Coffee and tea farmers benefit from improved access to labour rights as SOLAR project concludes [Video]

More than ten thousand coffee and tea farmers on the Bolaven Plateau have benefited from the SOLAR project, which aimed to expand social security and labour rights for coffee and tea farmers in southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The SOLAR project, jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization and Oxfam, held its closing ceremony on 28 June 2024. Funded by the European Union, the project contributed to the European Union’s objectives of supporting responsible businesses and decent work in supply chains.

Over three years, the SOLAR project facilitated access to social security and improved occupational safety and health measures for coffee and tea farmers on the Bolaven Plateau, many of whom are informal workers. It increased understanding of social security, occupational safety and health and gender issues among 12,612 farmers and registered 806 workers in the National Social Security Fund. 

The project also strengthened grassroots service delivery by piloting three …