EXPECTATIONS AND BENEFITS FROM WORKING IN THAILAND: A CASE STUDY OF YOUNG LAO MIGRANT WORKERS IN CHANGWAT PRACHINBURI

Abstract

This research is a study of the backgrounds and expectations of young Lao migrant workers who migrate to Thailand, as well as the benefits they want from working in this country. Most of these workers are recruited from Luang Prabang province to seek employment in the food processing factory in Prachinburi province. In addition, the research studied how Lao migrant workers came to work in the food processing factory. It was found that they came mainly through the recruitment companies, which could provide better protection for their rights under Thai law and the MOU which were signed by Lao PDR and Thailand in 2002. The study conducted a survey of 85 Lao migrant workers (55 female and 30 male) through both questionnaires and interviews and found that the main expectations of most Lao migrant workers from working in Thailand were earning money. They could earn more money to support and help their family at home; moreover, they also gained new experiences and new skills that could be useful when they go back home. Money from their savings could be invested in some enterprises of they own when they return, for example, rubber plantations, mushroom farms and so on. Another benefit is that those young Lao migrant workers were able to learn from the job, including the production process.