• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
08 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 11

Slovakia Opens Job Opportunities for Kyrgyz Bus Drivers

The Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad, operating under the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, has begun registering candidates for bus driver positions in Slovakia. The Center has signed an agreement with INDEX NOSLUS s.r.o., a Slovak company specializing in human resources management and international recruitment. “This agreement aims to strengthen bilateral ties in labor migration and create reliable conditions for Kyrgyz citizens working in Slovakia,” the Employment Center stated. Kyrgyz authorities believe the partnership will significantly increase the number of legal employment opportunities for Kyrgyz workers while ensuring transparent hiring conditions and social security protections. Plans include the development of joint programs for recruitment, training, and worker support. As part of the current recruitment process, the Employment Center will invite 50 candidates, from which 15 will be selected to work for a Slovak transportation company. Applicants must be Kyrgyz citizens between 22 and 50 years old, have experience in passenger transport, and possess a clean criminal record and no chronic illnesses. According to Slovak employment terms, workers will be paid €7.40 per hour, resulting in an average net monthly income of approximately €1,200. The Kyrgyz authorities guarantee official employment registration and social protections for those hired. Six months ago, Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, Nurlanbek Shakiev, met with Kyrgyz labor migrants in Slovakia during an official visit. According to Shakiev, an estimated 4,000 Kyrgyz citizens are currently employed in Slovakia. Kyrgyz officials are also considering the opening of an embassy in Slovakia to support and protect the interests of Kyrgyz nationals working there. In addition to Slovakia, the United Kingdom and Italy have also signed official agreements with Kyrgyzstan for seasonal employment programs. Today, tens of thousands of Kyrgyz workers are employed in these countries.

More Kyrgyz Labor Migrants Head to the UK

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.

Every Third Kazakhstani Works Informally or Hides Their Income

Approximately one-third of working Kazakhstanis are employed informally, lacking social guarantees, labor protections, and pensions. This is according to the research “Features of Labor Market and Employment in Kazakhstan” by Adam Research. The findings, analyzed by the Energyprom agency, shed light on the scope of informal employment in the country. The survey revealed that 36.4% of respondents acknowledged working in the shadow economy. This figure is higher among men (37.6%) than women (34.9%). Informal employment is categorized into three main types: Work without a labor contract: 16.6% Shadow entrepreneurship: 13.6% Part-time work without registration: 6.2% Young people and retirees are disproportionately represented in these informal sectors. The study, conducted via telephone survey of adults in all 17 regions of Kazakhstan, found that southern areas like the Turkestan and Almaty regions, along with Shymkent, had the highest rates of informal employment. Conversely, East Kazakhstan and Ulytau regions recorded the lowest rates. Informal workers are often individuals with secondary education working outside their specialty. Their earnings vary widely: Those without labor contracts typically earn up to 100,000 tenge ($190) per month. Shadow entrepreneurs may earn over 600,000 tenge ($1,130). Many struggle financially. Among respondents paid “in envelopes,” nearly 27% reported insufficient income for basic necessities. The Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan reported 1.2 million informally employed citizens in 2023. Of these: 682,500 worked in legal enterprises without formal registration. 473,200 were employed in the informal sector without patents or tax payments. This group constitutes 12.8% of Kazakhstan's total employed population. Labor Minister Svetlana Zhakupova identified informal employment as the second most significant labor market challenge, after job scarcity. She highlighted discrepancies between official labor remuneration fund data and pension savings. In 2023, the labor remuneration fund was valued at 38 trillion tenge, yet pension contributions accounted for only 20 trillion tenge. Additionally, labor remuneration makes up just 30% of Kazakhstan’s GDP, significantly lower than the OECD average of 50%. The largest discrepancies were observed in the trade, agriculture, and real estate sectors.

Kazakhstan Faces Doubling of Construction Industry Labor Shortage by 2030

Kazakhstan's construction sector is grappling with a significant labor shortage, with approximately 111,000 positions currently unfilled. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov warned at a recent government meeting that this figure is expected to double by 2030, forecasting a deficit of over 200,000 skilled workers in the industry. Bektenov highlighted that the most affected roles include plasterers, painters, welders, masons, and concrete workers - essential positions for the sector’s operations. While the construction industry ranks third among sectors facing workforce shortages, it holds a critical place in Kazakhstan’s economy. According to government forecasts, education leads in expected vacancies, with 331,000 unfilled positions projected by 2030, followed by trade at 228,000. Despite ranking behind these sectors in terms of unmet demand, construction contributes the most to Kazakhstan’s GDP among the three, accounting for 5.6% of the country’s total economic output, according to the Ministry of Industry and Construction. This looming shortage poses challenges to sustaining growth in a sector vital to the nation’s development and economic stability.

Young Uzbek Men Dominate Russia’s Migrant Workforce in 2024

A recent analysis by the "Migrant Service" platform has outlined the profile of the average migrant worker in Russia for 2024. According to the study, the typical migrant is a 28-year-old married man from Uzbekistan, residing in or near Moscow. The survey, which included approximately 63,000 participants, revealed key demographic trends among migrant workers in Russia. Most respondents identified as Muslim men aged 28, though the age range spanned from 18 to 37 years. Uzbekistan Leads Migration Statistics The majority of migrant workers in Russia come from Uzbekistan, accounting for 55.4% of the total. Tajikistan follows with 39.89%, while Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan collectively contribute 4.82% of the migrant population. “For migrants, family and children are the highest priorities,” the analysts noted. This focus is reflected in remittance patterns: 67% of respondents send money to their families once a quarter, and 41% remit more than 50% of their income. Growing Demand for Migrant Labor The survey also highlights the increasing reliance on Central Asian migrants to address labor shortages in Russia. This trend, as previously reported by the Times of Central Asia, has been exacerbated by Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, which has intensified the demand for additional workers.

Tajik Migrants Embrace Free English Courses to Pursue Jobs in Europe

Tajikistan has launched a free English online course for migrant workers aiming for employment in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The course, developed in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Smarthub educational platform, is part of the UK Seasonal Worker Program. This initiative provides participants with an opportunity to enhance their language skills at no cost. According to the IOM, over 200 participants have already completed the program. The curriculum covers essential communication skills, ranging from basic phrases and personal introductions to professional vocabulary necessary for workplace interactions. This initiative comes as Tajikistan explores alternative destinations for labor migration, prompted by stricter migration rules in Russia and Western sanctions limiting access to its labor market. Increasing numbers of Tajik workers are finding employment in Germany, Poland, the Baltic States, Romania, and the United Kingdom. In 2023, approximately 1,000 Tajik citizens traveled to the UK for seasonal agricultural work, including fruit and vegetable harvesting.