Laos was known to be one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia, but things seem to have taken a slightly different turn in recent years. With an increasing influx of foreign visitors, a rising concern about the country’s crime rate has emerged, echoing through various voices on social media.
Thailand’s Aging Population Drives Lao Labor Market Across the Border
Thailand needs more workers, and the younger Lao population is all set to step in.
As Thailand’s population gets older, new job opportunities emerge for foreign workers, especially from neighboring countries.
“We lack laborers, and the only way to fill the gap is to import workers from nearby countries,” Decha Pruekphathanarak, the deputy permanent secretary at the Thai Ministry of Labor, said at a conference organized by the International Organization for Migration on 17 December.
In response to increasing requests from companies for more migrant workers, Thailand has taken steps to facilitate their entry into the country. The government recently granted a stay extension to migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam until 20 January, 2024, while they go through the work permit application process.
Specifically, for workers under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Thai government and Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, the deadline for their stay extension has been moved to 30 April, 2024, from the initial date of 31 December, 2023.
This move comes at a crucial time as Laos grapples with an economic downturn, high inflation, and currency depreciation over the past year. The challenging economic conditions have made the prospect of working in Thailand more appealing for Lao migrant workers.
One driving factor behind the increasing migration from Laos is the low wages in the country. Despite some incremental increases, these wages have struggled to keep pace with the continued depreciation of the local currency. As a result, workers in Laos are actively seeking employment opportunities in other countries, contributing to the growing demand for migrant labor in Thailand.
“The current economic situation in Laos is dire, and the pay is low. There are many more benefits here as a laborer in Thailand, where I can earn up to THB 500 (USD 14.25) per day,” Saengphet Xayasane, a Lao laborer working in Udon Thani, Thailand, told the Laotian Times in a previous interview.
This remains true today, as Laos’ minimum wage remains at LAK 1,600,000 (USD 83).
Further making the move to Thailand even more appealing is the Lao government authorizing and facilitating workers to pursue temporary employment abroad in countries such as South Korea, Thailand, and Japan through legal channels and programs.
Somsay Ouanphilalay, a consultant attached to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, however, suggests otherwise, suggesting that such schemes usually include short-term employment for workers to acquire more skills and return to Laos to implement what they learned overseas.
Thailand’s declining birth rate since the 1960s, combined with Laos’ current economic recession, leaves the Lao labor market with limited options. With low wages and high living costs, the labor market in Laos may continue to witness a trend of migration to neighboring Thailand. This migration reflects not only economic considerations but also the pursuit of skill development, with workers aiming to contribute to Laos’ development upon their return.
Ethnic Armed Group Battling Myanmar’s Military Claims to Have Shot Down Army Helicopter
BANGKOK (AP) — An ethnic minority armed group that is battling Myanmar’s military government said they shot down a helicopter believed to be on a resupply mission in a combat zone in the northern state of Kachin on 3 January.
Laos’ SEZs Surge with Major Investments, Fueling Economic Growth Amid Lingering Concerns for Worker Safety
Laos experienced a slight economic upswing in 2023 as approximately 178 companies funneled investments into Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the country, generating over 3,600 job opportunities for both local and international workers.
Myanmar to Join ASEAN Tourism Forum in Vientiane Amidst Ongoing Civil War
Amidst an ongoing civil war between the military government and its civil opposition, Myanmar is pushing ahead with efforts to revitalize its tourism sector in 2024, and it plans to start on 22-27 January by showcasing its potential at the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum in Vientiane, Laos.
Thai Prime Minister Says Visa-Free Policy for Chinese Visitors to Be Made Permanent in March

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand and China will soon implement visa-free entry for each other’s citizens, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Tuesday.
Airport in Houaphanh Set for International Upgrade
Houaphanh province is set to upgrade Nong Khang airport to international status to boost tourism and economic development across the province, Governor Khampheng Saysompheng announced during a government meeting in Vientiane on 26-27 December, 2023.
Lao, Thai Authorities Arrest Malaysian Drug Dealer Hiding in Laos
Ong Gim Wah, a 39-year-old Malaysian national, was apprehended for drug-related crimes in Laos in a joint operation between Lao and Thai authorities on 29 December, 2023.
The Office of Narcotics Control Board in Thailand revealed the arrest on January 1, highlighting Wah’s extensive involvement in a transnational drug syndicate operating in the Golden Triangle Region since 2006.
Authorities suspect that Wah collaborated with drug networks spanning Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore, and Laos. Thailand served as a crucial money laundering and transit point for smuggling drugs into Malaysia, Taiwan, and Australia.
His arrest follows a major drug seizure in June, where seven other suspects were apprehended with a staggering 998 kilograms of crystal meth in Ratchaburi, according to the Bangkok Post.
The joint operation resulted in the confiscation of Wah’s assets, including a plot of land, two condominium units, three yachts, two cars, three motorbikes, three guns, THB 275,000 (USD 8000) in cash, 10 bank accounts, and other assets across Bangkok, Trat, Chiang Rai, and Chon Buri, worth an estimated THB 85 million (USD 2.48 million).
Over the past year, Lao authorities have intensified efforts to crack down on drug smuggling, especially in Bokeo Province. The crackdown led to one of the biggest busts in the country’s history, along with other seizures of substantial impact.
In September of last year, Lao authorities managed to confiscate 33 million tablets along with 500 kg of crystal methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Bokeo Province. In June, two men were arrested in Tonpheung district after being found in possession of 2.8 million amphetamine pills.
In August, Bokeo Province authorities also seized 720 kg of methamphetamine found hidden in two pick-up trucks following a tip-off by residents. While in Vientiane Capital, local police discovered over 5 million amphetamine pills in an SUV that flipped in the center of Vientiane Capital’s Chanthabouly district.
As drug smuggling continues to be an issue throughout the country, especially in crime-ridden centers such as the Golden Triangle, authorities in Laos, along with neighboring countries are enhancing their grip on the problem.