The development of labor migration and the preparation of Tajik citizens for work in Japan were the focus of a meeting between Tajikistan's Minister of Labor, Migration, and Employment of the Population, Ms. Gulnora Hasanzoda, and the Ambassador of Japan to Tajikistan, Mr. Toshihiro Aiki, the press center of the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population (MoLMEP) says.
The meeting reportedly took place in Dushanbe on December 9.
“Gulnora Hasanzoda thanked Ambassador Toshihiro Aiki for his assistance and significant contribution to strengthening bilateral cooperation, including the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on information exchange to implement the 'Specialized Skilled Worker' system on August 8, 2024," the statement says.
She reportedly also expressed interest in the swift implementation of this document and the dispatch of Tajik citizens to Japan, considering the national interests of both countries.
Currently, Russia remains the primary destination for Tajik labor migrants. However, Tajik migrants in Russia face pressure and persecution from authorities, with hundreds deported annually without explanation.
In recent years, Tajikistan has actively worked to open new destinations for labor migration, particularly to the United Kingdom and South Korea.
In 2022, under an agreement between Tajikistan's Ministry of Labor and South Jeolla Province (Jeollanam-do) Province in South Korea, 58 Tajik citizens were sent for seasonal work in the country's greenhouses.
In November 2024, a final agreement was signed for employing Tajik citizens in South Korea, with the first wave of migrants set to depart in 2025.
Additionally, Tajikistan's Ministry of Labor signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea on October 31 regarding the deployment of workers through the Korean Employment Permit System (EPS). This document awaits ratification by both countries' parliaments.
This year, Lithuania also invited Tajik citizens for work opportunities.
