Embassy of the Republic of Korea
in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

ㅇ In Laos, low wages, a weakening kip, and inflation have led to an increase in the number of overseas migrant workers, resulting in a labour shortage in the country.

- Most Lao migrant workers are employed in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia, with approximately 228,000 Lao nationals working in Thailand(70,000 of them did not receive permits) and at least 13,000 in South Korea, according to the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

ㅇThe Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is strengthening domestic employment support and urging efforts to raise wages, to address the labour shortage in the country, while at the same time working with international organisations and relevant agencies to facilitate legal migration for Lao migrant workers abroad.

- The minimum wage in Laos is lower than in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand, but some companies fail to pay the minimum wage.

   (Vientiane Times, 2024.2.5.).