DUSHANBE, July 21, 2016, Asia-Plus – Over the first six months of this year, 308,676 labor migrants, including 40,682 women, have left Tajikistan seeking better employment opportunities, which was 8.0 percent or 27,949 people less than in the same period last year, Tajik Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population, Ms. Sumangul Taghoyzoda, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 21.
Over the report period, Tajik seasonal workers have reportedly traveled primarily to Russia (301,654) but also to neighboring Kazakhstan (6,043), Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
“160,434 people, including 3,928 women, have returned to the country over the same six-month period, which was 14 percent or 27,034 people less than in the same period last year,” the minister said.
According to her, the reduction in labor migration is due to the new regulations for entrance into the Russian Federation on International Passports from January 1, 2015, amendments in the existing Russian Federation legislation on the activities of labor migrants from foreign countries, and devaluation of the Russian ruble (RR).
Ms. Toghoyzoda says Tajikistan has received the bodies of 436 of its citizens from Russia over the same six-month period. The causes of death were reportedly murder, disease, accident, suicide, etc.
