Laos case study

• Main reasons for emigration to thailand

  -lack of alternative occupations in rural areas

  -insufficient land available for farming and periodic droughts which lead to food insecurity

  -strong motivation to follow others who have returned from financially successful migrations
• migration has been made easier by

  -familiarity with Thai culture and language

  -improved access across the Mekong

  -use of brokers to reach the Thai border and access employment in Thailand
• national plan of action for human trafficking

  -prevention- awareness campaigns, education, child protection, alleviation of poverty reducing the need to migrate

  -protection- creating shelters for women who made need counselling

  -prosecution- investigation of trafficking networks, training border officials, strengthening legal framework
• connections to Thailand 


  -Thailand migration corridor is dominated numerically by the outward flow of unskilled workers into Thailand

  -both work together as members of the Mekong river commission to manage flooding and economic activities in the basin

  -Laos signed agreements to build rail links between Thailand and vietnam in 2012
• opportunities

  -the migration corridor has helped to stimulate political and economic co operation in terms of trade, investment, development projects and security

  -political stability is improving between laos, thailand and Vietnam
• challenges

  -most economic migrants from Laos are low skilled have limited education an under 18

  -loss of skilled labour such as carpenters and exchanges to Thailand