Case study: Laos, o show how it has limited influence over and restricted response to the global migration system.

Question 1

Describe Laos

Answer 1

a poor, landlocked country in south east Asia. With a 2,535.62 USD (2021) GDP per capita.

Question 2

What is ASEAN?

Answer 2

A group of south east Asian countries.
The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.
Int allows freedom of movement for up to 5 years for labour in the countries.

Question 3

What is the net migration?

Answer 3

Loss -0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Question 4

What is Laos’ main source of immigration?

Answer 4

Vietnam make up the majority of foreign born citizens in Laos. There are only around 20,000 foreign born residents.

Question 5

To where do most Laos-born emigrant move?

Answer 5

Bangladesh, USA,France, Thailand.
Highest in Thailand (930,000).

Question 6

What are the main reasons for emigration to Thailand?

Answer 6

• Many working the land are subsistence farmers, Thailand might provide better financial security.
• there is a lack of other options in rural areas
• There is insufficient land and periodic droughts
• There is a strong motivation to follow others who have been reasonably successful in doing so.
• The average wage in Thailand is 220 baht higher than Laos.
• Remittances
  -Thailand’s rapidly growing economy has a high demand for low skilled work, Laos has low education attainment.

Question 7

What are the problems about migration in Laos

Answer 7

• Trafficking is high in Thailand, young Laotian migrant are very vulnerable
• There has been issues with the trafficking of underage football platers to Laos for their football team.
• 36% of the population is under 15, high entrance to the work force and lack of opportunities creates vulnerability to forced labour and sex exploitation.

Question 8

What are the three strands of the Laotian government Plan of action of human trafficking?

Answer 8

1. Prevention - awareness campaigns, education
2. Protection - reintegration of returning migrants, shelters for women
3. Prosecution - investigation.

Question 9

How does the Laos Thailand relationship demonstrate the increasing interdependence in ASEAN countries

Answer 9

• Laotian migrants contribute to low skilled labour market gaps in Thailand, including agriculture.
• The have created the Laos- Thailand cooperation committee is strengthen trade.
• They work together to prevent flooding on the river Mekong.
• Laos and Thailand are members of the co-ordinated Mekong ministerial initative against trafficking

Question 10

What are the opportunities created for Laos by migration?

Answer 10

• The corridor between Laos and Thailand has facilitated trade, political and security agreements.
• Bilateral relations with Vietnam have extend beyond migration to investment projects in Laos.
• As of 2019, 18% of Laos lives in poverty, so migrant remittances are incredibly important. Fuelling development from a household to national level.
• Political stability is improving between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Question 11

What are the challenges created fort Laos by migration?

Answer 11

• The success of the Laotian government in implementing anti-trafficking programmes has been limited because of their reliance on transnational governance e.g. Civil society
• Loss of skilled labour to Thailand because if the freer movement in ASEAN
• The garment industry relies on the retention of young female workers, who are being lost to higher wages in Thailand.