Laos LIDC migration

Question 1

which industry is employment concentrated in in Laos?

Answer 1

agriculture - 73%

Question 2

Laos GDP

Answer 2

$1660 GDP/capita

Question 3

net migration loss in Laos

Answer 3

1.1 migrants per 1000 population
high

Question 4

how many people from Laos live abroad?

Answer 4

1.29 million

Question 5

how many immigrants live in Laos?

Answer 5

20,000

Question 6

what are the main reasons for immigration from Laos to Thailand? x7

Answer 6

many of those working on the land are subsistence farmers so farming holds no promise of financial gain or personal independence

lack of alternative options in rural areas

insufficient land available for farming and periodic drought which leads to food insecurity

strong motivation to follow others who have returned financially successful from migrations

minimum wage in Thailand is 300 baht compared with 80 baht in Laos

migrant remittances are the main source of income for many families

poor education so many unskilled labouerers - high demand for them in Thailand

Question 7

what has made the migration from Laos to Thailand easier?

Answer 7

familiarity with Thai culture and language
improved access across the Mekong
use of ‘brokers’ to reach the Thai border and access employment in Thailand

Question 8

problem of trafficking in Laos during migration

Answer 8

36% of migrants in 2013 were below 15
vulnerable to forced labour and sex exploitation in Thailand
eg under age footballers from Liberia to Laos to play for Champasak united

Question 9

what are the three strands of the National Plan of Action for Human Trafficking?

Answer 9

prevention - awareness campaigns, education, alleviating poverty to reduce the need to migrate

protection - repatriation and reintegration of returning migrants, including shelters for women who many need conselling

prosecution - investigation of trafficking networks, training border officials, stregthening legal framework

Question 10

Laos-Thailand migration corridor

Answer 10

dominated by outward flow of unskilled Laotians to work in Thailand

Question 11

Laos-Thailand Cooperation Committee

Answer 11

completed of latest Friendship Bridge has helped to strengthen communication and trade
Thailand has funded a large health service development and drugs treatment centre in Laos

Question 12

Mekong River Commission

Answer 12

work together to manage flooding and economic activity in the basin and the Don Sahong hydro-power project

Question 13

signed agreements

Answer 13

signed agreements to build rail links between Thailand and Vietnam in 2012 with which it also has special relations including a high speed rail link to China - will open Laos up to development

Question 14

COMMIT

Answer 14

Both Laos and Thailand are members of the Coordinated Mekong ministerial Initiative against Trafficking

Question 15

opportunities in laos created by migration

Answer 15

migration corridor between Laos and Thailand is the largest in ASEAN. Helped to stimulate political and economic co-operation i trade, investment…

bilateral relations with Vietnam also extend beyond reciprocal labour migration. There is also economic co-operation with Vietnam involved in over 400 investment projects in Laos

migrant remittances are very important to families - 22% of families live below the poverty line and this money helps local and national development

political stability is improving between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam

Question 16

challenges in Laos created by migration

Answer 16

most economic migrants are low skilled, young and have limited education making them vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labour and migration

loss of skilled labour such as carpenters and mechanics to Thailand which will increase if differentials remain high and there is free movement in ASEAN community

Laos garment industry if the largest sector of manufacturing employment but growth is dependent on working conditions in factories of Vientiane