Migration in the Mekong Sub region: Route from Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao to Thailand and Social Welfare Arrangement

The research has purpose to analyze factors affecting on labor migration of 3 nationalities (Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR) in Thailand, and investigate the demand on social welfare. The sample was 511 workers, divided into 211 Cambodian  orkers, 150 Myanmar workers and 150 Lao workers. Data collection use specific sampling method. Data analysis applies logistic regression analysis. Research found that most of the workers are female (53.82%). Most of them are married (57.93%). The  verage age is 30 years. The average education is primary. They are mostly MOU worker (66.93%). Factors influencing migration are income before migration, knowledge and attitude towards Thailand, own house belonging at home, number of family member living in Thailand, difficulties of finding work at home and career opportunities in hometowns. Policy recommendations are: 1) Medical welfare arrangement, 2) The provision of educational welfare for foreign children, 3) State welfare assistance, 4) development procedures for foreign registration, passport making, extension of visa and work permit, 5) Increasing officers and doing online database, 6) Official announcements through various media in Myanmar, Cambodian and Lao language, 7) Charging fees appropriately, 8) Encourage good relationship between employer and employee, 9) Labor protection, 10) Organizing foreign workers into the system.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Not applicable

The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.