Laos, an LIDC, Case study

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Location
Southeast Asia
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Population
6.8 million people
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GDP per capita
$1660 - with 73% employed in agriculture
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Net migration loss
1.1 migrants per 1000 population in 2014. Remittances bring income but human trafficking is a huge problem.
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Patterns of migration
In 2013, 1.29 million Laos-born emigrants lived abroad, mainly in Thailand, and only 20,000 foreign-born immigrants, mainly Vietnamese, lived in Laos.
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Reasons for emigration to Thailand
Subsistence farming holds no promise of financial gain or independence, lack of alternative occupations in rural areas, insufficient land available and droughts (food insecurity), following others, minimum wage-80 baht-300, low education, remittances
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Laos immigration
Mostly Vietnam. Employment opportunities in the government-driven, World Bank funded programmes linking the countries in the region by highways, bridges and tunnels. Many immigrants work in construction and mining.
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Human trafficking
Source country for human trafficking. In 2013, 36% of population were under 15 - increasing no. entering workforce. Vulnerability of young migrants to forced labour and sexual exploitation in Thailand. Trafficking of under-age footballers - Liberia
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The National Plan of Action for Human Trafficking
led by Lao PDR government - Prevention, protection and prosecution
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ASEAN Economic Community
aims to allow freer movement of skilled labour from 2015
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Interdependence with countries linked to Laos by migration
Laos contribute to Thai economy in construction, factory work etc - remittances. Thailand is principle access to sea for Laos. Thailand has funded a large health service and drugs treatment centre for Laos. Manage flooding in Mekong river basin, rail
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Opportunities
Migration corridor stimulated cooperation, Vietnam involved in over 400 investment projects in Laos, migrant remittances (22% of families live below poverty line) Political stability improving
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Challenges
Illegal migration from Laos - human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation, loss of skilled labour to Thailand, Laos garment industry relies on improved working conditions in factories and the retention of female workers to Thailand (high wages)
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Card 2

Front

Population

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6.8 million people

Card 3

Front

GDP per capita

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Net migration loss

Back

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Card 5

Front

Patterns of migration

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Preview of the front of card 5
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