Spent Two Nights at the House Entrance…
How Do Tajik Labour Migrants Survive the Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic, borders closure, movement restrictions and quarantine introduction complicated the labour migrants' lives.
Rustam Saidov, a resident of Vahdat, a suburb of the Tajik capital, has been working on construction sites in Moscow for more than ten years. He arrived in Tajikistan in February and could not return to Russia after the borders closure.
Rustam arrived in Tajikistan through neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where he was quarantined for 14 days. The money he brought from Russia quickly ran out. Now, he is searching for the ways to provide for his family.
Rustam arrived in Tajikistan through neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where he was quarantined for 14 days. The money he brought from Russia quickly ran out. Now, he is searching for the ways to provide for his family.
"The life is getting harder every day. In Tajikistan, it is very difficult to provide for a wife and three children. When I ran out of money, I had to go to the capital and search for a job on 'mardikorbazar' [a special place, where men ready to work are waiting for the employer who would offer them the job. 'Mardikor' is the term for a worker for hire – Tr.]. But the situation on the labour market is very difficult," says Rustam.
Many workers wait for employers in mardikorbazars daily, but there is almost no work. Most of them returned home from labour migration due to the pandemic, and became unemployed here.
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It is very difficult to make a living in Tajikistan. I have three children; they all study at school. This year, none of them went to school because I cannot afford to buy them school uniforms, books, other things. My youngest child had to go to the first grade this year, but since there is no money, I did not let him go to school.
As soon as the borders open, I will go to Russia. The first thing I want to do is to send my kids to school. I want my children to receive a good education.
As soon as the borders open, I will go to Russia. The first thing I want to do is to send my kids to school. I want my children to receive a good education.
There are not enough jobs in the country, therefore, from 400 thousand to 1 million citizens (according to various sources) leave for labour migration annually. Most go to the Russian Federation; in spring the number of migrants increases, and in winter they return to their homeland.
However, this year, due to the pandemic, many Tajik men who returned home for the winter could not leave to work. Therefore, the number of men looking for job in mardikorbazars in Tajikistan has noticeably increased. They all are concerned with their current situation and looking forward to the end of the pandemic.
However, the situation in Russia for labour migrants is not developing in the best way as well. The migrants who stayed there complain that, due to the quarantine, they were left without any money for buying food for months.
However, this year, due to the pandemic, many Tajik men who returned home for the winter could not leave to work. Therefore, the number of men looking for job in mardikorbazars in Tajikistan has noticeably increased. They all are concerned with their current situation and looking forward to the end of the pandemic.
However, the situation in Russia for labour migrants is not developing in the best way as well. The migrants who stayed there complain that, due to the quarantine, they were left without any money for buying food for months.
«When the fever began,
the family kicked me out»
the family kicked me out»
Rano Samatova
When the pandemic began, I worked as a nanny in a family. I worked there for almost three years: for two and a half years, I looked after a boy, and then, I looked after their second child.
When the quarantine began, no one was allowed to go outside; I leased my apartment and stayed with this family. In April, I got sick, I was infected from them. When the fever began, the family kicked me out. I had nowhere to go. It was impossible to stay outside, the transport did not work, no one let anyone go anywhere. I spent two days with a fever at the entrance of the house. During the day, I stayed in the yard, and at nights, the concierge let me in. To be honest, it was awful…
When the quarantine began, no one was allowed to go outside; I leased my apartment and stayed with this family. In April, I got sick, I was infected from them. When the fever began, the family kicked me out. I had nowhere to go. It was impossible to stay outside, the transport did not work, no one let anyone go anywhere. I spent two days with a fever at the entrance of the house. During the day, I stayed in the yard, and at nights, the concierge let me in. To be honest, it was awful…
Rano Samatova
I did not go to the hospital because I had no financial opportunity. I had little money, I sent it home, and recovered myself. I found out how my friends were treated. I found a girl, she gave me injections. I am thankful to my friends on social networks who helped me: Facebook friends from Dagestan and Tajikistan transferred money to the card, and I bought medicine for myself, and there was a little money for food.
