CASE STUDY - LAOS

Question 1

emigration patterns FROM laos –> aboard

Answer 1

• 2025 - approx 2.5 mill living abroad 32% of pop
• main destination –> Thailand due to closeness, high wages, jobs
• other destinations: vietnam, china, US for family reunification, education
• most young, low skilled workers, migrating illegally, under 18
  PULL FACTORS TO THAILAND
• higher pay –> min wage is over double laos
• employment demand –> lots of jobs in construction, agriculture, fisheries
• freedom of movement under ASEAN Economic Community since 2015

Question 2

immigration patterns TO laos

Answer 2

• low rate compared to emigration
• most from China/ Vietnam - working in construction, agriculture, business, investment
• chinese investments into laos increasing –> brings more chinese workers for development projects

Question 3

3 main areas migration policies and regulations

Answer 3

1. limited gov control –> main laotians migrate illegally bc high costs + delays in getting passports + work permits
2. anti-human trafficking –> laos part of Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT), gov efforts on border security, NGOs eg UNICEFF and SaveTheChildren protect migration
3. bilateral agreements with Thailand –> aim to regulate migration flows + protect Laotian worker abroad, they cooperate on major infrastructure projects like hydropower and rail links

Question 4

Interdependence with countries linked to laos by migration

Answer 4

1. laos to thailand
   - one of largest corridors in ASEAN with 1.5 mill+ Laotians working in Thai
   - remittances sent back to laos reduce poverty - 22% rely on them
   - thai heavily invests in laotian railways and trade tc
2. laos to Vietnam
   - economic partners
   - invests into 400+ major projects in laos
   - Laotians migrate to work in Vietnam construction projects
3. laos to china
   - china funds projects in laos eg hydropower dams, railways etc
   - high speed railway between china and laos - expected to increase cross border migration

Question 5

Opportunities created by migration

Answer 5

1. ECONOMIC - 22% families reply on remittances - reduces poverty etc
2. better political + economic ties –> bilateral agreement with thai improves trade, investment + infrastructure, chinese investment helps too etc…
3. greater regional cooperation –> laos membership in ASEAN + COMMIT - combats human trafficking and regulates migration

Question 6

challenges created by migration

Answer 6

1. human trafficking + exploitation –> many places lack legal docs so ppl vulnerable etc . many laotian young girls end up in Thai sex trade - illegal
2. brain drain –> Carpenters, mechanics + skilled labourers leave - better wages in Thailand, Manufacturing sector in Laos struggles to grow –> loss of young, skilled workers
3. dependence on external aid and investment –> relies on foreign funding from Thailand, Vietnam and China –> vulnerable to economic and political influence from these countries

Question 7

background info

Answer 7

• HDI - 0.613 - medium
• Landlocked
• 6.3 mill people large agriculture - 73% employment in this
• Location: southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar and China

Question 8

potential 16 marker question: Why does Laos have limited influence on and response to global migration system

Answer 8

1. Economic underdevelopment and reliance on remittances
   - Low economic capacity -73% in agriculture
   - 30% of pop 2025 live abroad - families rely on remittances –> dependent
   
   • Laos economy relies on migration flows so can’t control it
   • Weakens its power to impose stricter emigration laws
2. Dependence on regional powers
   - Thailand hosts 1mill+ Laotians
   - China funds dams and railways, Vietnam involved in 400+ projects
   
   • Laos is recipient of influence
   • Migration shaped more by neighbouring countries’ labour demands and investment
3. Weak immigration governance
   - Many migrate illegally due to high costs and delays in visas/passports
   - Anti-trafficking efforts get UNICEFF etc are external
   
   • Laotian govs limited capacity to regular and protect migrants
   • Rely on NGOs and foreign-led initiatives and lack of internal migration governance
4. Brain drain
   - Skilled workers migrate to Thailand - therefore, Laos’ domestic industries have shortages