DUSHANBE , April 19, Asia-Plus - The majority of Tajik labor migrants working in the trade and services rendering sectors in the Russian Federation are not hurry to be legalized, Zokir Vazirov, Minister of Labor and Social Security, announced at a briefing in Dushanbe on April 18.    

According to him, some 17 percent of Tajiks seasonally migrating to Russia are working in these sectors.  The minister said the main reason for them not to be registered was unwillingness  to pay taxes and obtain licenses.  Meanwhile, all necessary issues have already been solved at the governmental level, according to Vazirov.  

“Ratification of government–to-government agreement between Tajikistan and Russia on labor migration and protection of rights of Tajik citizens in Russia and Russian citizens in Tajikistan has laid a foundation for legalization of migrants,” said the minister, “Mostly, our migrants working in the field of small and medium-sized businesses face legalization difficulties, because employers do not want to pay various fees, taxes and allowances in case of illness or death of employee.”   

“At present a stage-by-stage legalization of labor migrants working in industrial and construction sectors is under way in the Russian Federation ,” Vazirov said, noting that 45 percent of a total number of Tajik labor migrants staying in Russia are working in those sectors.

Vazirov stressed that the government provided support to migrants, providing them with valid foreign passports and organizing training courses for them to enhance awareness among them of employment realities abroad as well as legal requirements.   .

According to data of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, 228,820 Tajik citizens have seasonally migrated mostly to Russia , but also to Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan since the beginning of the year, in order to find better economic conditions and to support their families.  The majority of them are residents of the northern province of Sughd – 106,894 people.  From the Khatlon province, more than 63,000 people have left the country in search of better employment opportunities, and from districts subordinate to the center – 58,780 people, according to him. 

In the first quarter of the year, 12 organizations in Tajikistan have been granted licenses for employing Tajik migrants abroad, the minister said.