ASIA - Migration in central Asia: questions, figures, prospects in a report by the International Organisation for Migration

Monday, 6 June 2005

Astana (Fides Service) - Migratory streams from Central Asia move towards the Russian Federation and also increasingly towards Europe and Canada according to a report issued by the International Organisation for Migration very active in central Asia. The area considered by the report covers five former Soviet territories Kazakstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and two bordering countries Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The report was drafted by 250 researchers who interviewed hundreds of migrant individuals and families. The main emerging factor was that migration changed with the fall of the Soviet Union . In the past Russia was the main destination, today central Asian migrants look westwards to Europe and Canada said to be hospitable countries where Asian immigrants find it easier to settle.
The report deals with legal and illegal migration. The former is regulated by agreements with the countries of destination, the latter, with larger dimension, is totally deregulated. For example the number of legal Tajik immigrants registered in Russia in 2002 was 17,000 compared to over 600,000 illegal immigrants.
The report says that a good percentage (more than 25% in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) emigrate in search of work, often seasonal work temporary but tending to be ever more permanent with precise social consequences and a tendency towards definitive emigration.
The amount of money sent home by emigrants is also increasing and this means growth of home-country economies and better living conditions for family left at home. In 2002 Tajik workers sent a total 200-230 million dollars back to Tajikistan, Uzbeks sent 400 million dollars back to Uzbekistan and 120 million dollars were sent back to Kyrgyzstan. Work abroad is a remedy for growing unemployment and poverty in much of central Asia.
However calls for reflection on the working conditions, security and respect for the rights of Asian workers abroad, often exploited with long hours of heavy labour or blackmailed by criminal organisations.
The International Organisation for Migration calls for more co-operation between governments affected by migratory streams and the institution of a standing regional conference to discuss social and political questions regarding migration.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/6/2005 righe 31 parole 321)


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