The moments like this test people. Close people can betray you, and others support. I rented an apartment with the fellow citizens, paid the money in advance, and they kicked me out a day later. A woman from Dagestan invited me to her place. As I recovered, I found a job as a nurse looking after an old woman for two months. Now, I work in a good family, I look after three children. I wanted our journalists to write about how people suffer in migration. If I had a job at home, I would not go anywhere", Rano said.
The moments like this test people. Close people can betray you, and others support. I rented an apartment with the fellow citizens, paid the money in advance, and they kicked me out a day later. A woman from Dagestan invited me to her place. As I recovered, I found a job as a nurse looking after an old woman for two months. Now, I work in a good family, I look after three children. I wanted our journalists to write about how people suffer in migration. If I had a job at home, I would not go anywhere", Rano said.
Davlatyor Saidov works in Russia as a clothing supplier in a Moscow company for five years. After quarantine introduction, he could not find a job for months and owed his friends a large amount of money.
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"The quarantine was introduced a month after I arrived in Moscow from Tajikistan. For several months, there was no work at all. There was no money. It was very difficult to live. After all, I am the only supporter in my family and I was sending money to my family in Tajikistan every month. They also have a disastrous situation there. However, here… You cannot imagine what our fellow citizens had to go through. Some simply were left on the street because they had nothing to pay for rent. They survived as best as they could"
Now the situation is gradually improving. However, Davlatyor is still not sure that he will be able to pay his debt soon.
According to Michael Hewitt, representative of the International Organization for Migration in Tajikistan, the coronavirus aggravated employment problems in the country.
He told CABAR.asia that a research by the International Organization for Migration shows that about 30% of migrants in the Russian Federation are likely to leave the country and return to their homeland after the border opening. At the same time, many people intended to leave for the Russian Federation, but were unable to do so and remain unemployed.
The government should take measures to solve this problem, the expert believes.
He told CABAR.asia that a research by the International Organization for Migration shows that about 30% of migrants in the Russian Federation are likely to leave the country and return to their homeland after the border opening. At the same time, many people intended to leave for the Russian Federation, but were unable to do so and remain unemployed.
The government should take measures to solve this problem, the expert believes.
Migration routes, especially to the Russian Federation, should be opened first. Logistical, legal and financial barriers to entry and exit to the host country must be removed. That is, it is necessary to make transport accessible for travel
In addition, migrants have to be trained in new skills required for key sectors of the Tajik economy, such as agriculture. Under conditions when it is difficult to find a job, new skills and knowledge are needed in the new economic sectors. The agricultural sector, especially after COVID-19, will need help, and returning migrants can fill that gap with their improved skills, Hewitt believes.
At a press conference following the results of the first half of 2020, Gulru Jabborzoda, Minister of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of Tajikistan, said that the Ministry has developed an anti-crisis program.
"The program consists of two directions: reintegration and vocational training. Citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan who are unable to travel to the Russian Federation will be involved in the short-term vocational training and courses"
Gulru Jabborzoda
Minister of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of Tajikistan
According to the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, in the first six months, the number of officially registered unemployed persons amounted to 51.7 thousand people, which is 2.1% of the total number of employed.
However, both independent observers and employees of the Ministry admit that official figures do not reflect the real situation of the unemployment in the country.
According to Michael Hewitt, it is necessary to strengthen the mechanism of reintegration, access to healthcare and employment inside and outside the country.
However, both independent observers and employees of the Ministry admit that official figures do not reflect the real situation of the unemployment in the country.
According to Michael Hewitt, it is necessary to strengthen the mechanism of reintegration, access to healthcare and employment inside and outside the country.
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Many migrants are seasonal, and therefore, the services related to the reintegration of the returning migrants, their access to other jobs and starting small businesses need to be strengthened in terms of coordination, resources and capacity. Thus, the returning migrants can be assisted in finding alternative job when they return home
According to the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population, in the first six months of this year, more than 129,000 Tajik citizens went abroad in search of work, which is 170,000 people less comparing with the same period last year. Gulru Jabborzoda told journalists that more than 90,000 citizens of the republic returned to Tajikistan in the first six months of this year, which she linked with the coronavirus pandemic in the host countries and the borders closure.