The Law on Government requires amendments to two articles that are set to reflect in law changes to the administrative structure and further codify some senior official roles, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Government Spokesman has revealed.The Law on Government is among the three amended laws approved in principle at the government’s monthly meeting that concluded Friday.
The two amended articles in the Law on Government relate to the roles and duties of the Prime Minister’s Office and the roles and duties of ministers to the PM’s Office, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Government Spokesman Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher told Vientiane Times on Monday.
“The name of the Government Office has recently been changed to the Prime Minister’s Office so our law needed to be revised,” he said.
Amendments to laws on investment promotion and media were also approved by the two-day government meeting.
The cabinet resolved to instruct the relevant sectors to make further revisions based on recommendations from cabinet members before submitting the amendments for debate at the National Assembly later this year following the government’s August meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and attended by other cabinet members.
According to proposed amended Law on Government, the Prime Minister’s Office will serve as a secretariat for the prime minister in all fields as well as collaborating with ministries and local authorities while facilitating the activities of the PM, Deputy PM and Ministers to the PM Office.
Additionally, the roles and duties of the Ministers to the Prime Minister’s Office have been spelled out in the draft amended Law on Government, but the law does not include the names of the ministers to the PM’s Office.
Dr Chaleun previously spoke at a press conference in Vientiane in June, detailing the different roles delegated to various ministers to the PM’s Office.
Dr Phet Phomphiphak is Minister and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher serves as the Government Spokesman and assists the prime minister to pursue, monitor and push for the enactment and amendment of laws and regulations relating to administration, justice, the people’s courts, prosecution, national defence and public security, and mass organisations.
This role also evaluates the implementation of the government’s orders in these fields and collaborates with the People’s Supreme Court and People’s Supreme Prosecutor on issues relating to the government.
Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Souvanpheng Bouphanouvong acts as a collaborator between the government and the National Assembly and pushes for the enactment of laws in areas relating to the economy and socio-cultural affairs while assessing the implementation of regulations in these areas.
His colleague, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Bounkeuth Sangsomsak, is in charge of assisting the Prime Minister in matters that relate to Francophonie, border affairs and international laws.
Meanwhile, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun assists the prime minister with foreign affairs and collaborates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Vientiane Times
