The number of female migrants in Russia is increasing

Research results show that in recent years there has been a trend of involving women from Central Asian countries in labor migration: the number of female migrants in Russia is increasing.

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According to the study, less than 20% of Tajik female migrants in the Russian Federation speak Russian fluently.

According to the Federal Migration Service of Russia, in 2009 women made up 14% of the total labor migration flow. This year, up to 50% of those entering Russia from Kyrgyzstan are women, while the share of entering Tajik and Turkmen women is at least 10% of migrants from these countries. According to the Tajik weekly “Vechorka,” 15% of citizens of Tajikistan leaving for work abroad are women.

As reported by Moscow Gazette, according to the Migration Research Center, in 2010 the share of women arriving from Uzbekistan was 30%, from Kyrgyzstan – 13%, and from Tajikistan – about 10%.

Based on data from the Migration Research Center, in 2010 the majority of female migrants were employed in the service sector (42%) and trade (33%). In particular, arrivals from Kyrgyzstan (20% of women) and Tajikistan work in the cleaning sector.

Svetlana Sivoplyasova, a representative of the Institute of Demographic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, notes that “if we consider the dynamics of female immigration from Central Asian countries to Russia, it is necessary to note a certain increase in this indicator in absolute terms in 2016-2019. In 2020, a noticeable decline was recorded, largely due to restrictions related to the spread of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19.

“Whether the change in the characteristics of migration flows towards feminization will have a significant impact not only on the domestic labor market but also on the demographic situation in the country will be seen over time,” says Sivoplyasova.

It is reported that the age distribution of female migrants varies: women from Kyrgyzstan are mainly under 30 years old, and slightly fewer are aged 30 to 40; from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, equal shares of women under 30 and older women are maintained.

As noted by leading researcher of the Migration and Ethnicity Research Group Anna Rocheva, “female migration from Central Asian countries influences the domestic labor market.”

It is also reported that over the past ten years, the situation regarding proficiency in the Russian language has not changed (according to the Migration Research Center, fluency in Russian was observed in 32.1% of migrants from Kyrgyzstan, and 19.7% from Tajikistan).

According to “Vechorka”, at a conference organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) together with Internews, Nodira Abdullayeva, an expert from the Human Rights Center, reported that mainly divorced women from Tajikistan go into labor migration, whose husbands remain in Russia or other countries, widows, or wives of male migrants. The percentage of female labor migrants is increasing, but this is not reflected in government strategies.

“It is necessary to consider the needs of female migrants at all stages of migration. Firstly, pre-departure preparation. Information about job opportunities abroad should be freely available. Women need to be informed about the advantages and disadvantages of migration, and consular and diplomatic services should also be provided with consideration of gender specifics,” notes the expert.

In 2020, “Vechorka” reported that a special protocol of the International Labor Organization (ILO) would come into force in Tajikistan in 2021, which defines how private employment agencies should operate, particularly when hiring migrants for work abroad. This is viewed by experts as a positive development. However, on the other hand, none of the Central Asian countries has signed ILO Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers. It is no secret that female emigrants are largely employed as domestic workers.

Earlier, Russian experts reported to the media that the “feminization” of migration flows from Central Asia to Russia is increasing.

Galina Ragozina, an expert from the Forum of Resettlement Organizations, stated that migration – primarily from Central Asian countries to Russia – has traditionally been considered male, which is “due to the mentality of the region’s countries, where women are expected to stay at home and raise children.” However, statistics and recent practices show that there are more women in migration.