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CASE STUDY: Laos (LIDC with a limited influence on global
migration)
*also an example of a South-South migration flow
● Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia
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The Mekong river runs through the country
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● Refugees consist of more than half of Laotian Canadians
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● After the Vietnam War, some Laotians moved to France and are generally
well-integrated due to their economic success, high levels of education and
cultural knowledge
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● More recently, Thailand has become a popular destination for Laotians (see
below)
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3 million Laotians living abroad, mostly in Thailand
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Factors that influence migration in Laos
● Laos has a net migration loss of 1
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● Economic - GDP per capita is $1660 and 73% of the population are
employed in agriculture
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GNI per capitas:
➔ Thailand - $18,200
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➔ Vietnam - $6,930
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8 million people, of which
36% are under 15
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This also means that
many people are vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation
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This
freedom of movement has led to 1
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Causes of emigration out of Laos
Economic:
● Many Laotians are subsistence farmers so there is no promise of financial
gain or personal independence
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HOWEVER
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● Wage differentials - the daily minimum wage in Thailand is 300 baht,
compared with 80 baht in Laos
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This poverty
is likely to be worsened by climate change and more extreme El Nino years
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● Thailand demands low skilled labour, as it is a rapidly growing economy
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HOWEVER
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This means that seasonal workers cannot leave Thailand and others cannot
enter Thailand, leaving people without income or remittances
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HOWEVER… there is only 1
job position available for every 12 returning migrants, resulting in
unemployment
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● Women and ethnic minorities are discriminated against in access to education
and face social exclusion
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Environmental
● Improved access across the Mekong river and shared borders
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● Laos’ ambitions to become the hydroelectric powerhouse of East Asia also
causes environmental damage along the Mekong
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Migration policies (Human Rights crossover!)
● Laos’ migration policies have been very ineffective due to the fact that most
citizens do not have passports and risk fines on return instead
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● Also, there have been cases of underage footballers being trafficked from
Liberia to Laos to play in national teams
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In
reality, many are forced to work against their will
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● There are 3 strands to Laos’ National Plan of Action for Human Trafficking:
1
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g
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2
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3
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● HOWEVER… as an LIDC, Laos may have limited resources and funds to
carry out such projects
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Interdependence with countries linked to Laos through migration
Political/economic
● The AEC and Mutual Recognition Agreement reduce human trafficking by
allowing freedom of movement for skilled labour
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g
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HOWEVER
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● COMMIT is the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking Laos and Thailand are both members
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● Flows of unskilled labour from Laos to Thailand make a significant
contribution to the Thai economy, as well as helping development in Laos
through remittances
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This also includes a high-speed rail link to China
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HOWEVER
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Social
● Thailand has funded health infrastructure and drugs treatment centres in
Laos
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Environmental

● The Mekong River Commission manages flooding and economic projects (like
hydroelectric dams) along the Mekong
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● The Laos-Thailand Cooperation Committee has established friendship bridges
which promote communication and trade (this is important as trade routes go
through each other)
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It has helped to stimulate political and economic cooperation in terms
of trade, investment, development and security
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● In Laos, 22% of families live below the poverty line so migrant remittances
can help them to buy goods from simple domestic appliances to agricultural
machinery
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Challenges
● Most economic migrants from Laos are low-skilled, low education and under
18 when they first migrate
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The Laos government’s policies have
been ineffective, so they rely on transnational governance from organisations
like the ILO
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g
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This will increase if wage differentials remain high and there is
freer movement between the ASEAN economic community
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