” which is expected to be interpreted broadly) and entertainment venues must close. Employers of factory employees must provide their employees with a necessary welfare allowance for the duration of the closure. However, factories that are involved in the production of equipment and medical devices can still operate.

Hotels and resorts are permitted to continue services relating to accommodation and restaurants only.

All persons are prohibited from traveling to a location in which infected people have been reported, or places which may be dangerous in this respect. Exemptions may be granted by the local authorities for certain specific reasons.

Government and Civil Service

All civil servants and government employees will stop working at their respective offices from April 1 until April 11, 2020. In practice, this break will be extended up to April 19, to accommodate the Lao New Year (although celebrations will be restricted by the prohibition of gatherings, outlined below). Certain civil servants and employees will be exempted from this, including police officers; firefighters; employees involved in the management of the electricity system, water treatment and distribution, and telecommunications; medical staff; volunteers (a category that is yet to be defined); and civil servants and employees who are mobilized for the prevention of the infection, and to control and treat infected persons.

In addition, the Prime Minister requires that all ministries and administrations, at the central and local level, should organize a minimum service so that important work can continue, and appoint enough staff to do so. All other government staff are to be encouraged to work using remote communication.

The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has not yet issued an official statement on the subject, but from information available to us, we understand that they currently remain open on a staff rotation basis. At this stage, it is not yet clear how the DIP plans to treat any deadlines falling within the lockdown period. We are in regular contact with the DIP, and we will update you accordingly as the situation develops.

Prohibition on Gatherings of More Than 10 People

Gatherings or events at which more than 10 people are assembled are prohibited (including gatherings for traditional events, such as religious events or for the Lao New Year). Exemptions for some events (such as funerals) may be provided, subject to the strict exercise of measures to prevent the spread of the virus (including two meter social distancing, wearing of masks, and hand washing).

Price Control

There is also a general prohibition on increasing prices on essential consumables such as masks, products to wash hands, medicine to treat symptoms, medical devices, rice, food, water, and others. The list is not exhaustive and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by trade inspectors, who are instructed to carry out surveillance and issue punitive measures in collaboration with the police.

Border Closures Except for Transportation of Goods

Borders will remain closed to individuals. Operators who are authorized to continue to operate in transportation of goods can cross borders at the international checkpoints, but they must strictly follow the measures required at the checkpoints. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is empowered to coordinate with relevant agencies to facilitate the return of foreign citizens who wish to return to their home country.

The order is effective from March 30, 2020, until April 19, 2020, subject to any amendments which the government will provide by way of a notification. The order also provides the website address https://covid19.gov.la/ (in Lao language) in order to stay updated on the situation in Laos.

If you have any questions about how these measures may affect your business in Laos, please contact Dino Santaniello, head of our Laos team, at [email protected].

