Laos LIDC

Laos LIDC background info

• 6.8 million population

• Landlocked country

• 73% employed in agrriculture

Laos gdp per capita

$1,660 in 2014

What is net migration loss in 2014?

1.1 migrants per 1000 population

How many Laos born are inThailand?

930,000

Why doe Laos people migrate to Thailand?

• lack of occupation other than farming

• Insufficient land for farming and droughts cause food insecurity

• Daily minimum wage in Laos is 80 baht but Thailand is 300 baht

• Motivation to follow others who returned financially successfull

• Low education levels in Laos and high demand of unskilled jobs in Thailand

How has migration to Thailand been made easy?

• familiarity with Thai language and culture

• Improved access across the Mekong river

• Use of brokers to reach Thai border

(migration policies) why was trafficking in Laos so high?

• in 2013 36% of population under 15 so more people about to enter work force with low opportunities

• causes vulnerability to forced labour and sex exploitation

• trafficking of underaged footballers from liberto Laos

• Government policies have been ineffective and young migrants don’t have a passport to and risk fines on return

How have the Laos government and other global agencies strategised a plan of action against trafficking? The 3 Ps

Laos PDR ministry of Labour and Social welfare and ministry of public security work with UN agencies like UNICEF and international NGOs like save the children to make a plan of action:

• Prevention- education, awareness campaigns, alleviation of poverty

• Protection- reintegration of returning migrants and shelters for women

• Prosecution- training border officials, strengthening legal framework

How are Thailand and Laos interdependent?

• Laos to Thailand migrants contribute to Thai work force in construction, agriculture, fisheries, factory work.

• Work together as members of Mekong river commission to manage river flooding and economic activities in the Don sahong hydro power project

• Friendship between the two countrys from the L-T cooporation committee.

• Laos signed Agreements to build rail links between Vietnam and Thailand

• L and T members of coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT)

What are the opportunities created by migration in Laos LIDC?

• migration corridor between them is one of the biggest in ASEAN and has helped stimulate political and economic cooperation in trade, investment, development projects and security

• Bi lateral relations between Vietnam also extent beyond labour, economic cooperation with Vietnam involving 400 investment projects in Laos

• Remittances important as 22% of families in Laos live below the poverty line so the money impacts Laos on local and national development, from simple domestic appliances to agricultural machinery

• Political stability improving between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam

What are some challenges created by migration in Laos?

most migrants from Laos are low skilled, of limited education and under 18.

• many travel illegally

• Vulnerable to trafficking, forced labour and exploitation

• Laos government policy has been hard to implement and its success depends on transitional governance by organisations like IOM, ILO

Loss of skilled labour like carpenters and mechanics to Thailand which is set to increase if wage differences remain high

Laos garment industry is the largest sector of manufacturing employment, but its growth depends on improved working conditions and retention of young female workers who may leave seeking higher wage