Tajikistan and Russia discussed the issue of protecting the rights of migrants

Representatives of Tajikistan and Russia intend to strengthen cooperation in the field of protecting the rights of labor migrants and improving their working conditions.

These issues were discussed during a meeting between the Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, Public Associations and Information of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mahmadsho Guldzo, (the lower house of parliament) and the Chairman of the State Duma Commission on Regulations and Activity Support, General Secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions, Viktor Pinsky.

During the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of implementing bilateral agreements in the field of labor migration and stated that the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation would contribute to the further strengthening of Tajik-Russian relations.

Viktor Pinsky stated that trade unions of the CIS countries have proposed the initiative to create a “decent work ecosystem”, and the goal of this initiative is to address existing problems in the field of labor relations.

As Pinsky noted, CIS countries should prepare a unified methodology for regulating labor relations, including common standards for minimum wage, a system for calculating work experience, and mechanisms for ensuring pension provision for citizens who have worked in the territories of CIS countries.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness to continue joint cooperation, improve mechanisms for protecting the rights of labor migrants, and develop cooperation in the social sphere.

Earlier, Viktor Pinsky at the meeting of the council of the General Confederation of Trade Unions of CIS member states in Dushanbe stated that CIS countries are facing a common decline in the labor force, and the growth of the working-age population in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan can no longer compensate for the shortage of labor in other countries of this union in the medium term.

Despite statements about the need to create unified standards for decent work and strengthen cooperation in the field of social protection, the situations faced by labor migrants from Central Asia, including Tajikistan, in Russia do not align at all.

After the armed attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, the Russian authorities tightened migration policy. In recent months, a number of amendments and changes have been made to the country’s legislation, as well as new initiatives and bills that significantly complicate the stay of foreign citizens in the country, expand grounds for expulsion, and limit the rights of labor migrants while increasing employers’ demand for labor.

Many labor migrants still face xenophobia, bureaucratic difficulties, instability in the labor market, violations of labor rights, and limited access to social protection mechanisms.

For this reason, the implementation of the initiative to create an ecosystem of decent work requires not only the signing of new intergovernmental agreements but also the adoption of specific measures that can truly improve the situation of millions of labor migrants.