The number of Kyrgyz citizens working as seasonal agricultural laborers in the UK has continued to rise, reaching 8,131 in 2024, up from 5,200 in 2023 and 1,492 in 2022. These figures were announced by Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, Ravshanbek Sabirov, during a January 28 meeting with the British Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Nicholas Bowler.
Expanding Labor Migration Cooperation
The meeting focused on Kyrgyz-British cooperation in labor migration. Minister Sabirov requested the ambassador’s assistance in increasing the quota for Kyrgyz seasonal workers and reducing additional fees associated with British visa applications.
Ambassador Bowler acknowledged the discipline and reliability of Kyrgyz migrant workers, noting that they return home in the same numbers as they arrive, complying with UK immigration laws.
Economic Impact and Employment Conditions
According to Minister Sabirov, remittances from Kyrgyz workers in Britain’s agricultural sector are expected to exceed $100 million. He emphasized that even with a relatively small workforce, these remittances significantly contribute to Kyrgyzstan’s economic growth.
The Kyrgyz Ministry of Labor’s Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad, which oversees seasonal labor placements in the UK, reports that Kyrgyz workers receive a wage of £11.44 per hour and are guaranteed a minimum of 32 hours per week.
In Britain, most Kyrgyz migrants are employed on strawberry farms.
Shift Away from Russia
For the past 30 years, Russia has been the primary destination for Kyrgyz labor migrants, with estimates ranging from 500,000 to over a million. However, Russia’s economic downturn, stricter migration policies, and increasing hostility toward Central Asian workers have prompted many Kyrgyz migrants to seek alternative destinations.
As a result, more Kyrgyz workers are heading to Kazakhstan, Turkey, Germany, South Korea, the United States, and Great Britain, reflecting a broader shift in Kyrgyzstan’s labor migration patterns.
