Over a month, the Thai minimum salary worked out to 209% more than the current Lao minimum wage and still 114% more than the rate that begins in April.
The country of 6.7 million has a workforce of 3.7 million, most of whom work in the agricultural sector. The workforce is defined as people aged between 16 and 65 years old, according to UN and other agencies.
Many Thai industries, including textile factories, have relocated to Laos due to lower wages there. Direct investment from Thailand from 1989 to 2012 accounted for US$4.08 billion in Laos, according to the Lao Planning and Investment Ministry.
Laos requires workers to work eight hours a day and 26 days a month with a day off every week