“Playing” with labour: on collective cleaning in Lao PDR

In Laos, on July 14, 2024, the narrator visits Ajan Mala’s office at a Public Health School and participates in a collective cleaning session with students and teachers at a student dorm. The practice of collective cleaning, known as ǭkhǣngngān, is a routine activity in Laos, involving physical labor and teamwork, with specific tasks assigned by senior staff members and participation expected from all members of the institution. This organized labor is documented in government news publications and on social media, highlighting the importance of communal cleaning in public spaces in Laos.

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