Do we lost our human resources?

[KOEY PEN LAO]

woww...many viewpoints are developped today
Belle, yep, till now to future, only tourism is the main resource to increase in Laos. I agree with u.
Victor, nice point of view too, this matches totally with my aim and target what i like to developp seriously some business in Laos. Well if anyone here live in Europe and especiallly in France, we could meet or talk more. Here my msn : [e-mail]

[Khon Lao Yuu America]

Hey TTT! Thanks for the comments!

Let's not talk about the politics. I don't know anything about it nor I care about it. I do know that every little things involved in some kinds of political issues.

You are right about young Lao kids in the U.S often dropped out of high schools or colleges. That's because of peer pressures from other kids. Another reason is that when they have problems they can't talk to their parents or their parents don't listen to them. So that creates problems for young kids. Not just Lao kids, kids in general. So when they can't turn to their parents for helps, they turn to their friends and friends turn them into bad things.... you see my point here???

I know this from experience. I've been there and done that. There were lots of times in your teenager live that you made mistakes, did stupid things. Don't look at people at the negative sides, look at their positive sides as well.

Now let's talk about Lao students that came to study in the U.S. My family took 2 of them in and financially helped them while they stayed here and learned. I went to the same college with them and we were majoring in Engineering degrees. They spoke very little English. I helped them out with their English. One guy was very smart in Math and he helped me out with that and in return I helped him with English. They both graduated and got good jobs. They don't want to go home yet. They said they need more experiences and more money to help their families back in Laos first. Also, there is no way they can make such a salary like they do now in Laos. They said it will be hard for them to go home and find a job with a decent pay unless you know someone that can hook you up. I can see their points here. If you are not a rich-borned person, you will have a hard time to compete for a job or schooling system there. I heard this from the facts.

For me, I am different. I learned the American ways of pursuing my dreams. In schools they taught you not to be shy. They taught you to be agressive, competative, a goal getter. I always dreamed about my future and never stopped trying to get there. I won't stop until I reach the top. I want to look back 10 years from now and be proud of myself knowing that I am one of the top Lao executives in the top American company.

Believe me! I have crossed so many bad roads, people stepped on my heads, pushed me around, but I never gave up. I set my grounds and modivated myself to work harder. Now, I can see at least the light at the end of the tunnel. I am half-way to top.

I want to show them that we Lao people are not stupid.

I always knew that someday I would go back to Laos to work there and retire there.

I will bring back such a great knowledge, experiences, resources with me to help our country.

And I don't think we will loose our resources because they will always be smart people out there...

Until then, it is only my dreams and hopes...

[Peter]

Bravo, good on you everybody make mistake sometime because of invironment or some other reasons but at least correct our mistake when we see it then 'Tomorrow is still bright for us'...but please do not think I am too much politics, because this olso concerned decision marking 'Likes what wrong when Parents told their children to study hard for your future and country...' this seen as Dictator..or not Democracy. The very first day of my University days I saw people distributed 'Condoms' Condoms were every where...to be honest with you all...I was shocked...this is one part of Western Democracy definitively NOT FOR LAO....that's why USA should understand and allowed small country likes Lao choose what ever good from USA but not everything, is that not Acceptable then I doubt about Western Democracy...it doesn't really tolerate people freedom of choosing when they choose what good for them...of course I also fluency with French ' and I guarantee with you, you can communitcate in French with me. Many years ago I had opportunity to work with United Nation, it was good experiences for me....so there you are, ( On dit vouloir c'est pouvoir ).So let forget the past and look at the Future. Bonne chance a tout le monde.

[Victor Rattanavong]

Hi fellow laotians, i would like to make a couple of points on the immigration of our educated people to developed nations.

First and foremost, i know that students are looking only to improve their economic livelyhoods and the prospects for laos in the short term, that is the period when they come back is not so good in terms of the job market, but however that does not mean they cannot contribute anything as a valuable resource. Ultimately, a nations greatest asset are its people. And we have only started to build this nation from the ruins of war and have lost so much intellectuals and professionals which have emigrated to the US, france and elsewhere. Now, the new generation as only began to emerge and are provided with scholarships to study abroad, yet some decide to stay in distant lands seeking better career prospects. Laos has only 5 million people and counting, i'ed say the proportion of educated people are much smaller than that of the uneducated.

Based on the statement above, if you are a student abroad and think that if you go back to laos and there will be nothing valuable on offer for you in terms of economic security, you are dead wrong. Sure i know people mostly think of the short term when they plan things but if you look ahead, you will see that Laos is part of and is experiencing growth in a region characterized by rapid development. I think that if you look carefully and think about it there are opportunities, especially business ones, you can pretty much make a living anywhere in the world, you can make fortunes if you have the ability and means to....ANYWHERE, but my point is that why would u do it somewhere else when u can do it in your home country and contribute to something that helps everybody grow and succeed?

For example i have a sister that recently graduated from australia on an Ausaid scholarship, she went back and now has a job with a major international aid agency in the country and makes about 600 per month, which is more than enough in a country where people make an average of only 300 a year....and she knows she could be making more but her mentality is different. she thinks that she is adding to our small human resource pool and thus contributing even if insignificantly, to the development of laos, which i totally agree, and if she leaves for a better job overseas she would only contribute to the brain drain of laos. Making that kind of money or better in laos and being able to save it can lead to other opportunies such as investment in a business that creates jobs and income for others while also making yourself rich. This is how it should be done.

However i am not disagreeing with those of you who think that after studying and working abroad and accumulating capital for some time then come back to laos and start their own business or work for other companies or government agencies that have already began to set foot in laos. THIS IS ALSO A GOOD OPTION. Most importantly those that decide to come back whether immediately after graduation or after working and saving some money, the good thing is that you've decide to COME BACK. I seriously think laos cannot afford to lose you.

Furthermore you will be adding to our small but growing human resource pool which foreign companies and multinationals consider as a major deciding factor whether or not to invest in a country. If our work force was more educated and is growing, especially an internationalised work force due to most that were educated abroad, then multinationals and others can draw upon this human resource base and provide lucrative jobs for them whether it be in the factories or up top in their management. Laos is facing a deep constraint, especially in skilled workers, thats why we are not attracting the amount of FDI (foreign direct investment) levels we should be. Vietnam and CHina place a high emphasis on education from the early for their children thats why we see ....as you can see everywhere that vietnamese and chinese kids are so good in math and science and other subjects. As a result they've built a large and capable work force over 2 -3 decades which is pretty much the engine of their remarkable ascendancy economically.

My second point is that, as i've mentioned before we are also moving slow in development because our leaders are not competent enough to handle a new globalized era because they are still caught up in the "revolutionary" spirit and still promote socialism as a working cause, which you can see by our obvious emphasis on alignment with vietnam. Let me say something about vietnam, they are not caught up in the past and still regard the west with animosity and suspicion they put it behind them and moved on as you can see they even have high level exchange visits with the US, a country that they formerly regarded as a bitter enemy, president clinton visited during his term in office and the vietnamese vice premier has made some visits, even their defense minister visited the pentagon to discuss strategic military cooperation to counterweight China. Thats what we should be doing also. By allowing a more relaxed, boot-licking so as to speak and cooperative foreign policy with the west, especially the US, we can curry favour in bring in massive amounts of foreign investment in the form of multinational US companies such as microsoft, Nike, IBM, etc.

Now lets talk about what you can do IF YOU RETURN. Everybody knows that untill our elites that lead us are more liberal and educated, then shall we have rapid growth. But YOU CANNOT SAY YOU CAN"T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE YOU CAN. How? i know u think that when u go to laos you will only be part of the lower rung of a society and government beauracracy (if u decide to work for the government) that is hard to climb and advance, career wise. However, did u ever consider that when you have alot at the bottom that are educated at the top you will serve as a catalyst for them to change because you are smarter and more resourceful than them so one day they will certainly have to bow out to more competent people. For example if bush was mentally retarded and Cheney which is his vice president was an einstein with ambition, he could pretty much take over bush any time he wants.....any one disagree? .....i think not. thats just a simple analogy, but reality says that you will definitely contribute to something bigger as rapid change will be brought about by our generation of international students, not the current era of leaders which pretty much only had BASIC training in the lao army before entering politics, thats it for most of them. And they wont live forever. however knowledge will live forever and if you possess it you can make a difference. As we the new generation lead and gain acceptance and have very friendly relations with the west and of course other nations, we can make our point more acknowledgable and make our situation more understable in terms of politics. IF we do this for example Lee kuan yew, former prime minister of singapore and even the recently elected president of the Ukraine, make speeches infront of the US congress and explain to them that we are not the kind of countries their press and media bash us with, we are aiming for modernity and harmoney with everybody, we do tolerate human rights and show them what we have done. This method will generate positive public opinion among americans and will therefore generate positive results for every faucet for Laos, including better rep and positive coverage or less of the cynical-distorting-style journalism we're experience now. Its all up to us, the new generation......SO please do what you have to do and just come back. ITS YOUR HOMELAND.

The sky is the limit people. just be sure you make an effort to reach for it.

[Peter]

I agree with Victor Rattanawong, after graduated if you were lucky enough to find employment then nothing wrong to stay back in those countries to work and make contribution later on for your country, but some have further and more urgent to come home to help the country out, because the world is moving fast in any aspects, so feel free to do so if you have job in overseas, what I known now even Programmers only have job as contract...6 months or 1 year, but and then if you are lucky then why not, there are many ways to help your country so I don't need to 'Jut jao, fay kar jay lea taw leo kor mee'. Just make sure we have to help our country that's all...our neighbour countries they have Internet for the whole population to complaint about government policies or criticize the government so I think Lao will set up this Channel too...may be a little bit later on...I hope.

[ket]

I think why most people who study abroad don't want to come back home after graduate. One reason might be that those people study or live in westurn country too long and then they get the westurn ideas what ever living or working style. While working in the home country is so traditional and slow also low slary. If their educatin level is hight , they probably can't find jobs easily . We could see that many high quarlity people would work for the organizations

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rather than for government.

[chinese born in Lao]

I believe, Lao government should change some of the law, left over by the past regime, which I think out of date likes children of people who their background are not Lao but lived in Lao for many generations when their children born in Lao it should automaticly regarded as a Lao Citizen, not a foreigner as Monarchy Past put them into...they then have a lao name but can retain their 'Narm Sarkoon' likes many country around the world, so people don't see that Lao government forced them to throw everything away before they can recognise at Lao citizen, in that way Lao will get more contribution from them to the country otherwise they just do their own things to survive...Of course the argue of many students are ' when they finished their studied they rather work for foreign campanies back home because of the money is better than Lao government, but if the revenue of the country sent you to study abroad then I believe you have to work for Lao government at least few years to pay back the tax money which sent you abroad, the reasons because of Lao government paid its Public Servants not very good compared with other countries because Lao Revenue itself...but as things improove I think Lao government have to look as increase the salary of its workers...simply a Revenue of a country anywhere in the world is from Tax, and things that the country could 'Export' then it will treat the 'Revenue' likes a cake, the Treasury Department then look into the need of each Provinces or States...and devide the cake into pieces and deliver to that province so the government of that province has the money to do things...if everything is done in an open way...then I believe not much the one who one to take some money out of the budget into their pocket could really do it. If they did then they have to face the Law...Bringing in tourists for Lao is another way to help the country...100% good idea.

[police]

not easy to get a job in Laos..sometime u even have to pay them to get a job...very very hard...well, the money too little anyway....do what u want to do....be your own master...Laos is ******** country anyway....i have a chance to visit Laos..i see many thing...even myself don't want to live in Laos...

[Tam Ruat]

Yee harar...you are right police, who is going to live in Lao...Usa is better, because of a lot cheese burgers...lao salary can not even buy a cheeseburger...only buy some 'tum mark hoong'. So stay with hamburgers.

[tam luat]

Yes I agree police, one hamburger for you, one cheeseburger for your papa, one hotdog for your mama, and live on with hamburgers. we only eat pingkay and kawlarm.

[Oy]

very stupid, I love Lao.

[sao lao]

to all people here , would you guys stop fighting each other , and stop talking about lao politic, it will never work , past is the past we can't not change any thing, people in laos can not afford to have war, or new government, instead of blaming on some one why don't we find other way to help our country, i respected all your views , and i can see that we all love our home land, but there are so many opptotunities to help laos , have you guys read the news about oil factory in lao. you guy should do what he does, just go and reseach ,instead of talking on the net and do nothing

[Baolao]

I agree with Saolao, stop talking bullnuts. The up and down of Lao history directly linked to the fact that Lao fought each other. Remember, why Lao became under Siam or was colonized by Friench. Because our ancestors fought each other and divided the Lanh Xang kingdom into three. So, do we still want our country to go back and be controlled by other countries? critcizing and insulting situation in the present Laos do not make you look smart, but it is the opposite. If you are smart you can pose your ideas about what you think is a good way or feasible ideas to improve Laos without riskying our country into civil war.

For some of you who live in the US, you might have seen the same experience as I have. Some of communities there often argue and do not like to follow what have been agreed on. The leading members of the community like to think that their own ideas are the best and don't want to listen to others or follow. I sometime feel that Lao people whether we are in Laos or in US or any other countries, no matter how long we live there, we do not seem to change. We like criticize or gossip others, but do very little. Shut your M--th up if you don't have ideas to help the country, using this website to insult people leaving in Laos really make you look stipid.

I think Webmaster should not ask about what is the problem or whether this and that is the problem like the question "do we lost our human resources?" because we all know that we do lost our human resources, but we can gain benefit if these studentd return or contribute in some ways. It would be more interesting if the question is something like what do you do differently if you can to take more advantage from overseas student training?

[saolao]

you are right baolao, laos people are every where in the world , but there is no one want to get together and talk , no one want to follow some one idea, what asham for all lao people, i have grown up in laos and have seen so many good and bad things about laos, +but what can we do about this???, we can not change any thing ,and i would like to take this opportunity to ask you all please do some thing to help laos, go to laos and have a look what is really going on in lao , what can u do to contribute, eventhough we can not help much but unless we are willing to do it, laos country needs popele like you guys, i will go back and have a look at it myself end of this year

[Laotian will never changed]

Yes, we have lost!!!! Laos will never be the same.