Ryazantsev S. V., Rakhmonov A. Kh., Pismennaya E. E. New Directions of Labor Migration From Tajikistan: The Case of the UK. Oriental Studies. 2024; 17 (3): 489–501. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.22162 ...

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Abstract

Introduction. Tajikistan is one of the few countries in the world whose State budget is largely formed by tax revenues from remittances from citizens working abroad. The deteriorating economic situation in Russia has forced migrants to seek a new direction of labor migration. In particular, the Government of Tajikistan itself is interested in reorienting migrants to a new destination. In 2021 Tajikistan has signed an employment agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Korea on sending seasonal migrants. The purpose of this article is to identify the prospects and trends in the development of labor emigration from Tajikistan to the UK, as well as the features and channels of seasonal migration from Tajikistan to the UK. Materials and methods of research. The present study uses statistical and sociological research methods. The statistics included the number of seasonal migrants from Tajikistan over a number of years. A content analysis of interviews with migrant workers who had work experience in the UK was conducted. The analytical method included the systematization of materials from the websites of recruitment agencies and bilateral agreements of the Republic of Tajikistan with foreign countries. The data is provided by the Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the National Statistical Service of Great Britain, the World Bank, the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Currently, the Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan has information on the unemployment rate in the country, the economically active population, as well as the number of Tajik migrants until 2021, the World Bank provides data until 2021. Data on the number of seasonal migrants and the structure of labor migration from Tajikistan by the end of 2022 have been published on an annual or quarterly basis and posted on the official website of the National Statistical Service of Great Britain. Results. The United Kingdom, which needs cheap labor for agriculture, was forced to expand its geography of attracting labor after BREXIT. In addition to the traditional region of hiring seasonal workers ― Eastern European countries (Poland, the Baltic States, Bulgaria), labor resources began to be actively attracted from Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan. The main factor in attracting migrants from Tajikistan to the UK is the shortage of labor in the country's labor market after leaving the EU. The main reasons for the reorientation of Tajik migrants from the Russian labor market to the UK are: the economic crises in Russia; the tightening of migration policy towards Tajik migrants; the spread of English among the youth of Tajikistan, etc. Migration of low-skilled citizens of Tajikistan began in the second quarter of 2021. The main types of migration from Tajikistan to the UK are seasonal migration. The main channel of emigration from Tajikistan to the UK are government and private recruitment agencies. The main institution from below is the State Institution "Center for Counseling and Pre-departure training of Migrant Workers before departure."