DUSHANBE, August 5, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The low level of legal awareness and lack of knowledge of the Russian language are among the main factors preventing Tajik labor migrants from working in Russia and because of poor knowledge of the employment realities abroad as well as legal requirements, many of them find themselves in irregular situations and are victims of abuse and exploitation, according to Tajikistan’s Migration Service.

In late July, the Migration Service’s representative office in Russia reportedly received more than 20 applications from Tajik labor migrants, who noted that the Russian limited liability company, Konsumek, has not paid them wages for a total amount of 617,000 Russian rubles.  “As a result of negotiations the company has repaid its wage debts to those 20 Tajik nationals,” the source said.

The Migration Service calls on Tajik nationals wanting to work in Russian to conclude labor agreements with employers irrespective of their forms of property that will help the Migration Service’s representative office and the Tajik Embassy in Dushanbe protect their rights.