In May 2024, VOA News reported on exploitative working conditions experienced by Laotian workers migrating to Thailand, South Korea, Japan and China. The article alleges these workers are exposed to “debt traps and human trafficking”.

According to data from the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, a large proportion of Laotian workers are employed in neighbouring countries without proper work permits. This is particularly the case in China, where undocumented workers cross the border for temporary employment in the northern Luang Namtha province. These workers are particularly at risk of abuse amid a lack of information on their location or conditions of employment.

The article alleges traffickers use media channels such as TikTok to deceptively recruit workers into fraudulent schemes.

The article also says Laotian workers are often charged high recruitment fees, leading to abuse and debt bondage.

In May, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited TikTok to respond to the article and to outline how it monitors and removes content containing false promises of employment conditions targeting prospective migrant workers in Laos – particularly those migrating to China, South Korea, Thailand and Japan. TikTok's response can be read in full below.