“According to latest state media reports, the government aim to to scale up one of its most significant labor migration schemes while grappling with the domestic workforce pressures that come with it.”
“Labor Minister Phoxay Sayasone chaired a consultation on 13 March reviewing the South Korea Seasonal Worker Program, confirming the 2026 target as part of a broader 2026–2030 five-year labor dispatch plan.”
“Laos had dispatched over 7,500 seasonal workers through the formal program by mid-2024, according to KPL. Across all visa categories, around 13,000 Lao nationals were working in South Korea by the same period.”
“Workers earn between USD 1,600 and USD 2,000 per month including social benefits, compared to the roughly USD 375 a month that university-educated workers can expect at home.”
“The financial impact on Laos is significant. Government figures from early 2024 put remittances from Lao workers abroad at over USD 35.5 million per month, totaling USD 426 million annually.”
“Laos is experiencing a labor shortage of more than 800,000 people against a working-age population of around five million. Businesses across Vientiane have struggled to retain permanent staff, with workers leaving for higher pay abroad.”
https://laotiantimes.com/2026/03/15/laos-plans-to-send-17000-workers-to-south-korea-in-2026/