CS - Laos - An LIDC with limited influence in the global migration system

What is the GDP per capita

$2,599

What percentage of people are employed in agriculture, and what is the problem with this?

• 73% employed in agriculture

• Agriculture is the ingredients, manufacturing is where the value gets added. The country has many exports, but of low value

What are the figures for net migration

• In 2011, net migration was -30,000

• In 2023, net migration was -10,303

How many Laotians lived abroad vs how many foreigners lived in Loas

In 2013, 1.29 million Laos-born emigrants lived abroad

Only 20,000 foreign-born immigrants, mainly Vietnamese, lived in Laos

What are some examples of Laos-Thailand political cooperation?

• The building of the Friendship Bridge over the Mekong river for ease of communication and trade

• Thailand funded large health service development and drugs treatment centre in Laos

• Laos signed agreements to build rail links between Thailand and Vietnam in 2012, including a high speed rail link to China

Give one way that Thailand and Laos benefit each other

• Laos-Thailand migration corridor mainly composed of unskilled laotians working in thailand in construction, agriculture etc

• Thailand is the principal access to the sea for Laos

What is Laos and Thailand’s migration policy

Laos and Thailand are members of COMMIT, an initiative against human trafficking

What are some reasons for migration to Thailand?

• Migrant remittances are very important to the life of their families

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

• Low levels of education in Laos mean that many are only suited to unskilled jobs, and there is insatiable demand in Thailand’s rapidly growing economy

• Familiarity with Thai language and culture + strong Laos migrant communities in Thailand allow for easier migration

What are challenges created by migration to Laos?

• Most economic migrants from Laos are minors with low skill and education. Many travell illegally so are vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labour

• Loss of skilled worker from Laos to Thailand

• Laos’s garment industry is the largest sector of manufacturing, but its growth depends on improved working conditions in the factories or many young female workers may leave, seeking higher wages in Thailand