Coronavirus: What Employers Should Know

As the infectious coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) continues to spread rapidly, with more than 100,000 positive cases confirmed by the World Health Organization (“WHO”), employers are facing a major challenge, particularly concerning health and safety risks in the workplace, travel restrictions, sick leave and benefit entitlements, and risk of workplace discrimination. Although there is no confirmed COVID-19 case in the Lao PDR as of this date, many health experts believe that the infection may be spreading undetected in the region, and it is only a matter of time before cases are diagnosed and reported. Therefore, it is vital that employers are prepared to combat and mitigate the situation effectively. This article briefly outlines employers’ essential obligations and the legal issues they may encounter in the case of a COVID19 outbreak in the Lao PDR.