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Price of drinking water rises
The price of drinking water in Vientiane has increased from 3,000 kip to 4,000 kip for a 20 litre bottle, the first price rise in four years.
The price for a case of 12 bottles each containing 750cc of water has also risen, from 8,000 kip to 10,000 kip.
The price rise came into effect on December 1 as ordered by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce's Industry and Commerce Department, in line with a notice issued on August 18.
Vientiane Pure Drinking Water Association President, Mr Khamvanh Lasachak, said that due to the challenging issues affecting many factories, they could not pay their financial obligations to the government on time, because they were losing income.
Factories are feeling the pinch from the recent increase in the minimum wage to be paid to workers, the higher cost of equipment, fuel, transport and other costs.
Mr Khamvanh said the price increase was suggested by factory owners in order to boost revenue so they could produce a better quality product.
While the price hike is a bonus for the factories, consumers are complaining about the extra 1,000 kip they now have to pay.
The owner of the Phommalin Pure Drinking Water Factory told Vientiane Times yesterday the price increase had not resulted in a drop in customers and his factory was distributing 300-400 large bottles of water in Vientiane at present. In the hot weather, this number would jump to 500 bottles.
Many factories in Vientiane are now using the most modern purification methods to produce the cleanest water possible.
vientiane times
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