IOM Worldwide
Central Asia
Migration Issues
The global economic recession has had a significant effect on labour migrants from Central Asia, as well as their families and home communities. For years, remittances have kept the Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek economies afloat. The billions of dollars annually sent across borders have enabled hundreds of thousands of families to maintain a low to moderate standard of living in their respective country. The economic slowdown in Russia and Kazakhstan has already affected many foreign workers, especially those who were employed in the construction sector which has been particularly hard-hit. Authorities in Bishkek, Dushanbe, and Tashkent are coming under increasing pressure to develop programmes that alleviate the socio-economic hardships befalling migrants and their families. However, governments around the region are experiencing a drop in revenue due to the general economic decline. This further exacerbates the situation as it makes it even harder for these governments to establish or strengthen a social safety net to assist migrants and other affected populations. Food security, as well as access to potable water and a reliable electrical supply have become some of the key priority issues facing Central Asian countries. These matters directly impact on internal migration patterns, labour migration trends, and cross-border migration processes.
