Laos case study

Laos stats/general info

Landlocked country; 6.8 million people; $2524 GDP per capita

Age of people in Laos

In 2013 36% of the population were under 15, so there is an increasing number of entrants into the work force in a country where opportunities are limited

Remittances Laos

Remittances bring much needed income - $60 million in 2014

Why does human trafficking occur in Laos

Laos is a source country for human trafficking; The vulnerability of young migrants to forced labour and sex exploitation in Thailand is of major concern to the government and international organisations; Government policies are ineffective; many young migrants don’t obtain the required passport and risk fines on return

How is Laos attempting to tackle human trafficking

the Laos PDR Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Public Security now work in cooperation with the IOM, UN agencies e.g. Unicef, and international NGOs e.g. CARE, Save the Children; This all helps to implement a more stringent anti-trafficking policy

What does being part of the ASEAN mean for Laos

Laos is a member of the ASEAN, meaning it allows freer movement of skilled labourers. Mutual Recognition Agreements allow professionals employed in nursing, medicine, dentistry, architecture, to have a greater freedom of movement between ASEAN countries if they have worked in their country of origin for five years

Patterns of immigration in Laos

In 2013 there were only 20,000 foreign born people living in Laos; Immigration = lower than emigration; Trafficking of underage footballers

Patterns of emigrtion in laos

In 2013 1.29 million Laos-born emigrants lived abraod; Emigration for economic reasons because those in rural areas have low wages and limited job opps; Main emigration destinations = Thailand, Bangladesh, France

Environmental reasons for emigration to Thailand

Most people working in Laos are subsistence farmers which holds no promise of financial gain. There is insufficient land available for farming, and common droughts, which lead to food insecurity

Physical reasons for emigration to thailand

There is improved access to Thailand thanks to the Friendship Bridge; The Friendship Bridge brings together the Thai and Lao people, and also increases economy, trade, tourism, investment, transport, and logistics in both countries

Economic reasons for emigration to Thailand

People are motivated by others who have had a successful economic migration to Thailand so follow them; Daily minimum wage in Thailand is 220 baht more than in Laos

Education reasons for emigration to Thailand

Low levels of education in Laos mean most people are suited to low-skilled labour, which is in demand in Thailand

Relationship between Laos and Thailand - workers

The Laos-Thailand migration corridor is dominated numerically by unskilled Laotions working in Thailand

Relationship between Laos and Thailand - funding stuff

Thailand funded a large health service drug treatment centre in Laos; Laos and Thailand work together as members of the Mekong River Commission, to manage flooding and economic activities in the basin of the river; Laos signed agreements in 2012 to build rail links between Thailand and Vietnam, including a high speed rail link to China

Opportunities for migrants from Laos

Migrant remittances; 22% people live below poverty line so lots rely on remittances as their main source of income

Opportunities for laos/thailand resulting from migration

Migration helps to stimulate political and economic co-operation in terms of trade, investment, development projects and security; Political stability is imporoving

Challenges for migrants from laos

Many travel illegaly; Vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labour, and exploitation

Challenges for thailand resulting from laos migrants

Most migrants are low skilled and have limited education; This means there is a loss of skilled labour in thailand e.g. mechanics

Challenges for laos resulting from emigrtion

Laos garment industry is largest sector of manufacturing in laos; However, because of bad working conditions in Vientiane, many young female workers leave to seek higher wages in thaila