New migration law in Tajikistan

The authorities of Tajikistan want to introduce the digitalization of migration processes to protect the rights of labor migrants and reduce the level of external labor migration.

The state information agency “Khovar” reported that on October 7, 2026, the Majlisi Namoyandagon (lower house) of Tajikistan reviewed the draft law “On Migration” during its session. Two days later, “Sputnik Tajikistan” reported that the lower house of parliament adopted amendments and additions concerning the new version of this law.

According to the Minister of Labor, Migration, and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan Solikh Kholmakhamadzoda, the new law aims to strengthen the protection of the rights of migrants and their families, reintegrate returning migrants, digitalize migration processes, and regulate internal and environmental migration.

Among the stated goals of the law are also the reduction of illegal labor migration, protection of the domestic labor market, rational use of labor resources, and a decrease in the overall level of labor migration.

The authorities expect that the use of digital technologies will accelerate the exchange of information between government bodies, increase the transparency of migration procedures, and improve management efficiency. However, it is unclear how much these changes will address the real problems of labor migrants and how many new opportunities they will create for citizens wishing to live and work in their country.

It is important to note that for most citizens of Tajikistan, Russia remains the primary destination for labor migration. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of labor migrants in the first half of 2025 decreased by 16% compared to the same period in 2024, falling from 978,000 to 825,000 people.

The situation for many Tajik labor migrants in this country remains difficult. They face daily pressure, raids, the risk of job loss, dependence on employers, and in some cases, delays in wages, labor exploitation, and discrimination.

Life away from family, financial problems, and limited access to legal assistance further worsen their situation. In cases of rights violations or disputes with employers, migrants do not always have the means to effectively protect their interests.

In the past, a number of Tajik human rights defenders and organizations worked to protect the rights of migrants. However, today their activities are severely restricted, and some of them, such as Izzat Amon, have been deported to Tajikistan.

For this reason, it is not enough for migrants to merely simplify procedures or introduce foreign digital services. They need real assistance, including legal support, consular protection, and the ability to restore their violated rights.

Despite all these difficulties, many citizens of Tajikistan are forced to choose earnings abroad as their main source of support for themselves and their families. Money transfers from labor migrants to their homeland are a primary source of income for many households and are also very important for the development of Tajikistan’s economy.

According to the World Bank, in 2024, the volume of money transfers to Tajikistan was equal to 49% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). This figure indicates the enormous role of labor migrants’ income in Tajikistan’s economy.

This figure indicates the enormous role of money transfers from labor migrants in Tajikistan’s economy. In such conditions, a decrease in labor migration without the creation of stable jobs and the opportunity to earn a decent wage in the country could further worsen the situation for the families of labor migrants.

For this reason, if the authorities truly want to reduce the population’s dependence on labor migration, they must not only control migration processes but also ensure a decent life and real jobs within the country for their citizens.

The authorities also noted that one of the main issues of the new migration policy is the creation of new jobs and the reduction of the intensity of migration processes.

However, if the authorities really want to reduce the population’s dependence on earnings abroad, they must explain which economic sectors can provide citizens with jobs, how many new jobs will be created, what the proposed wages will be, and whether these wages will be sufficient to support households.

The issue of insufficient jobs in the country is also addressed in the reports of the World Bank. In a report dated June 12, 2026, the bank points to structural barriers to the development of the private sector in Tajikistan, including insufficient growth in the number of new jobs and limited opportunities for workers to transition from low-productivity agriculture to more productive sectors such as industry and services. According to the World Bank, about a quarter of Tajikistan’s workforce goes abroad in search of earnings, as employment opportunities in the country are severely limited.

Additionally, according to the Agency for Statistics of Tajikistan, the average nominal monthly salary in May 2026 was 3304.05 somoni. However, this average figure does not reflect the differences in income between regions, professions, specialties, and various sectors of the economy. Based solely on this figure, it is impossible to determine whether the salary is sufficient to cover the expenses of a particular family.

Labor migration of citizens directly indicates the insufficiency of wages in the country.

Another point of this law is that digitalization and improvement of legislation do not in themselves mean an improvement in the situation of labor migrants. Digital technologies can speed up the processing of documents and the exchange of information between government agencies. However, they cannot replace accessible legal assistance, real consular support, and mechanisms for restoring violated rights.

This question remains open: will Tajikistan, with the adoption of this law, be able to provide its citizens with real economic opportunities so they can live in the country with dignity? Or will the population still be forced to seek work abroad for a decent wage?