MIGRATION-Laos Flashcards
Where is Laos located?
-Landlocked country in south east Asia
-South of China
-East of Vietnam
What are some facts about Laos?
-A population of 6.8 million people
-GDP $1,660 – This is a poor nation where 75% of people work in agriculture
-A member of ASEAN
-High net migration loss of 1.1 people per 1,000
-Remittances are an important income for the country
-Human trafficking is a major problem
-There are only about 20,000 foreign born immigrants living in Laos. The majority of these are Vietnamese. Other nations include China, Thailand and Cambodia
-In 2013, 1.29 million Laos-born people lived abroad. The majority of these in Thailand at 930,000
Why are people from Laos attracted to move to Thailand?
-Many of those working on the land are subsistence farmers so farming holds no promise of financial gain or persona; independence
-There is a lack of alternative occupations in rural areas
-There is insufficient land available for farming and periodic droughts which lead to food insecurity
-There is strong motivation to follow others who have returned from financially stable migrations
-The daily minimum wage in Thailand is 300baht compared with 80 baht in Laos; average monthly income for Laos migrants in Thailand is approximately 6800baht
-For many families in Laos, migrant remittances are their main source of income
-Low levels of education in Laos mean that many are suited only to unskilled jobs; there is insatiable demand for unskilled labour in Thailand’s rapidly growing population
How has migration been made easier between Laos and Thailand?
-Familiarity with Thai culture and language
-Improved access across the Mekong
-Use of ‘brokers’ to reach the Thai border and access employment in Thailand
What is the national plan of action for human trafficking in Laos?
-Prevention-awareness campaigns, education, child protection, alleviation of poverty reducing the need to migrate
-Protection-repatriation and reintegration of returning migrants, including shelters for women who may need counselling
-Prosecution-Investigation of trafficking networks, training border officials, strengthening legal framework
Why is the national plan of action for human trafficking a national policy in Laos?
This is needed because Laos has a youthful population. 36% of people in Laos are under 15. Many young people are at risk of being pushed into forced labour or sex exploitation in Thailand.
Although the government policy has been largely ineffective, other agencies are also getting involved. UNICEF, CARE International and Save the Children are some examples.
What is the interdependence between Laos and Thailand?
-This migration corridor is dominated by Laotians moving to work in Thailand. They complete work in construction, agriculture, fisheries and factories. Remittances help develop Laos
-Laos and Thailand work together to manage flooding and have a joint HEP project on the Mekong River
-Laos and Thailand are members of COMMIT – Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking
-Laos has signed agreements to build rail links between Laos and Thailand as well as Vietnam. They also agreed a high –speed link to China. This will all help development
-There is a Laos – Thailand cooperation committee. The latest project was to finish a ‘Friendship Bridge’ to help strengthen communication and trade
What are the opportunities emigration brings to Laos?
-The migration corridor between Laos and Thailand is one of the largest within ASEAN. It has helped to stimulate not only economic stimulation but also political cooperation, trade, security and development projects.
-There is greater political stability between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam
-Globalisation is encouraging more women to migrate to and from Laos. This reduces gender inequality
-22% of families in Laos live below the poverty line. Migrant remittances enable very poor families in Laos to buy items they would not otherwise afford e.g. appliances for the home. On a local scale farming equipment has been purchased to help communities
-Bi-lateral links between Laos and Vietnam have created a corridor of workers between the countries but also Vietnam is involved with over 400 investment projects in Laos
What challenges may emigration bring to Laos?
-There is a loss of some skilled workers to Thailand. For example, carpenters and mechanics. This may increase as wage differentials remain high and workers can more easily move in the ASEAN region
-The largest manufacturing employment in Laos is the garment (clothing) industry in the capital Vientiane. This employs many female workers who will potentially look to leave as conditions in the factories are poor. As more women gain confidence to migrate, they may leave to seek higher wages in Thailand
-Most of the economic migrants from Laos are low skilled. They lack education and are often under 18. Many travel illegally and are at risk of human trafficking and forced labour. The government policy has not been effective and its success now relies on help from organisations such as the ILO
