Laos (Migration)

Question 1

Where is Laos?

Answer 1

Landlocked country in Southeast Asia

Bordered by 5 countries:

• Myanmar + Thailand - West
• China - North
• Vietnam - East
• Cambodia - South

Question 2

Population of Laos

Answer 2

6.8 million

Question 3

GDP per capita

Answer 3

$1660 (2014)

Question 4

Life expectancy

Answer 4

66 (Men), 71 (Women)

Question 5

HDI

Answer 5

0.620

Question 6

Net migration

Answer 6

-73,518 (2017)

1.1 migrants per 1000 population (2014)

1.29 million Laos-born emigrants lived abroad (2013)

20,000 foreign-born immigrants in Laos

Question 7

Migration to Thailand

Answer 7

Push factors:

• 73% employed in agriculture (subsistence)
• Insufficient land available for farming and periodic drought

Pull factors:

• Daily minimum wage in Thailand is 300 baht vs 80 baht in Laos
• Demand for unskilled labour in Thailand

Question 8

What has made migration easier?

Answer 8

Familiarity with Thai culture and language

Improved access across the Mekong (river separating Laos and Thailand)

Use of “brokers” to reach Thai border and access employment in Thailand

Question 9

What has facilitated migration into Laos?

Answer 9

Employment opportunities in the government-driven, World Bank-funded programmes linking the countries in the region by highways, bridges and tunnels

Question 10

Human trafficking in Laos

Answer 10

In 2013, 36% of the population were under 15 - increasing number of entrants into the workforce in a country where opportunities are limited

Young migrants are vulnerable to forced labour and sexual exploitation in Thailand

Trafficking of under-age footballers from Liberia to Laos to play for Champasak United

Question 11

The National Plan for Action for Human Trafficking

Answer 11

Prevention - awareness campaigns, education, child protection, alleviation of property reduced 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

Question 12

What is ASEAN?

Answer 12

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Regional group consisting of 11 countries in Southeast Asia to promote economic and security cooperation

Question 13

Benefits of ASEAN

Answer 13

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) aims to allow freer movement of skilled labour from 2015

Mutual Recognition Agreements allow professionals employed in nursing, medicine, dentistry, architecture and tourism, after 5 years of working in their country of origin, to have greater freedom of movement between ASEAN countries

Question 14

Interdependence with countries linked to Laos by migration

Answer 14

Laos-Thailand:

• Outflow of unskilled Laotians to work in Thailand in construction, agriculture, fisheries and factory industries
• Laos-Thailand Cooperation Committee has been established - completion of latest Friendship Bridge has helped strengthen communication and trade
• Thailand is the principal access to the sea for Laos
• Thailand has funded a large health service development and drugs treatment centre in Laos
• Laos and Thailand work together as members of Mekong River Commission to manage flooding and economic activities in the basin and the Don Sahong hydro-power project
• Laos signed agreements to build rail links between Thailand and Vietnam in 2012, including a high-speed rail link to China - aids Laos’ development
• Laos and Thailand are members of COMMIT (Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking)

Question 15

Opportunities of migration

Answer 15

The migrant corridor between Laos and Thailand is one of the largest within ASEAN and has helped stimulate political and economic cooperation

Vietnam is involved in over 400 investment projects in Laos

Migrant remittances are very important to the life of returnees and their families - 22% of families live below the poverty line - purchase of simple domestic appliances or investment in agricultural machinery

Political stability between Laos, Vietnam and Thailand is improving

Question 16

Challenges of migration

Answer 16

Most economic migrants from Laos are low skilled, of lower education and under 18 at their first migration

Many migrants travelled illegally and are vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation

Loss of skilled labour such as mechanics and carpenters - set to increase if wage differentials remain high and there is freer movement between ASEAN countries

Laos’ garment industry is the largest sector of manufacturing employment but its growth depends on improved working conditions in factories within Laos’ capital, Vientiane, and the retention of young female workers who may leave seeking higher wages in Thailand