Improving employment and income for Tajik migrant workers
Project description
Title: Improving employment and income for Tajik migrant workers in Tajikistan
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Tajikistan
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan
Overall term: 2020 to 2023
Context
Labour migration plays a vital role in Tajikistan’s economy. According to World Bank data, in 2020 remittances from migrant workers accounted for more than 25 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Russia is the most important destination for Tajik migrant workers. In recent years, however, Russia has been deporting more and more Tajik citizens and preventing them from re-entering the country. As a consequence, how return migration is managed is becoming increasingly important for Tajikistan. However, state support measures and advisory services often do not reach the returnees, are not effective or do not address their needs.
Objective
The income and employment prospects for Tajik migrant workers in selected regions of Tajikistan are improved.
Approach
The project supports the strategies and measures established by the Government of Tajikistan to reintegrate returnees into the Tajik labour market. Some of the measures are being implemented by the consultancy company GOPA.
The activities fall into two fields of action:
Field of action 1 improves training at state-run adult education centres. Short technical and agricultural training courses are complemented by modules on financial and digital literacy as well as management skills. Tailored training formats also create job prospects for women in rural areas who have minimal formal education.
Field of action 2 optimises advisory services for returnees. Employees in the Migration Service and the Agency for Employment receive training to provide this support. Former migrant workers also act as mentors to assist other migrants in entering the job market. In addition, the project promotes dialogue between the relevant agencies and employers. As a result, more companies are becoming involved in measures to boost employment.
Last update: August 2022