LIDC Case Study - Laos Flashcards
1
Q
Patterns of immigration
A
- In 2013, only 20,000 foreign-born immigrants, mainly Vietnamese, lived in Laos
- Migration to Laos from neighbouring countries, especially Vietnam, is largely through result of employment opportunities in the government-driven, World Bank-funded programmes, linking the countries in the region by highways, bridges and tunnel
- Many Vietnamese immigrants work in construction and mining
2
Q
Patterns of emigration
A
- In 2013, 1.29 million Laos-born emigrants lived abroad, mainly in Thailand
- Main reasons for emigration to Thailand include: dissatisfaction of working on the land, many are subsistence farmers, therefore farming holds no promise of financial gain or personal independence, there is a lack of alternative occupations in rural areas, daily minimum wage in Thailand is 300 baht compared to 80 baht in Laos, for many families in Laos, migrant remittances are the main sources of income, low levels of education mean that many are suited only to unskilled jobs, which there is a huge demand for in Thailand’s rapidly growing economy
- Migrations have been made easier by familiarity with Thai language and culture, improved access across the Mekong, use of ‘brokers’ to reach the Thai border and access employment in Thailand
3
Q
Key migration policies
A
- Laos is a source country for human trafficking, in 2013, 36% of the population were under 15, therefore there are an increasing number of entrants into the workforce in a country where opportunities are limited
- Vulnerability of young migrants to forced labour and sex exploitation in Thailand is of major concern to the government and international organisations
- Government policies have been ineffective- many young migrants do not obtain the required passport and risk fines on return
- Lao PDR Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and Ministry of Public Security now wrk with the IOM, UN agencies like UNICEF and UNWomen, and NGOs such as CARE International to implement a more stringent anti-trafficking policy
- National Plan of Action for Human Trafficking led by the Lao PDR government has three strands
- Prevention: awareness campaigns, education, child protection, alleviation of poverty reducing 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 frameworks
4
Q
Examples of interdependence through migration
A
- Laos-Thailand migration corridor is dominated numerically by the outward flow of unskilled Laotians to work in Thailand, their contribution to the Thai economy is in construction, agriculture, fisheries and factory work, remittances assist development in Laos
- Laos-Thailand Cooperation Committee has been established, completion of the latest Friendship Bridge has helped to 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 the Mekong River Commission to manage flooding and economic activists in the basin and the Don Sahong hydropower project
- Laos and Thailand are members of the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT)
5
Q
Opportunities/ benefits of international migration
A
- The migration corridor between Laos and Thailand is one of the largest within ASEAN, it has helped to stimulate political and economic co-operation in terms of trade, investment, development projects and security
- Bi-lateral relations with Vietnam also extend beyond reciprocal labour migration, there is economic co-operation with Vietnam involved in over 400 investment projects in Laos
- Migrant remittances are very important to the life of returnees and their families, in Laos 22% of families live below the poverty line and the economic impact of this money on local and national development ranges from purchase of simple domestic appliances to agricultural machinery
- Political stability is improving between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam
6
Q
Challenges presented due to international migration
A
- Most economic migrants from Laos are low skilled, of limited education and under eighteen at their first migration, many travel illegally and are vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation, Laos government policy has been difficult to implement and, for its success, depends on transnational governance by organisations such as IOM, ILO and Civil Society
- Loss of skilled labour such as carpenters and mechanics to Thailand, this is set to increase if wage differentials remain high and there is freer movement in the ASEAN Economic Community
- The Laos garment industry is the largest sector of manufacturing employment, but its growth depends on improved working conditions in the factories of the Laos capital, Vientiane, and the retention of the many young female workers who may leave seeking higher wages in Thailand