Download Full Article
Related Professionals

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

May 8, 2026
Thailand has liberalized its wine import regime, allowing, for the first time, multiple importers to bring in and distribute the same wine brands. On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Finance issued the Ministerial Regulation on the Importation of Alcoholic Beverages (No. 3) 2026, which waives the requirement to appoint a sole authorized agent for alcoholic beverages to be specified in notifications from the Excise Department. The Excise Department has already issued its first such notification, expressly exempting wine and sparkling wine made from grapes from the sole agent requirement. For all other types of alcoholic beverages (e.g., beer, tequila, spirits) the sole agent requirement remains in force, and applicants for importer licenses must provide evidence of exclusive distributorship issued by the manufacturer or brand owner. The exemption may be extended to other alcoholic beverage categories through future Excise Department notifications. Implications for Competition and Tourism The reform allows multiple importers to bring in and distribute the same wine brand without routing through the brand owner’s designated exclusive importer, reducing monopolization and boosting competition. Excise Department Director-General Pornchai Thirawet noted that wine was chosen as the starting point because implementation is straightforward in this case and because domestic wine prices remain high—with increased competition expected to exert downward pressure on prices. More broadly, the reform is intended to lower market entry barriers, expand supply, and make wine more accessible to Thai consumers, while supporting Thailand’s position as a regional tourism hub. Product Quality Control and Loss of Sole Agent Accountability Under the previous framework, the designated importer bore full responsibility for the proper storage, handling, and distribution of wine and sparkling wine from importation to final sale. This arrangement helped ensure that products were maintained under appropriate conditions, including temperature control, light exposure, and humidity management, to preserve quality
Read More
May 6, 2026
Thailand has introduced new requirements for online social media platforms to verify the identity of paying advertisers before publishing their advertisements. On May 5, 2026, the Electronic Transactions Commission published the Notification on Measures for Prevention of Technology Crime for Online Social Media (No. 2) in the Government Gazette. The notification, which aims to prevent technology crimes such as fraud and scams, takes effect 180 days after publication (i.e., on November 1, 2026). Mandatory Advertiser Identity Verification Online social media service providers must verify the identity of every advertiser before publishing an advertisement. Verification remains valid for up to one year from the most recent verification date. The notification requires social media providers to use either of the following methods when verifying advertisers: Document-based verification: Examine government-issued identity documents (e.g., national ID, passport, or juristic person registration certificate), cross-check the connection between the advertiser and the identity documents (e.g., facial comparison with photo ID), and ensure that the identity documents are verifiable against reliable sources. Digital identity verification: Use an identity verification system with a level of assurance no lower than that prescribed by the Electronic Transactions Commission. Advertiser Data Collection and Retention Service providers must collect and retain certain data—including name, identification number, and contact details—from the start of the advertising service and for a minimum of 90 days after the end of the advertising service relationship. The same requirements apply where there is a third-party payer, such as an ad agency. Implications for Affected Businesses The notification raises two key areas of concern for affected businesses: Social media platforms must implement know-your-advertiser (KYA) onboarding as described above, including document upload and identity matching processes. The 180-day implementation window requires immediate technical and operational planning. The collection and retention of national ID cards, passport copies, and other personal
Read More
April 30, 2026
Thailand’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa regime offers an attractive immigration pathway for qualifying foreign nationals, providing a 10-year renewable permission to stay in Thailand. Following amendments under Board of Investment (BOI) Announcement No. Por. 3/2568 dated February 4, 2025, the regime now more explicitly accommodates property investment as a qualifying vehicle—a development of particular relevance to foreign nationals already considering real estate acquisitions in Thailand. The LTR Visa is available to several categories of applicants, including wealthy global citizens with global assets of at least USD 1 million, and wealthy pensioners aged 50 or older with an annual pension or fixed income of at least USD 40,000. Property as a Qualifying Investment For both categories, property investment is recognized as one of three eligible investment types alongside Thai government bonds (with at least five years remaining to maturity) and direct investments in Thai companies or approved venture capital or private equity vehicles. The minimum qualifying property investment is USD 500,000 for wealthy global citizens and USD 250,000 for wealthy pensioners. Eligible property types include freehold condominiums, buildings, or villas, as well as leasehold properties with a remaining lease term of at least 10 years. Health Coverage Requirement Beyond the investment threshold, applicants must demonstrate adequate health coverage. This requirement can be satisfied through a health insurance policy covering at least USD 50,000 in Thai medical expenses with at least 10 months of remaining coverage, evidence of social security benefits covering Thai medical costs, or a bank deposit of at least USD 100,000 retained for 12 months. Practical Considerations For foreign nationals already considering property acquisitions in prime residential markets—where investment values commonly meet or exceed the USD 500,000 threshold—the visa pathway effectively transforms a real estate purchase into a dual-purpose investment, combining asset ownership with long-term residence rights that
Read More
April 30, 2026
Vietnam’s Decree No. 134/2026/ND‑CP, which took effect on 9 April 2026, plays an important role in detailing and implementing Vietnam’s Intellectual Property (IP) Law in the context of rapid digital transformation and the growing application of artificial intelligence (AI). The new decree provides comprehensive guidance on the application of copyright and related‑rights regulations, addressing key issues such as authorship, ownership, statutory exceptions and limitations, registration procedures, and enforcement mechanisms. Through these measures, Decree 134 seeks to achieve an appropriate balance between safeguarding the legitimate interests of rightsholders and fostering innovation, research, and technological advancement, thereby strengthening the state’s framework for the effective management, protection, and exploitation of intellectual property in the digital and AI‑driven environment. Some notable aspects of Decree 134 are discussed below. Copyright for AI-Created Works Decree 134 provides important guidance on the determination of copyright and related rights in works created with the assistance of AI. Article 5a reaffirms the principle that human creativity remains central to copyright protection, clarifying that copyright or related rights arise only where a human makes a substantial and decisive intellectual contribution, exercises effective control over the creative outcome, and assumes responsibility for the content and its legality. At the same time, the provision confirms that AI is regarded solely as a technological tool rather than a rights‑holding subject, thus ensuring consistency with the fundamental concepts of authorship and ownership under the IP Law. By introducing requirements on transparency, proof of human contribution, and compliance with AI‑specific labelling and technical marking obligations, Decree 134 establishes a clear and enforceable legal framework for the responsible use of AI in creative activities. Lawful Use of Copyrighted Texts and Data Article 37a of Decree 134 sets out the specific conditions under which copyrighted texts and data may be lawfully used for scientific research, experimentation,
Read More