The Communist government of Laos, in power since 1975, wrecked the economy in the early years of its rule. Slow liberalization, begun in 1986, has yielded limited success. Corruption is endemic, laws are applied erratically, and the country remains highly dependent on international aid. Basic civil liberties are heavily restricted. Seventy-five percent of the workforce is employed in subsistence farming. In 2013, following a 15-year negotiation process, Laos became a member of the World Trade Organization.