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Laos LIDC - Coggle Diagram
Laos LIDC
Background info and stats
6.8 million population
GDP per capita 1.7 million USD
Member of ASEAN since 1997
Net migration loss: 1.1 per 1000
Inter dependence with other countries
Thailand corridor: mainly Laos to Thailand. Jobs include construction, agriculture and fishery. Remittance payments $412 million in 2022, 2.3% of Laos gdp
Laos - thailand co operation committee: completion of another bridge has helped strengthen communication and trade. Thailand is the prinicple access to the sea for Laos
Laos and Thailand mekong river commission to manage flooding and economic activities in the basin
Laos signed agreements to build high speed rail links in 2012 to Vietnam and Thailand
Migration policies
Issues
Human trafficking: 36 percent of population are under 15 making them vunerable.
Labour and sex trafficking into Thailand was a problem
Government policies have been ineffective as Laos migrants risk fines on return
Solutions
Laos government has started working with agencies like unicef and UN
Three strand from the Laos government for human trafficking
Prevention: awareness campaigns, child protection, alleviation of poverty reducing need to migrate
Protection: preatriation and reintegration of returning migrants and shelters for women who need counselling
Prosecution: strentgening rule of law, border patrols, investigations into networks
ASEAN policies
Freer movement of skilled labour from 105, including professionals working in medicine and tourism
Emigration and immigration patterns
Emigration (1.29 million laos - born emigrants lived abroad)
Destinations:
Thailand: 930,000
USA: 200,000
Reasons for emigration:
Subsistence farmers migrate to farm elsewhere as farming has little financial gain
Lack of alternative work in rural areas
Insufficient land and droughts
Motivation from others who have fleed and are doing alright financially
Minimum wage in Thailand is 300 baht compared to 80 in Laos
emigration made easier by:
Familiarity with culture and language
Use of brokers to reach thai border and access employment
Migration to Laos
Mainly vietnam: work is mainly in construction and mining.
Opportunities and challenges
Opportunitiess
Laos - thailand migration corridoor: one of the largest in ASEAN. Stimulates trade and political co operation in terms of trade and investment.
Improving political stability between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam
Economic co operation, Vietnam is involved with over 400 investment projects in Laos
Migrant remittances: $412 million USD in 2022. In Laos, 22% of families live below the poverty line.
Challenges
Many migrants are under 18. They travel illegaly and are vunerable to human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation. Government policy has been difficult to implement and relies on international aid from NGOs.
Loss of skilled labour such as carpenters and mechanics to Thailand. Set to increase if wage differences remain high and there is freer movement between ASEAN
Reduction of employment in Laos garment industry as female workers migrate to Thailand for higher wages. Retention of workers depends in improving conditions in these factories.