Irregular Female Migrant Workers along Lao-Thai Borders

This thesis focuses on irregular migration from Laos to Thailand, and irregular migrant labour in Thailand. This research is set in Mukdahan – a small (in size and population) yet important province as a gateway to cross-border activities in the Mekong region. It draws on the experiences of Lao irregular female migrant labourers in Mukdahan, northeastern Thailand, and the practices and perspectives of Thai authorities and employers in relation to irregular migrant labour law and enforcement. The research explores the practices of authorities, and women’s negotiation of irregularity in the border crossing and in the context of labour, with a focus on the drivers that impact women’s decision making and how vulnerability and exploitation are defined.