Migration- unequal flows LIDC: Laos

Question 1

background info

Answer 1

landlocked country SE Asia, 7M ppl, poor country GDP per capita $1660, 73% ppl in agriculture, communist state, ASEAN member

Question 2

emigration patterns leaving Laos

Answer 2

Thailand 930,000 ppl, USA 200,000 ppl

Question 3

immigration patterns to Laos

Answer 3

10,000 from Vietnam, under 10,000 from China

Question 4

reasons for emigration to Thailand

Answer 4

no promise in subsistence farming, droughts create food insecurity, daily minimum in Thai is 300 baht and Laos 80 baht, remittances often main income source, Thai demand for unskilled labour, familiarity w/ culture and language

Question 5

migration policies

Answer 5

mainly based against human trafficking, prevention by educating and alleviating poverty, protection by repatriating migrants and counselling, prosecution by investigating trafficking, member of ASEAN where migration rules are increasingly allowing flow of skilled labour

Question 6

interdependence with Thailand

Answer 6

contribute primary industry work to Thai and get remittances back, Laos-Thailand Cooperation Committee helped trade, work together dealing w/ flooding in Mekong River Commission, Laos building rails btw Thai and Viet which will help dev, together against trafficking

Question 7

opportunities created

Answer 7

helped trade, development and investment. 400 investment projects from Viet to Laos, 22% of families under poverty and remittances necessary, more political stability btw Viet Thai and Laos

Question 8

challenges created

Answer 8

most emigrants are under 18 and vulnerable to trafficking, loss of skilled labour and will increase if wage gap remains and ASEAN borders open slowly, garments is largest manufacturing sector and depends on retention of females and improved work conditions in capital Vientiane