Laos

Question 1

context:

Answer 1

• country of 6.8 million ppl
• 1.3 million laos immigrants live abroad (mostly in Thailand
• human trafficking is a major problem for the government
• remitances = 2% of Laos’ GDP

Question 2

why immigrate (to Thailand)?

Answer 2

• In Laos, most workers are subsistence (grow for yourself) farmers so farming holds no promise of financial gain/ independence
• Insufficient land to farm in droughts = food insecurity
• The daily minimum wage in Thailand is x>250% higher
• low education in Laos means they have unskilled workforce, this is in demand in Thailands rapidly growing economy

Question 3

How / Why has migration been made easier?

Answer 3

• familiarity with Thai culture and language

- improved access across the Mekong

Question 4

Migration Policies - national plan of action for human trafficking

Answer 4

This has three strands:

• prevention - awareness campaigns, education, alleviation of poverty alleviating the need to migrate
• protection - repatriation and reintegration of returning migrants
• prosecution - investigating border officials, strengthening the legal framework

Question 5

How Laos is becoming more interdependent due to migration :

Answer 5

• The Laos contribution to the Thailand economy is through construction, agriculture, fisheries and factory work (unskilled jobs) remittances v important to Laos’ development
• Laos and Thailand work together as members of the Mekong river commission to manage flooding and economic activities in the basin
• laos signed agreements to build rail links between Thailand and Vietnam which goes through Laos… opens up Laos to development
• Laos and Thailand are members of the COMMIT anti-trafficking group

Question 6

Opportunities created by migration

Answer 6

• The Laos - Thailand corridor has helped stimulate political and economic cooperation in terms of trade, investment, development projects and security
• Bilateral flows with Vietnam = reciprocal labour migration and economic - Vietnam is involved in over 400 investment projects in Laos
• Migrant remittances are v v important, in Laos over 22% of families live below the poverty line. the money can be spent on development/ simple domestic appliances/agriculture machinery
• Political stability is improving between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam

Question 7

Challenges created due to migration in Laos

Answer 7

• most economic Laos migrants are low skilled, have limited education and u18, many travel illegally and are vulnerable to exploitation, human trafficking and forced labour. Laos has struggled to control this so has help from many institutions.
• there is a loss of skilled labour such as carpenters and mechanics to Thailand,
• The Laos garment industry is the largest sector of its manufacturing industry, but its growth depends on improved working conditions in the factories and retaining the young female workers seeking better wages elsewhere