According to the Laos TimesOn January 5, 2024, it was reported that as Thailand's population ages, neighboring Laos has seen new immigrant employment opportunities for domestic workers.

Deputy Executive Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Labor Decha Pruekphathanarak said at a meeting organized by the International Organization for Migration on December 17, 2023, "We lack labor, and the only way to fill the gap is to import workers from neighboring countries."

Thailand fromSince the 1960s, the birth rate has been continuously declining, posing enormous challenges to the economy and society. Firstly, it leads to a shortage of labor, which puts pressure on enterprises to reduce productivity and increase costs. Secondly, leading to a contraction in consumption will have a negative impact on economic growth and also limit the development of enterprises and market expansion. Finally, the decline in birth rate leading to an imbalance in social security fiscal revenue and expenditure will also become a serious problem. Social security expenditures will increase significantly, while tax revenue may not be sufficient to support it.

In order to meet the demand of enterprises to increase the number of migrant workers, Thailand has taken measures and recently approved the extension of the residence period for migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam during the process of applying for work permitsJanuary 20, 2024.

Due to the economic downturn, high inflation, and currency depreciation in Laos over the past year, Thailand's challenging economic situation has greatly attracted Laotian migrant workers. One of the driving factors for the increase in migrant workers in Laos is low wages. Despite an increase in wages, the minimum wage remains at1600000 Lao Kip, unable to keep up with the continuous depreciation of the local currency. Therefore, Laotian workers are actively seeking employment opportunities in other countries.

The reason for further encouraging Laotian migrant workers to choose to immigrate to Thailand is that the Laotian government authorizes and enables workers to easily seek temporary employment in countries such as South Korea, Thailand, and Japan through legal channels and plans. Advisor to the Ministry of Industry and CommerceSomsay Ouanhiralay believes that workers hope to contribute to the development of Laos after returning home, allowing them to work abroad for a short period of time to acquire more skills, and then return to Laos to apply the knowledge they have learned. This immigration not only reflects the Laotian government's consideration for economic development, but also reflects the pursuit of skill development.