According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), many Lao children tend to find their way to neighboring Thailand in search of jobs. And, more than half of these children are victims of human trafficking. This survey was done on the Lao households located in the provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet and Champassak.

Further, the ILO also found that in the year 2000, around 178,000 Lao children between the ages of 10 and 14 were working to support themselves and their families. Out of these, 91,000 were girls and 87,000 were boys which roughly makes up around 25.36 percent of this particular age group. This percentage has increased from 1995 when the number of boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14 working was 27.20 percent.

The government of Laos has made education compulsory and free until the fifth grade. However, the cost of books and shortage of qualified teachers in rural areas are reason enough for children not to attend school. In addition, certain ethnic groups within the country do not educate girls.

Although physical abuse against children in Laos is rare, forced labor, especially of girls, is a major problem. In addition, the other child labor issues in Laos are children working in family farms and family businesses. This is something not looked upon by the local people as child labor. However, it is deemed as child labor nonetheless, especially if children are denied their basic right to education and survival.

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