LIDC Migration Case Study

Question 1

LIDC case study

Answer 1

LAOS

Question 2

what case studies to compare Loas to?

Answer 2

USA (AC), Brazil (EDC)

Question 3

GDP per capita
HDI

Answer 3

$2,100/year
0.620 (medium human development)

Question 4

patterns of emigration and immigration

Answer 4

• 1.9mil emigrants lived abroad in 2013- mainly THAILAND (930,000), and USA (200,000)
• only 20,000 foreign-born immigrants, mainly VIETNAMESE (10,000), in Laos

Question 5

PULL FACTORS to THAILAND

Answer 5

• strong motivation to follow others who have returned from financially successful migrations
• daily minimum wage 300BAHT vs 80BAHT in Laos
• MIGRANT REMITTANCES are MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME for families in Laos
• LOW LEVELS EDUCATION, so many only suited for LOW-SKILLED JOBS + INSATIABLE DEMAND for unskilled labour in THAILAND’S GROWING ECONOMY

Question 6

PUSH FACTORS in LAOS

Answer 6

• lack occupations (e.g. many are SUBSISTENCE FARMERS with no promise of financial gain)
• insufficient land available + PERIODIC DROUGHTS lead to FOOD INSECURITY

Question 7

migrations from Laos to Thailand made easy by…

Answer 7

• familiarity with THAI CULTURE + LANGUAGE (integration)
• use of BROKERS to reach Thai border + access employment in Thailand

Question 8

immigration to Laos

Answer 8

especially VIETNAM
* largely result of EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY in gov-driven, World Bank-funded programmes linking the countries in the region by highways + tunnels
* many VIETNAMESE migrants work in CONSTRUCTION + MINING

Question 9

migration policies

Answer 9

• Laos is a source country for HUMAN TRAFFICKING
• young migrants in Thailand are vulnerable to EXPLOITATION
  these are concerns to gov + international organisations
• gov policies have been INEFFECTIVE; many young migrants do not obtain required passport to return
• gov now in co-operation with UN agencies e.g. UNICEP + UN Women, and NGOS e.g. Save The Children to implement more stringent anti-trafficking policy

Question 10

National Plan of Action for Human Trafficking led by Lao government
(3 strands)

Answer 10

PREVENTION e.g. awareness campaigns, education

PROTECTION e.g. reintegration of returning migrants, including shelters for women who may need counselling

PROSECUTION e.g. investigation of trafficking networks

(part of ASEAN- focus on reintegration of returning working migrants)

Question 11

INTERDEPENDENCE with countries linked to Laos through migration

Answer 11

• LAOS to THAILAND CORRIDOR: dominated by flow unskilled Laotians to work in Thailand- contribute to ECONOMY through CONSTRUCTION + AGRICULTURE; REMITTANCES aid DEVELOPMENT in Laos; Thailand has funded large HEALTH SERVICE DEVELOPMENT in Lao
• Laos signed agreements to build RAIL TRACKS between Thailand and Vietnam in 2012 (will open up Loas to further DEVELOPMENT)

Question 12

OPPORTUNITIES created by migration

Answer 12

• Laos-Thailand: one of largest corridors in ASEAN- helped stimulate POLITICAL + ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION (trade + investment)
• BILATERAL MOVEMENTS between VIETNAM: involved in 400+ INVESTMENT PROJECTS for Loas
• MIGRANT REMITTANCES: 22% families below poverty line (increased QOL)
• political stability improving between Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

Question 13

CHALLENGES created by migration

Answer 13

• most economic migrants from Laos are LOW-SKILLED + have LIMITED EDUCATION; many travelled ILLEGALLY + vulnerable to HUMAN TRAFFICKING/ EXPLOITATION- policy relies on INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE