Suchergebnisse

PurposeThe labour force is the cornerstone of the economy of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Labour market growth seems to be vigorously increased by using labourers' capital to foster work-related employees' well-being, through enhancing their life satisfaction. This study examines whether linking social, human and financial capital are important for the labour force in Lao PDR and whether there is a positive relationship between occupational well-being and life satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested the hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Using a systematic sampling approach, the study employed structured interviews; data were collected from 1,037 members of the labour force, between 2017 and 2019.FindingsThe structural model indicated that linking social and human capital and occupational well-being were significantly positively related to life satisfaction. However, the present study found that financial capital was non-significantly related to life satisfaction. The substantive and practical implications of these findings are discussed.Originality/valueThis is the first research study to investigate the relationship between occupational well-being and life satisfaction using a Laotian sample.

International labour migration is one of the major issues of our time. Records at present total around 200 million people working outside their country of birth. This rapidly increasing phenomenon is examined in a large number of studies on migration, most of which, however, focus on experiences and practicalities of migrants at the place of destination. In this study, we provide insight into another issue of migration study by presenting occupational prestige as an indicator of social mobility of Thai labour brokers who were return migrants from overseas employment. The data was collected via structured interview with 321 samples obtained by systematic sampling from all provinces in the Northeast of Thailand during the years 2010-2011. Data analysis for social mobility was performed based on occupational prestige. The results indicated that occupational prestige of labour brokers (0.1934) was higher than their former occupational prestige for agricultural occupations (-0.3100) and industrial/service occupations (0.1800). Moreover, social mobility of labour brokers could be classified in the upper vertical mobility category of the "Occupational Mobility."

AbstractThailand needs to manage trash disposal due to the country's growing urban community. This study argues that waste management in the city of Khon Kaen can benefit from adopting Buddhist environmental ethics. We conducted a qualitative case study with purposive sampling of 24 key informants for in‐depth interviews. We used the ATLAS.ti programme to apply content analysis techniques (theme, coding and quotation). Our case study argues for an optimistic practice of waste management in temples by integrating the Buddhist principle of merit‐making. This approach shapes waste management, such as donating waste, garbage‐free funerals and waste disposal. The waste merit‐making in the temples reinforces application of 3Rs (reuse, reduce and recycle). The study suggests that waste‐merit management model could be replicated in other communities but its success is not guaranteed due to variations in the level of support and collaboration between community and temple.

The rigorous tobacco controls advocated by both international policy players and national government are foreseen to lowering demand in tobacco consumption, and consequently, the contraction of tobacco agriculture. This paper seeks to reveal why tobacco agriculture, albeit with the declining trend of tobacco farms, continues to persist. Theoretical guiding the investigation is based on the institutional arrangement of contract farming system, the idea that derived from New Institution Economics, and farmers' striving to attain livelihoods. The study adopts qualitative methods, utilising purposive sampling, with 53 tobacco farmers recruited from four provinces, namely Phrae, Phetchabun, Roi-et and Nongkhai, who took part in four focus group discussions. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with two provincial agricultural promotion officers, three provincial excise officers and four staff members of the local office of the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly. The data was analysed using content analysis. This paper found that supportive institutional arrangements, the adaptation of communities and households creating a favourable environment and the emergence of new markets for roll-your-own cigarettes are contributing to the persistence of tobacco agriculture. In light of tobacco control, two policy measures are proposed. First, the regulations for roll-your-own cigarette industries – both smallholders and manufacturers – must be revised and instituted. Second, to encourage tobacco farmers to move away from tobacco growing, institutional support for alternative crops, such as price guarantees, inputs and technical support should be provided in the same manner that the tobacco growers currently receive.